ORDER B I MAN A. 99 



mother of the Greek, the Latin, of many tongues 

 now extinct, and of all those spoken in the south of 

 Europe; the Gothic or Teutonic, from which the 

 languages of the north and north-west of Europe 

 are derived, the German, Dutch, English, Danish, 

 Swedish, #-c. ; lastly, the Sclavonian, from which 

 come the languages of the north-east of Europe, as 

 the Russian, Polish, Bohemian, fyc. 



This extensive and powerful branch of the Cau- 

 casian race may be placed with justice in the fore- 

 most rank of the sons of men. The nations which 

 compose it have carried philosophy, science, and the 

 arts to the greatest perfection, and for more than 

 thirty ages have been the guardians and depositaries 

 of human knowledge. 



Previously to its entrance, Europe had been occu- 

 pied by the Celtic tribes, who came from the north- 

 ward, and by the Cantabrians, who passed from 

 Africa into Spain. The former, though once consi- 

 derably extended, are confined at present to the 

 most western extremities of Europe, and the latter 

 are now nearly confounded among the numerous 

 nations whose posterity are settled in the Spanish 

 peninsula. 



The origin of the ancient Persians is the same 

 with that of the Indians, and their descendants at 

 the present day bear the strongest marks of affinity 

 with the European nations. 



The Scythian or Tartarian branch, at first, ex- 

 tended towards the north and north-east of Asia. 

 Accustomed to a vagabond and predatory life in 



H 2 



