Observations on Language. -:JS^ 



J^ 

 enlightened. At this period they multiplied words^ae- 

 noting different ideas : and these may be found in the 

 remaining books of that age. But the terms, now in 

 customary use, are certainly, and necessarily, few. The 

 multiplication of synonimous words is a proof, not of 

 national improvement, but of addiction to pleasure and 

 amusement. 



The state of human la7iguages has long been a subject 

 of philosophical enquiry. "How," it is asked, "came 

 the languages of mankind to be what they are : so nu- 

 merous; so di\erse in their words; and so unlike in their 

 form, and construction ?" 



When we enter upon this inquiry, the first considera- 

 tion of importance, that presents itself, is the Confusion 

 of languages at the tower of Babel. 



Who were the people, affected by this remarkable dis- 

 pensation of Providence ? To this question, I answer, A 

 part of the sons oj Ham, joined together with others^ who 

 descended from Shem, and Japheth. A^w/W, who led 

 this enterprize, associated with him, first, his brethren 

 and other near connexions; and tlien, all within his 

 reach, who, with the true spirit of modern Jacobinism^ 

 were impatient of the government both of God and 

 man. These people, having busily employed them- 

 selves, for a season, in hunting wild beasts under the 

 conduct of Nimrod, began to turn their weapons against 

 their fellow-men. For this purpose they found the con- 

 tinuance of their Union indispensable. They had be- 

 come a numerous and formidable body, w^hen Gob 

 commanded tlwm, together with the rest of mankind, to 

 disperse in different colonies, for the purpose of peopling 

 the Avorld. This command they determined to disobey. 

 Accordingly, they proposed to build a very lofty tower, 

 and surround it vvith a city ; and to make these the prin- 

 cipal seat of their empire. In their company were pro- 

 bably numbered all the restless, violent, unprincipled, 

 spirits of the age ; and these must, to some degree at 

 Jeast, have been found among the descendants of Ja- 

 pheth^ and Shem ; for they have ever since been found 

 in every Society, how^ever peaceable, under heaven. 



That all the descendants of Ham were not included. 



