C 5* ) 



is of no confequence in the difpute on the original 

 of the Americans. 



Primitive nations have been mixed and divided 

 fey various caufes, foreign and domeftick wars as 

 ancient as the luft of dominion, or the paffion for 

 domineering, the neceffity of feparating and remov- 

 ing to greater diftances, either becauie the country 

 was no longer able to contain its inhabitants multi- 

 plied to an infinite degree, or becaufe the weaker 

 were obliged to fly before the ftronger ; that reft- 

 lefsnefs and curiofity, fo natural to mankind, a thou- 

 fand other reafons eafily to be imagined, and which 

 all enter into the defigns of Providence the man- 

 ner in which thofe migrations have been made ; the 

 difficulty of preferving arts and traditions amongft 

 fugitives tranfplanted into uncultivated countries, 

 and out of the way of carrying on any correfpond- 

 cnce with civilized nations : All this I fay is eafy 

 to conceive. Unforefeen accidents, tempefts, and 

 ihipwrecks, have certainly contributed to people all 

 the habitable part of the world ; and ought we to 

 wonder after this, at perceiving certain refemblances 

 between the remoteft nations, and at finding fuch a 

 difference between nations bordering upon one ano- 

 ther. 



We may likewife further underftand, that fome 

 part of thefe wanderers, either forced by neceffity to 

 unite for mutual defence, or to withdraw from the 

 domination of fome powerful people, or induced by 

 the eloquence and abilities of a legiflator, mud have 

 formed monarchical governments, fubmitted to 

 laws, and joined together in regular and national 

 focieties. Such have been the beginnings of the 

 moft ancient empires in the Old World ; and fuch 

 might have been the rife of thofe of Peru and 

 7 Mex- 



