C 4SS ) 
Nor Is the Language wherein Manufcripts are written* 
lefs to be look'd upon I mean the Original in refped: of 
tranjlations. 'Tis well known, that xhtGreek Phyjttians^ 
Mathematitians^ Philofophers^ &c. which made up the 
greateft part of the Learning of the middle and the folIoW' 
ing Ages, were not ftudied in the Original, but only Irr 
a corrupt Latin Verfion of the Arabic ufed by x'm Moors 
in Spain^ which Araiick, was tranflated from the Greek 
by the Saracens. So that receiving their Learning at the 
third Hand, 'tis no wonder they could not comprehend 
the true Sence and Meaning of their Authors. And how 
many Authors of great Note there are, as yet in princ 
only in a vicious Tranflation, whofe own Words, in their 
own Language, areftill extant in our Libraries i maybe 
feen by perufing thefe Catalogues. 
Some People have got a Notion that all Manufcripts 
are only a Company of old, rufty, Moth eaten Books, 
upon which a Man may pore his Eyes out before he can- 
read a Word or a Line, &c, which I take to be a meer 
Cavil, 'Tis true, every body has not the Gift of wri- 
ting an excellent, or even a tolerable good Hand ; nor 
are (bme of the Manufcripts written about Three Hun- 
dred Years ago, very eafie to be read by one who is not 
us'd to them. But that this muft affeft all Manufcripts 
I fee no ReafoD, fince many which I have feen far exceed 
our modern writing nay, I have heard feveral of the 
beft Pen-men in London, ingenuoufly confefs that they 
could not write a Book near fo well as fome they have 
ftiewed me ; which yet, are by far exceeded by many 
that I have been Ihewed in the Bodleian Library. I could 
eafily name to you feveral Books there, in Englijh^ 
Latin, French, Greeks Hebrew^ Arahick^ Perjian, Syri- 
ack^ &CO which are written almoft to a Miracle, beyond 
any thing Printed, and beyond the Idea which any body 
can have of them, who has not yet feen fuch things. 
Nor 
