Account of 

 Dr Smith. 



86 BISTORT of the SOCIETK 



'which approaches to a regular and connected detail of human 

 improvement. 



In this want of direct evidence, we are under a neceflity of 

 fupplying the place of fact by conjecture ; and when we are 

 unable to afcertain how men have actually conducted them- 

 felves upon particular occafions, of confidering in what manner 

 they are likely to have proceeded, from the principles of their 

 nature, and the circumftances of their external fituation. In 

 fuch enquiries, the detached facts which travels and voyages 

 afford us, may frequently ferve as land marks to our fpecula- 

 tions ; and fometimes our conclusions a priori, may tend to con- 

 firm the'credibility'of facts, which, on a fuperficial view, ap- 

 peared to be doubtful or incredible. 



Nor are fuch theoretical views of human affairs fubfervient 

 merely to the gratification of curiofity. In examining the hi- 

 ftory of mankind, as well as in examining the phenomena of 

 the material world, when we cannot trace the procefs by which an 

 event has been produced, it is often of importance to be able to 

 fhew how it may have been produced by natural caufes. Thus, 

 in the inftance which has fuggefted thefe remarks, although it 

 is impoflible to determine with certainty what the fteps were by 

 which any particular language was formed, yet if we can fhew, 

 from the known principles of human nature, how all its various 

 parts might gradually have arifen, the mind is not only to a 

 certain degree fatisfied, but a check is given to that indolent phi- 

 lofophy, which refers to a miracle, whatever appearances, both 

 in the natural and moral worlds, it is unable to explain. 



To this fpecies of philofophical inveftigation, which has no 

 appropriated name in our language, I fhall take the liberty of 

 giving the title of "theoretical or Conjectural Hi/lory j an expref- 

 fion which coincides pretty nearly in its meaning with that of 

 Natural Hi/lory, as employed by Mr Hume*, and with what 

 fome French writers have called Hijloire Raifonee, 



The 



* See his Natural Hiilory of Religion. 



