■'W 'W^'" W^' '■'* J^ -"--,% ''--^j^ •>".%' .^,0^.. aX ,0- \. V * \0^ :v \. ^'^ I'. ^^. r: x^ ^ .0- ^o I O' ^^- .^ .0 o. ^H^e../J^ Celtic JJesearcJes, O^ TH£ ORIGIN, TRADITIONS .§• LANGUAGE, OF TftE ANCIENT BRITONS; WITH SOME INTRODUCTORY SKETCHES, ON PRIMITIVE SOCIETY. BY EDWARD *t)AVIES, Curate of O Ives ton, Gloucestershire. lon&on: PRI]SrTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY J BOOTH, DUKE-STREET, PORTLAND-PLACSL 1804. J. B^xriKLD^ Printer* Wardour-Streel^ Solio. TO Tirfi KING, SIRE, Though YOUR Majesty's permission has enabled me to approach your Throne, and pre- sent you with such a feeble tri- bute, as that of my, obscure^ lb labours, (in a path, which no flowers can adorn, or practical use recommend,) I tremble, when I contemplate the homeliness of the oblation itself. Disadvantages, personal to me, or incidental to the subject, had precluded the faintest hope of such an elevated honour. An humble, and contracted sphere, of occupations, and for- tune, has precluded me from a liberal access to hooks, or to men. The rude, though honest, ^;7V(;725, of whose language I have traced the mysterious analogies, were placed, by the simple man- ners of the age, in which they lived, and of the circle, which they filled, at an awful distances from the attainments of their en- lightened progeny ; for whom have been reserved the felicities of your Majesty's reign, the moral influence of your domes- tic life, and the genial encou^ ragements, conferred upon every liberal effort in the arts, by this, Augustan, age of Britain. .^ ^ z The occult, and mystic lore of Druidism, though containing principles of inestimable value in the elements of language, was neither intended, nor calculated, for that general prevalence, and reception, which could alone have ascertained, and recorded, this branch of its oracles, with precision^ Simplicity of manners, and superstitious credulity, which con- stituted the most prominent features of character in the vo- taries of that religion, obstructed w the solution ot its riddles, and consigned its legendary tales to their fate, as oracular mysteries, too deep to be fathomed. It became, therefore, a task of extreme difficulty, at a distant period from those hints of science, to develop their scheme, and re* duce their principles into system* These difficulties, were heigh- tened, by an imperfect educa- tion — laborious duties — number- less adversities — habitual infirm- ities of constitution,— and, most but of allj a defect in the organs of sight. Be the fate of the Olveston Curate, what it may, it has one advantage at the bar of Critisis?n, under the auspices of this Reign ; That, benevolent, and merciful tribunal, is like your Courts of Justice; it hears, with patience, and with candour; it acquits with pleasure, and it condemns with pain. The Author's fate, will never affect the sentiments of TH E Man . These, have been ever alive, and awake, to the most grateful impressions of your Majesty's paternal regard for ingenuous enterprize ';— for the interest of truth, and virtue ;— for the sacred necessities of the poor, — and for the liberties of all. If sentiments like thesG,could be heightened, — personal grati- tude, for the condescension,^\vhich I have recently experienced, and which / dare not state in its Jull extent, would animate them, with new spirit. V The exampky however, of such countenance, and protec- tion, to mty will, I trust, improve, by encouraging, the culture of many other soils, more propitious to the seeds of learning, than mine, though visited by similar adversities. I am. Sire, Your Majesty's Devoted subject,, and Servant, Pdw. Davies. olfeston, feb. 39, 1804. iJceface. Of all human attainments, the art, which enables man to communicate his opinions, or his feelings, in the shape of oral, and written language, — is the most precious in its value. By the chain of this magical union, those are incorporated, whom the distance of time, and of scene, would else have separated ; — the early, and the recent ages, meet ; — a barter of intellectual treasure is negociated, — and the civilized nations of the earth are like neighbour- ing families ; — in a word, all acquisitions to the use, and the ornament of the social world, are streams from this fountain. b ti preface. A regularity of structure^ discernible in the ancient, and pure languages, demonstrates, that such an art, as that of writing, and speak- ing those languages, could not be indebted for its birth, to chance; — that it must have been formed by inferences of reasoning from objects of nature; — formed with simplicity, and calculated for precision. This volume attempts, not only to investi- gate those principles, but, in some degree, to ascertain the means by which they unfolded themselves into language, and supplied hints for their own visible shape, — in other words, for the invention of speech, as analyzed into a system. This art originated in the earliest ages of man. Its first, and simple essays, are lost in their antiquity. Upon a topic of such difficulty, and of such moment, in the history of man, even preface. lit local facts, may be of some value to the his- torian, who fills a more ample space, in the extent of his views. The choice^ there^ fore, of the subject, requires no apology, or defence. The execution of the task is that, which alone deprecates the severities of cri- ticism. I was directed accidentally to this channel of literature, by circumstances, peculiar, and personal to me. A design to publish what I had written, was the result of no confidence in abilities, or attainments ; it was the effect of a more humble sentiment: I was per- suaded, that chance had thrown in my way, and that curiosity, exempt from all pre-con- ception, (the bane of truth) had enabled me to discover a system elucidated by facts, and which the liberal scholar would, at least, rather examine with care, though laid before him by me, than consign it unexamined, at once, to oblivion. b2 Inclination, for which I cannot account, having disposed me to explore the few traces that are left us of the ancient TVelshy my at- tention was impelled, with slow, but accu- mulating force, to their singular doctrines upon the origin of speech^ and the fundamental principles of language, I began to penetrate the mystic import of these oracles. But, re- collecting, where I found them, I was inclin- ed rather to believe it an antiquarians whiniy than a discovery of real use, in the pursuit of historical science. In 1797, I had occasion to make researches in the Irish language. Again, the same vision presented itself: I compared the notices, which I had previously obtained at home, with lights thrown upon them, by those collateral branches of the Celtic House;— till 1 found myself in the habit of arranging a system, calculated for the double object of representing, by symbols the ideas, and the sounds. preface. ti I followed this clue, till I had, in some degree, unravelled that ancient scheme, by analogies, which appeared, upon repeated, and severe trials, to be founded in truth. Still I conceived the notion to be exclu- sively Celtic. In the first periods, therefore, and . stages, of the analysis, I applied the several principles of speech to Celtic dialects alone. The result was gratifying to curiosity; but it rested there. A perpetual jealousy against theoretical delusions, or partial experiments, determined me to enlarge the field of inquiry. It appeared improbable, that radical principles, of an art so general, should have been discovered originally by the Celtic race, whose knowledge of any letters at all, has been doubted by some of the modern critics in historical disquisition ; — or that such a people, as they are in general described, should have been the selected guardians of those principles. bi preface. I began to reason with myself thus : " A nation, comparatively rude^ and sim- ple, may have preserved the outlincH of two, or three, ancient, and primitive arts, with more precision than others, who were mbitious of innovations, and refinements. " But, if the system be a genuine relic of antiquity, it will abide the t^ht o^ compa- rison. Traces of it will be found in other countries ; — at least, those eleme Jts which are intimated by the symbols^ will find corrs-^pond- ing affinities in the radic^xl terms of other lan- guages, which are known to be ancient. The system of Celtic speech is too ingenious to have been struck out by the original contrivance, or local accidents of the Celtic race." I made an experiment upon the languages of Judea, — upon those of Greece, — and of Rome. The result of that process will offer itself to the reader : upon me, it impressed conviction. My limited, and mutilated collection of books, would not enable me to extend the range any further, at present^ or to be very curious in the choice of examples. But those, which I have selected, will afford an ample opportunity of deciding upon the measure of credit, which is due to my Celtic masters^ and upon the authenticity of the collateral sup- port, which is given to them^ by other nations. I have not strained any facts, to support a favourite hypothesis ; my own first impressions have resigned themselves to the current* Their guide has been the disinterested aim of honest, and sober experiment. Their distrust of themselves has made them diligent in accrediting, as far as they could, all the incidental varieties of truth. Many are the^ revolutions, which, in their course, they have adopted, and sustamed. but preface. At last, they reached a kind of station, which commanded a fair view. They rested upon it, and were animated by the hope to remove, at a future period, the shadows, which impeded the view, and withheld, or inter- cepted a part of the scene. I am, therefore, to implore, that a dis- tinction may be kept in view by the reader, between those principles^ which I have brought forward, and the mode of illustrating them^ which is peculiar to me. The former, were no discoveries of mine. I have told my reader where he can find them, as well as myself. They are nothing like novelties, though for a time they have been forgotten, or overlooked. If my application of them will point out, from new sources of reasoning, their connection with historical truths and with principles of nature^ the intrinsic value of that result, will be the same, whether in tracing all the roots, and branches of their pedigree, my inferences preface. iv have been sound, and legitimate, — or ill reason- ed ; my attentions, deep, — or superficial. I am not sure, whether I ought, upon the whole, to lament the obscurity of my path in the world, so far, as it has placed me at an humble distance from all intercourse with predecessors in the same line of pursuit. Not having pointed my researches at the original spring of written language, till at the recent, and casual impulse of the circum- stance above recited, in the JVelsh manu- scripts, I had not even learnt the names of some very eminent critics, who have been occupied in a pursuit of the same, or similar topics. The ingenious works of Mr. Astle, Mr. Whiter, General Vallancey^ Mr. Maurice^ Mon- sieur de Gebelin, Monsieur des Brosses, &c. &c. were laid before me, as novelties^ for my enter- tainment, after the circulation of my first proposals. ^ X preface* An earlier knowledge of these authors would have assisted me in adjusting my ar- guments, and propositions : it would have spared me the labour of some proofs built upon experiment, which employed a tedious length of time (though, ultimately, making no figure in the work) and would have been clear gain to me in perspicuity of arrange- ment ; — but it would have endangered my at- tentions to the main object. It might have seduced me, by the influence of learning, to borrow, or invent systems, when it was my humble office to develope, authenticate, and confirm the use of materials, constructed many ages ago. It is with infinite satisfaction, however, that I observe an occasional coincidence be- tween some of my notices, and those of the authors to whom I have adverted ; — because the force of truth could alone have led us to the same identical spot, by routes, uncon- nected, as well as intricate. preface* jct I was treating of arts, which are traced from the eariiest ages of man. It was unavoidable, to make some reflections upon the character of society in those periods of the world. Perhaps there is no topic, upon which the moderns have shewn less of their accustomed liberality, or candour. They have taken their sketch of primitive man^ as they found him, at the dawn of pro- fane history, in the middle ages of the world ; that is, when the little States of Greece^ of Italy^ and of the adjacent regions, began to want elbow-room ; — when ambition had violated the good faith of prior establishment, or compact ; yet, before the palm of the victor had enabled governments to control their subjects, and before the law of nations had rooted their principles of mutual forbearance between the rights of the belligerant parties, at the end of their conflict. These, were, con- sequently, times of confusion, which de- graded the human character into a pestilent, and brutal spirit of rapine. But earlier, and sacred history of the same noble creature, man, proves, to the most incredulous, that savage life is the child of accident^ and has no filial marks of nature, as her parent. I hope the few sketches upon this topic, which I have throAvn together, will contain materials, which have interest, as well as no- velty enough (I mean, in the notice of them) to atone for their insertion. - The short outline of the Cellce, and of their Druids, was neither intended, nor calculated for the purpose of adding to their fame, at the expence of their neighbours ; — but for the single object of marking some traditions re- specting their primitive character, which they had not, in fact, obliterated from their me- mory, or attention. ^xdm, xiii The hypothesis, " that nations originated, not from colonies, but emigrating families,'' ap- pears to be warranted by the sacred historian. Perhaps what I have suggested, may prompt others, of more leisure, and of superior ta- lents, to divest themselves of national pre- judices, and then, to examine our interesting corner of ancient Europe with more accu- racy. The field is not so barren, or its fruit so harsh to the taste, as they have been too hastily described. Having thus engaged, and with no impro- vident haste, in what struck me, as a fair pur- suit of acquisition to literature, — unbiassed by antecedent speculations, — but unassisted by the labours of ingenious men, who had gone before me in a discussion of similar topics, — I circulated a short Prospectus in September, 1801. It- was in the form of proposals^ to lay before the Public (if I could reach that num- ber by subscription) Jive hundred copies of a single volume. No sooner were these proposals known, when I received unequivocal hints of that munificent, and perhaps unexampled, patron- age, which appears in the list annexed. — Amongst other disadvantages, which are in the company of these honours, it is, perhaps, the heaviest in its oppression of my feelings, that I cannot pay the sincere tribute of my thanks, in the detail which is due to them ; and that I must, with some few ex- ceptions, request the indulgence of delicate liberality, if I abstain from particulars, which, if enumerated, would not only seem an im- pertinence of tributary homage, but would, perhaps, be accused of pride, under the mask of gratitude. Some, however, there are, who must for- give me, if I discriminate their signal fa- vours. Mn Hardinge first exhorted me to publish a Literary Essay^ — animated my labours, — and cherished them. He exerted his influence, early, and late, in my support, with such ar- dour, and with such effect, that I owe to him the most ample share of that countenance which graces the list of my Patrons. The impro- vidence (if such it must be deemed) of raising the Okeston Curate, from the dust of pro- vincial obscurity, into public notice, lies at his door. He has honoured me with his ad- vice, — he has furnished me with an ample variety of curious books, — and has enlightened me with most valuable hints, engrafted upon discoveries of his own. To the Bishop of Bath and Wells^ my obli- gations are most interesting: His countenance to the work, and me, had value superior to any estimate* But, most of all, I thank him, and with an honest, though simple heart, for the testimony which he bore to my personal^ and professional character. Other Prelates have not only distinguished me with patronage, communicated by their names, but have promoted my interest, and have sustained my hopes, by acts of benefi- cence, and by expressions of benevolence, which have entered into the heart, and have made impressions there, which never can be lost, or grow faint, as long as memory shall be firm upon her seat. The Bishop of St. Asaph, upon his promotion to that See, left me as a kind of legacy to the Chapter at Westminster, who honoured me, at his request, with a distinguished mark of their encouragement. I must not here forget this Prelate's imme- diate predecessor, who conferred upon me tlie value of a subscription for ten sets, de- siring a single book in exchange for it. When the reader shall do me the honour to recollect who that Bishop was, perhaps the most learn- ed man of his age, he will forgive me the vanity of recording these attentions from^i;w. The Bhhop of Chichester, though I was a perfect stranger to him, till he saw my letters to Mr. Hardinge^ upon the subject of this Work, has not only encouraged me, but has expressed his opinion of me, in terms of such engaging politeness, and zeal for my interest, that he has enhanced the value of his good offices to me, b}^ the manner of representing his motive to them. The Bishop of Dromore, having seen one of those letters, adopted me, at once, into his confidence and regard, as if I had been long known to him, and almost as if I had borne a part with him in those masterly dis- cussions, which have acquired so eminent a rank in the literary world, both for them, and c )rtjtii preface. for him. I have the happiness, in general, to coincide with his opinions ; and I am ever proud of them, when they enable me to in- corporate them into my system. Few, in my humble views of men, were ever blessed with a more liberal mind in the pursuit of historical discoveries, or with a more discriminating power to appreciate their value. I must here add, the deep and permanent obligation, which I owe to the Bench of Pre- lates^ collectively. Every one of whom, with- out a dissenting voice, in this, and many in the sister island, have countenanced my la- bours, either upon a general view of their object, or propitiated by the zeal of partial friends. When my (obscure) path, in the same pro- fession, which has elevated them^ is contem- plated,this indulgence to me, is a mark of good- ness, which no words of mine can appreciate. That a general spirit of munificence, in a degree unexampled by other communities of public men, characterizes the East-India Com^ pany^ cannot appear new wherever the name, of Britain is known. The condescension of it in my favour, is indeed a powerful claim upon my personal feelings, (and those feelings will never abjure it) but it cannot heighten the habitual principles of attachment, which calls upon the votaries of science ta revere^ and love the men, whose public spirit has given a new, and brilliant hemisphere to the literary world. General Vallancey^ whose ingenuity, and learning, have been of great use to me, though I do, by no means, adopt all his opinions — with a liberality of spirit, inseparable from those who are scholars, and gentlemen, has patronized me, without calculating whether I was friend, or adversary, to hi^ conjectures^ or to his inferences. Mr. Astle^ to whom I was under Uterarrf obligations (before I was honoured with hk c2 perso7ial notice) for the advantage of reading liis able treatise on the Origin of Letters^ was kind enough to exert himself in my favour, at an early period, and has warranted some of my opinions, Mr. Maurice y the justly-admired author of Indian Antiquities, approved my object, and conferred upon me, one of the noblest gifts, a copy of that inestimable work, Mr. Bryant^ whose personal character is not inferior even to that of his literary fame- though I had an early intimation, that he held, my Celtic masters cheap, bestowed upon me his name, as one of my patrons ; a name, that will command the love, and veneration of the world, as long as the pure faith, which he has illustrated, shall continue to improve the head, and the heart of its professors, I deplore it as a misfortune, when draw- ing from the same well, I differ with him^ in the analysis of those waters ; but I never shall cease to admke his talents, to venerate his learning,---or to esteem and love the unde- viating integrity of his principles, and of his life* The Society for Literary Fuiids, can receive no additional credit from one of the numerous individuals whom they have cherished and isustained in adversities, like those which have depressed me ; but the delicacy, as well as the munificence of their conduct by me^ de- mands of me, as a debt of honour, which I cannot withhold, that I should mark to the World so beneficent a system of liberality as theirs. I have received, as an encourage- ment of this work, and of the writer^ two successive donations from them, in actual payments, conferred upon me by the unani- mous vote of their committees, and recom- mended by the most obliging curtesy of man- ners, in their Secretary's letters to me.— Wherever that society is knoAvn, and wher^^ it55 good offices, have beeij felt, in blessings upon those, wliom fortune has wounded, the name of their Secretary^ Mr. Yates, and the philanthropy of his mind, are familiar subjects (^f grateful attachment. The early and liberal patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Codrington, as well as the numerous acquisitions my List owes to them, are but links in a connected series of benefits, conferred upon me by them. After this ge* neral, and very inadequate acknowledgment, of them all, their details, however precious to me, will remain, where gratitude, not un- worthy, I hope, even of their friendship, has implanted them- If good offices are to be measured by their critical, and seasonable help, as well as by their weight in themselves, what must be my obligations to M7\ Peach, of Tockington ? He knows to what I allude; and will give me ^some credit for sentiments, not injurious preface* niii to exertions, the noblest that friendship ever suggested e Mr* Theophilus Jones^ of Brecoti^ my ge- nerous friend, and the best hearted of men, had, for a course of years, made it extremely difficult for me to sjay, for which of his af* fectionate boons to me I thanked him the ^nost, and loved him the best. He has re- moved the difficulty ; for to him it is that I owe Mr, Hardinges friendship. To rescue, in a word, that inestimable friend, be the fate of this AVork adverse, or propitious, I shall contemplate with pride of independent joy, the intercourse with him^ which my ex- periment, invited, and cherished, by his ge- nerous heart, has produced. I am now to represent (and what language can ever do my feelings justice ?) the obligations impressed upon me by Personages, who, in this poijat, as in evejy otlier, disclaim all tri- xxi^ preface, bute of gratitude for sentiments, which ha- bitually induce them to elevate their high station, by descending from it into all the charities of domestic life ; and by adorning it with a taste, as well as national regard, for the culture of letters. Commanded by them, to abstain from panegyric, I leave to their generous natures, the interpretation of my feelings; — But I request that others, to whom I am indebted for the access of my name, and work, to such protectors, — will not be averse to the justice, which I owe to them. Here again, as at every turn, Mr. Hardinge presents himself. At his instance, the power- -ful aid of minds, no less illustrious by their Jives, than by their elevated rank, the Earl und Countess of Aylesbury, was exerted in my favour, and was propitious to me* They and Mr. Matthias, whose intellect is no less culti- vated and polished, than his mind is ho- nourable, and virtuous, must permit the hum- blest of taQ> many, whom their good offices liave bles&^.d bnt not the most ungrateful, to assure them, (and I cannot thank them better) that I had rather lose their good will to me, than forfeit the generous character , of it by an illiberal action, or sentiment; — that I have nothing in view but the improvement of know- ledge ; which is nothing, and, perhaps, worse than a feather, in the moral system of the world, if it is not sworn, and faithful to the interest, and the honour of truth A LIST OF SUBSCmiBEMS TO THE FOLLOWING ESSAYS. HER MAJESTY. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 10 Sets His Roy al Highness the Duke of Clarence 2 Sets His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent 2 Sets His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland 2 Sets Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of Gloucester 9, Sets His Highness Prince WilliamFrederick of Gloucester 2 Sets Her Highness Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester 2 Setb His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury 2 Sets His Grace the Archbishop of York i2 Sets The Lord Chancellor 2 Sets Lord Ellenborough, Chief Justice of the King's Bench 2 Sets (The late) Lord Kenyon, (late) Chief Justice of the King's Bench 2 Sets Lord Alvanley^ Chief Justice of the Common Plejis 2 Sets The Archbishop of Dublin 2 Sets The Archbishop of Cashell 2 S«t$ The Lord Chancellor of Ireland ' 2 Sets (The late) Lord Viscount Kilwarden, (late) Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland 2 Sets Lord Morbury, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland 2 Sets Lord Viscount Avoniiiore, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland 2 Setd The Duke of Somerset 2 Sets The Duke of Richmond 2 Sets The Duke of Grafton 4 Sets (The late) Duke of Beaufort 2 Sets The Dutchess Dowager of Beaufort 2 Sets The Duke of Leeds 2 Sets The Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire 4 Sets The Duke of Marlborough 2 Sets The Duke of Rutland The Dutchess Dowager of Manchester The Dutchess Dowager of Dorset 2 Sets The Marquis of Lansdown 2 Sets Tlie Marquis Cornwallis 2 Sets I'he Marquis of Hertford 4 Set* The Marquis of Bute 2 Sets The Marshioness Dowager of Downshire 4 Sets The Mai-quis and Marshioness of Thomond 2 Sets The Earl of Pembroke 2 Sets- The Earl of Westmorland The Earl of Sandwich ^ Sets TheEarlofCarhsle 2 Sets ^Earl Berkeley 2 Sets 'The Earl of Oxford 2 Sets The Countess Dowager of Oxford 2 Set3 The Earl of Bristol miommxQ, xnv The Earl of Dartmouth^ &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Earl ot Effingham The Earl of Essex 2 Sets The Countess Dowager Waldegrave TliC Earl of Egremont 2 Sets Earl Spencer £Sets The Countess Spencer The Countess Dowager Spencer The Earl and Countess of Aylesbury 2 Sets The Earl of Clarendon . ' 2 Sets Earl Camden 2 Sets The Earl of St. Vincent, &c. &c. Sec 2 Sets The Earl of Malmesbury 2 Sets TheEarlofPtomney , 2 Sets The Countess Dowager of Clanbrasii 2 Sets The Earl of Moira 2 Sets The Earl of Mountnorris 2 Sets The Earl of Londonderry 2 Sets The Earl and Countess of Bandon 4 Setsu Lord Viscount Hereford 2 Sets Lord Viscount Kilwarden 2 Sets The Dowager Lady Dacre^ of Beiliouse, in Essex 2 Sets The Dowager Lady Dacre, of Lee, in Kent 2 Sets Lord Hobart, &c. &c. &c. Lord Pelham, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets Lord Vernon 2 Sets Lord Hawke 2 Sets Lord Ducie 2 Sets Lord Brownlow 2 Sets Lord Foley 2 Sets Lord Thurlow 2 Sets Lord and Lady Dynevor 4 Sets Lord Sherborne q Sets Lord Amherst ^ Sets Lord Aukland^ &c. &c. &c. Lady Clive ^ ^ Sets The Dowager Lady Calthorpe 2 Sets Lord de Bimstanville 10 Sets Lord Glastonbury ^ Sets Lord Bolton 2 Sets Lord and Lady Sheffield 2 Sets Lord and Lady Milford 5 Sets The Dowager Lady Terapletown Lord Maedonald Lord Mancaster ^ Sets Lord Teignmouth 2 Sets Lord Whitworth 3 Sets Lord deBlaquiere The Bishop of London 2 Set* T^he Bishop of Durham 2 Sets The Bishop of Winchester SSet» The Bishop of Bath and Wells 5 Sets (The late) Bishop of Bath and Wells 2 Sets' The Bishop of Ely ^ SSets The Bishop of Worcester S Sets The Bishop of Hereford 2 Sets The late Bishop of Hereford 2 Sets the Bishop of Litchfield 2 Sets The Bishop of St. Asaph 2 Sets The late Bishop of St. Asaph 10 Sets Tlie Bishop of LandafF 2 Sets The Bishop of Lincoln 2 Sets The Bishop of Salisbury 2 Sets The Bishop of Bangor The Bishop of Rochester 2Seti ttl>s!m5er«> )c^ The Bishop of Gloucester ^ Sets The Bishop of Carlisle The Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Peterborough 2 Sets The late Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Bristol 2 Sets The Bishop of Chichester 10 Sets The Bishop of Oxford Q SeU The Bishop of Chester The late Bishop of St. David's The Bishop of Meath ^ Sets The Bishop of Limerick 2 Sets The Bishop of Dromore 5 Sets The Bishop of Elphin 2 Sets The Bishop of Down 2 Sets The Bishop of Waterford 2 Sets The Bishop of Cloyne 2 Sets The Bishop of Clogher 2 Sets Prince Bariatinsky, Great Portland-sti-eet 2 Sets Lady Frances Somerset 2 Sets Lord George Lennox 2 Sets The Earl of Euston 2 Sets Lord George H. Cavendish 2 Sets Lord Pcobert Spencer 2 Sets The Earl and Countess Temple 4 Sets Lord Henry Seymour , 2 Sets Lord Robert Seymour 2 Sets Lady Caroline Herbert 2 Sets The Dowager Viscountess Fielding Lady Maria Waldegrave Lord Viscount Royston S Sets Lord Viscount Althorpe Lady Eleanor Butler, at the Cottage near Llangollen, in Denbighshire 2 Sets Lord Kirkwall Lady Eliz^heth Pratt £ Sets Lady Sarah Price, Saintfield, in the County of Down 2 Set* Lord Viscount Valentia 2 Sets Lord Viscount Castlereagh, &c. Sec. &c. 2 Sets Lord Viscount Bernard 2 Sets Lady Caroline Wood Tlie Ptight Hon. Sir \Vm. Grant, Master of the Rolls 2 Sets The Right Hon. Henry Addington, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Right Hon. Sir William Wynne, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Right Hon. Sir William Scott,&c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Right Hon. Charles Yorke, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Right Hon. WiUiam Windham 2 Sets The Right Hon. Charles Greville 2 Sets The Right Hon. John Charles Villiers . 2 Sets The Right Hon. John Foster 2 Sets The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, &c. Sec. &c. The Right Hon. Sir C. Morgan, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The Right Hon. John H. Addington, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets The late Right Hon Thomas ConoUy 2 Sets The Right Hon. Maurice Fitzgerald, Knightof Kerry 2 Sets The Hon. and Rev. William Capel 2 Sets The Hon. George Villiers 2 Sets The Hon. John Ward The Hon. and Rev. Dr. Marsham 2 Sets The Hon. Henry Devereaux 2 Sets The Hon. Edward Lascelles The Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley The Hon. Mr. and Lady Frances Morton 4 Sets The Hon. Captain Morton C Sets The Hon. Charles James Fox 2 Sets The Hon. W. H. Irby 2 Sets The Hon. John Peachey and Mrs. Peachey 2 Sets The Hon. Thomas Fitzwilliam 2 Sets The Hon. Walter Yelverton 2 Sets The Hon. Sir Rob. Graham^ Baron of the Exchequer 2 Sets The Hon. Spencer Percival,8cc.&c. &c. 10 Sets The Hon. Thomas M. Sutton^ Esq. &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets George Hardinge^ Esq. &c. &c. &c. 10 Sets Richard Richards^ Esq. &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets i)r. Browne, Sec. &c. &c. Ireland , The Dean and Chapter of Westminster The Dean of Canterbmy The Dean and Chapter of Bristol The Dean and Chapter of Chichester The Dean of Ely Tlie Dean and Chapter of Worcester The Dean and Chapter of Exeter The Dean and Chapter of Gloucester The Dean and Chapter of Hereford Tlie Dean of Lincoln The Dean of Norwich The Dean of Christ Church, Oxford The Dean of Peterborough -. The Dean of Salisbury The Dean and Chapter of Rochester The Dean and Chapter of Wells The Dean of Winchester The Dean of St. Asaph The Dean and Chapter of York The Dean of Carlisle 10 Set9 2 Sets 8 Sets 5 Sets 2 Sets ^Sets 4 Sets 3 Sets 2 Sets 2 Sets 2 Sets 2 Sets 2 Sets 4 Sets 4 Sets 2 Sets 4 Sets 2 Sets The Dean of t)en'y 5 Sets The Dean of Raphoe • 2 Setf The Dean of Ardfert The Dean of Connor 5 Sets The Dean of Waterford £ Sets The Dean of Kilaloe THE DIRECTORS OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY 40 SctS The Master of Baliol College, Oxford 2 Sets The Warden of Merton College, Oxford 2 Sets The Rector of Exeter College 2 Sets The Provost of Oriel College 2 Sets The Provost of Queen's College, Oxf6rd 2 Sets The Warden of New College 2 Sets^ The Warden of All Souls College, 2 Sets The President of Magdalen College, Oxford 2 Sets The President of Corpus Christi College, 2 Sets The President of Trinity College> Oxford The President of St. John's College, Oxford 2 Sets The Warden of Wadham College, 2 Sets The Master of Pembroke College, Oxford The Provost of Worcester College 2 Sets The Principal of Alban Hall The Regius Professor of Hebrew, in Oxford 2 Set* The Regius Professor of Modern History, in Oxford 2 Sets The Professor of Anglo-Saxon, in Oxford The Professor of Botany, in Oxford The Master of Peter-HousQ, in Cambridge 2 Sets The Provost of King's College, Cambridge 2 Sets The Master of St. John's College, in Cambridge 2 Sets The Master of Trinity College, Cambridge 2 S^its The Master of Emmanuel College 2 Sets The Regius Professor of Civil Law^ in Cambridge 2 Sets The Public Orator^ in Cambridge The Norrisian Professor of Divinity, in Cambridge The Casuistical Professor, Cambridge University College Library, in Oxford Corpus Christi College Library Oriel College Library The Public Library of Cambridge The Library of Jesus College, in Cambridge The Library of Emmanuel College King's College Library, Cambridge Trinity College Library, in Cambridge The Provost of Eton College 2 Seta Eton College Q Sets The Fellows of Eton College 8 Sets The Masters of Eton School 2 Sets The late Upper Master of Westminster School £ Sets The Provost of Trinity College, Dublin The Master of the Temple The Society of the Middle Temple The Master of the Charter House The Master of the Charter House School S Sets The Society for Literary Funds gO Sets Dublin Library Society Cornwall County Library Worcester Library Bristol Library Frenchay Library, in Bristol Sunderland Subscription Library Book Society of Battle, in Sussex d2 John Rutherforth Abdj^ Esq. Albyns^ nearEpping^ in Essex Mrs.Abington Mr. Frederick Accum, Compton-street, Soho Samuel Acton^ Esq. Pembridge^ in the County of Hereford Mrs. Adair Dr. xldam^ Edinburgh James Adams^ Esq. M. P. &€. &c. 8cc. 2 Set^ Charles Adams^ Esq. M. P. 2 Set« Mrs. Adams_, Olveston John Adolphus, Esq. F. S. A. Warren Street Harland Ainsworth, Esq. Swansea Rev. Thomas Alban^ Ludlow Rev. Charles Alcock^ Prebendary of Chichester William Alexander^ Esq. King's Counsel Grant Allen, Esq. Winchester-Street John Allen, Esq. Town Clerk, Dublin John Allen, Esq. South -Street, Finsbury-Square . . Henry Allen, Esq. Barrister at Law, of the Lodge, in the County of Brecon 2 S«ts Rev. James Allen, Rector of Shobdon, in the County of Hereford Mrs. Alth am, Wey mouth-Street Miss Andrews, of the Circulating Library, in Worcester Mrs. Apreece, Washingley Hall, Huntingdonshire Hev. William Armstrong, F. A. S. George Arnold, Esq. (late) of Halstead, near Seven oaks, in Kent Dr. Ash, M . D. 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Thomas Bedford^ Rector of St. Helen's, Worcester Rev. ]\Ir. Beecher, King's College^ Cambridge Peter Begbie, Esq. New Bond-Street Adam Bell, Esq. Victualling Office, Deptford George Beltz, Esq. Herald's College John Bennett, Esq. Pythouse Rev. Mr. Berens, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Major-General and Mrs. Bernard ^ Sets Mr. Berrington, Attorney at Law, Swansea Mr. Berry, sen. Trinity College, Oxford Mr. Berry, jun. ditto Thomas Best, Esq. Boxley, near Maidstone 2 Sets Mr. James Best, Corpus Christi College, Oxford William Bethell, Esq. and Mrs. Bethell, Langton- Hall, Yorkshire 2 Sets R.Bevan, Esq. Barrister at Law, Boswell-Court, Lincoln's-Inn Rev. Mr. Bevan, Rector of Whitton 2 Sets^ Richard Bever, Esq. 5 Sets Ralph Bigland, Esq. Richmond, Herald Samuel Birch, Esq. Portland-Square, Bristol » Rev. Mr. Birch, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Thomas Bird, Esq. Worcester Mr. Bird, Bookseller, Cardiff 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Bishop, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Rev. S. 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Jonathan Boucher, A. M. F. S. A. Vicar of Epsom Rev. Richard Bourne, A. M. Dublin Sir Charles W, R. Boughton, Barl. 2 Set* John Bowdler, Esq, and Mrs. Bowdler 2 Sets Thomas Bowdler, Esq. of St. Boniface, in the Isle of Wight Mrs. Bowdler, of Bath William Bowdon, Esq. Union Court, Broad-Street William Bowdon, Esq. Marty-Melland, Devonshire Kev. W. L. Bowles, Donhead Thomas B. Brampston, Esq. M. P. Albemarle-Street Rev. John Brampston, Stone-Forest Hall, Essex Robert Bree, M. D. Birmingham Charles T. Brereton, Esq. Bristol Thomas Brice, Esq. Samuel Brice, Esq, Erenchay, Bristol Mr. Brydges, Corpus Christi College, Oxford George Bright, Esq. Richard Bright, Esq. • Brisco, Esq. Trinity College, Cambridge Rev. William Bristow, Ireland John Britten, Esq. Wilderness-Row Theodore Henry Broadhead, Esq. Portland-Place Theodore Henry Broadhead, jun. Esq. Orchard-Street 2 Sets Rev. Anthony Bromley, Rector of St. Mildred, Poultry- Henry Brockard, Esq. Camden-Street, Pancras Rev. Mr. Brooke, Exeter College, Oxford Rev. Thomas Brooke, Sodbury Mr. Richard Brooke Rev. Dr. Brooker, Dudley, Warwickshire Mr. Brotherton, Little Britain, Aldersgate-Street J. H. Browne, Esq. M. P. John Browne, Esq. Presteigne Thomas Browne, Esq. New Bridge-Street, Blackfriars 2 SetS; Timothy Browne, Esq. Camberwell Francis Browne, Esq. General Post-Office Mr. Browne, Attorney at Law, Cardiif Thomas Browne, Esq. Barpster at Law, Inner Temple Rev. Mr. Browne, Corpus Christi, College, Oxford Crasvfurd Bruce, Esq. M. P. Fitzroy-Square Rev. Dr. Bruce, Ireland Jacob Bryant, Esq. &c. &c. 8cc. £ Sets Mrs. Bi'vant, Bath wick ' Admu-al Buckner, Chichester 2 Sets Miss Maria Budgen, Twickenham 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Bullock, Oriel College, Oxford Mr, Burch, Miniature Painter^ Charlotte-Street, Rathbone-Place Sir James B. Burgess, Bart. 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Burgess, Rector of Winfirth-Newburgh, Dorsetshire Miss Burton, Christ Church, Oxford James C. Butson^ Esq. Waterford 2 Sets Rev. J. M. Butt, Student of Christ Church Rev. Thomas Butt^ -Arley, Worcestershire Thomas Cabbell, Esq. Exeter College, Oxford Benjamin B. Cabbell, Esq. ditto Mrs. Cade, Sidcop, near Foot's Cray 2 Sets Messrs. Cadell and Davies, Booksellers, Strand 6 Sets Tho. Caldecot, Esq. Barrister at Law, Dartford, Kent 2 Sets Henry Callendar, Esq. Mr. Calley, Trinity College Colonel Campbell, New Cavendish-Street Dr. Cameron, M. D. Worcester Rev. Dr. Camplin, Vicar of All Saints, Bristol 2 Sets- Colonel Capper, Cardiff 2 Sets John Carleton, Esq. Mountjoy-Square, Dublin John Carrington, Esq. Mile-End John Carstares, Esq. Stratford-Green, Essex David Cassidy, Esq. Upper Mary-le-bone-Street Miss Cartwright Rev. Dr. Cagberd, Vicar of Penmark, &c. Glamorganshire Xlii ufistnfjetfi* Stephen Cave^ Esq. Brunswick-Square^ Bristol John Cave^ Esq. George Chahners, Esq. 6 Sets The late Sir Robert Chambers, Chief Justice of India, Queen Ann-Street East Lady Chambers^ of ditto Br. Chambers, M. D. Worcester William Chapman, Esq. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hev. R. Charleton, Vicar of Olveston 4 Sets Mrs. Charleton £ Sets Mrs. Charleton, College Green, Bristol R. Chearnley, Esq. Swansea Edmund Cheese, Esq. Kington, Herefordshire Mr. John Cheetham, Manchester Rev. Joseph Cheston, A. M. Gloucester George Children, Esq. Tunbridge, Kent 2 Sets, Mrs. P. Cholmeley, Weymouth-Street Rev. Mr. Cholmeley, Magdalen College, Oxford James Christie, jun. Esq. Pall-Mall Robert Christie, Esq. Old-Jewry John Chughe, Esq. Gracechurch-Street Mr. John Church, Brecon Mr. Samuel Church, ditto Mr. Churchey, Attorney at Law, and his two Sons, Brecon, 3 Sets- Colonel Clark, 46th Regiment of Foot Mr. John Clark, Land Survej^or John Clark, M. D. Burlington-Street Anthony Clarke, Esq. Caroline-Place, Guildford-Street Mrs. Clarke, of the Hill, near Ross, Herefordshire Rev. Mr. Clayton, Fellow of Brazen Nosd College, Oxford John Clements, Esq. Upper Grosvenor-Street Q Scte Rev. Allen Cliffe, Mathom, near Worcester Rev. Mr. Coates, Corpus Christi College, Oxford W. H. Coates, Esq. Surgeon, 5th D. G. Howland-Street Rev. Mr. Cockayne, Stapleton Sir Charles Codrington, Bart. C. Codrington, Esq. M. P. Dodington, 5 SeU Hon. Mrs. Codrmgton 5 Sets Mrs. Codrington, Albemarle- Street Captain Codrington, Winchfield, Hants Rev. Francis Coke, Lower-Moor, Herefordshire Pennel Cole, Esq. Worcester Mrs. Cole, Wickham, Suffolk Miss Cole Charles Collins, Esq. Swansea Mr. CoUinson, Queen's College, Oxford Thomas Collins, Esq. Berners-Street Lieutenant Colly, Royal Engineers, Tower Sir John Colpoys, &c. 8cc. &c. Benjamin Comberbatch, Esq. Worcester Rev. James Commeline, Gloucester Rev. Richard Constable, Prebendary of Chichester John Conyers, Esq. Mount-Street, Grosvenor-Squar* Rev. Edward Conyers, Epping, Essex Edward Cooke, Esq. Somerset-Street, Portman-Square Rev. Thomas Cooke, Rector of Wickwar John Cooke, Esq. Duke-Street, Portland-Place Rev. Richard Cooke Mr. Cooke, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Hector Cooksey, Esq. Presteigne Rev. Dr. Coombe, Prebendary of Canterbury Rev. Mr. Coplestone, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Thomas Copley, Esq. Neither-Hall, Doncaster Sir George Cornewall, Bart. M. P. 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Corser, Bridgnorth Sir Stephen Cotterell, &c. &c. &c. Messrs. Cowley and Co. Booksellers^ Bristol Samuel C. Cox, Esq. a Welsh Judge * 2 Sets Richard Cox, Esq. Quartly, Hants 4 Sets Rev. Mr. Coxe, &c. &c. &c. Bemerton, Wilts Rev. Mr. Coxe, Harley-Street Mr. Samuel Crane, Worcester Mr. Henry Craven, Trinity College, Oxford Richard Crawshay, Esq. Cyfartha^ Glamorganshire 2 Sets Miss Creswell, Bath Mr. Creswell, Trinity College, Oxford Richard Croft, Esq. Old Burlington-Street 2 Sets Rev. John Crofts George Crooke, Esq. Kemshot-Park, Hants Mr. John B. Cross, King-Square, Bristol Mrs. Cumming, Camden-Place, Bath 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Curteis, Vicar of Seven oaks, Kent Rev. Trotman Curties, Fellow of Corpus Christi College John C. Curwen, Esq. M. P, 2 Sets Mrs. Cust, Grantham Dr. Dale, London Dr. Dalton, Camberweil Professor Dalzell, Edinburgh John Daniel, Esq. Mincing-Lane Mr. Darnell, Corpus Christi College, Oxford W. Y. Davenport, Esq. Davenport-House, Salop Rev. Richard Davies, Crickhowell, Breconshire Miss Davies Rev. Dr. Davies, Chfton Somerset Davies, Esq. Croft Castle, Herefordshire 2 Sets Henry Davies, Esq. Presteigne James Davies, Esq. Kington, Herefordshire Mr. John James Davies, Attorney at Law, Presteigne Captain Richard Davies. Crickhowell, Breconshire Rev. Richard Daviesy Vicar of Tetbury Mrs. DavIeSj, Badminton Mr. Davies, Rhisgog, Radnorshire 5 Sets Rev. William Davies^ A.M. Vicar of Llangors D. Davies^ Esq. Swansea Q Sets William Davies^ Esq. Cringell Mr. Edmund Davies,, Rhisgog Rev. Richard Davies,, Vicar of Brecon^ &c. Rev. Richard Davies^ jun. of ditto William Davies^ Esq. Brecon Rev. John Davies^ Vice Master of Trinity College,Cambridge Dr. Davies^ M. D. Carmarthen Morgan Thomas Davies, Esq. Swansea Rev. Dr. Davies, Macclesfield Richard Hart Davis, Esq. Clifton Rev. Mr. Dean, Brazen Nose College, Oxford Martin Deane, M. D. Ludlow Rev. Mr. Deane, Dudmarton Joseph Denman, M. D. Bakewell, Derbyshire 2 Sets Dr. Denman, M. D. Old Burlington-Street 2 Sets Thomas Denman, Esq. Lincoin's-Inn 2 Set* Richard Deane, Esq. Winchelsea Mr. Deane, Trinity College Oxford Rev. Mr. Dennison William Desmond, Esq. New Palace Yard 2 Sets Sir John Dick, &c. &,c. See. Upper Harley-Street ^ Sets William L. Dilewyn, Esq. Rev. Mr. Dodd, Magdalen College, Cambridge Rev. P. Dodd, Camberwell Sir Wiriiam Dolben, Bart. M. P. ^ Set^ William Dolby, Esq. Brizes, Essex Robert Dolbyn, Esq. Recorder of Waterford 2 S^ts Andrew Douglas, Esq. Portland-Place Rev. Robert DoUglas, Salop Eev.Dr. Dowdesweli Mr. John Dowding, Worcester Mrs. Do well. Cote, near Bristol Richard Downes, Esq. Hereford John Dowse, Esq. Great James-vStreet, Bedford-Row Rev. Matthew D'Oyley, Buxted, Sussex- Sir Francis Drake, Bart. ^ Sets Fraficis Drake, Esq. John Drew, Esq. Chichester 2 Sets Driscot, Esq. Barrister at Law, Dublin 2 Setfe Rev. Dr. Drought, Bath Rev. J. Drought, A. M. Claines, near Worcest(ir Simeon Droz, Esq. Portland-Place Rev. Dr. Hay Drummond, Canon of Christ Church Robert DiifF, Esq. Finsbury-Square Jonathan Duncan, Esq. Governor of Bombay 2 Sets Christopher Dunkin, Esq. Southwark Rev. Dr. Duval, Canon of Windsor 2 Sefe Mr. Samuel Dyer, Bristol Jeremiah Dyson, Esq. &c. &c. Sec. g Sets Thomas Eagle, Esq. Bristol Rev. Edward Earle, High Ongar, Essex Hinton East, Esq. Brazen Nose College, Oxford John F. Edgar, Esq. Bristol Edington, Esq. New Bond-Street Richard Edmonds, Esq. Exchequer Pleas Office The late Rev. Mr. Archdeacon Edwardes Samuel Edwards, Esq. Cotham Lodge Mr. Thomas Egerton, Bookseller, Whitehall Sets Rev. Mr. Elgee, Rector of Wexford 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Elrington, Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dwblin Isaac El ton:, Esq, Hill-House Edmund Estcourt, Esq. Lincoln's-Inn-Fields G Sets John Evans, Esq. Byletts^ Herefordshire Mr, Hugh Evans^jun. Llandilo, Carmarthenshire Kev. Dr. Evans, Prebendary and Archdeacon of Norwich Hugli P. Evans, Esq. Noyadd, Radnorshire 2 Set$ Rev. J. Evans, Vicar of Newport, Monmouthshire Robert Farquhar, Esq. Portland-Place William Fawkener, Esq. &c. &c. &c. £ Sets Rev. James Fawcett, B. D. Norfolk Rev. Joseph F. Fearon, Prebendary of Chicheslex Ralph Fenwick, M. D. Durham Rev. Edmund Ferrers, Cheriton, Hants Mr. John Fewster, Surgeon, Thornbury William T. Fitzgerald, Esq. Thomas Fitzherbert, Esq. Portland-Place Robert Fleetwood, Esq. Victualling Office Joseph Fletcher, Esq, Great Ealing ^ Sets Rev. John Foley, Newent, Gloucestershire Rev. Mr, Foote, Prebendary of Rochester Lady Ford, Oakedge, Shropshire . "2 Sets Mr. H. F. Ford, Chfton Mr. William Ford, Manchester John Fordyce, Esq. Birchin-Lane Rev. Dr. Fothergill, Tiverton € Sets B. Fountaine, Esq, Harford-Hall, Norfolk Rev. Mr. Foxcroft, Winterbourne Miss Foxcroft, Halstead, Yorkshire William Fowler, Esq. Chichester Thomas Hodges Fowler, Esq. Abbey Cum Hir, Rad- norshire £ Sets Mrs. Fowler, of ditto 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Franklin, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Thomas Franklyi^, Esq. Barrister at Law, Pwl-y-wrach Glamorganshire * Rev. Peter A. Franquefort, Irelananiel Hopkins, Esq. Leadenhall-Street William Hooper^ B. D. Fellow of University College, Oxford John Archer Houblon, Esq. Great Hallingbury, Essex Henry Howard, Esq. M. P. Thornbury Rev. Benjamin Howell, Rector of Boughwood Thomas Bridges Hughes, Esq. Barrister at Law 2 Sets Dr. Hughes, Jesus College, Oxford Mr. Hughes, Ditto Rev. John Hughes, Vicar of Pembroke The late Rev. Mr. Huish, Rector of Pembridge, Herefordshire 2 Sets Rev. John Huish, late of Ditto 2 Sets Rev. Francis Huish, Rector of Clisthydon, Devonshire 2 Sets John Huitson, Esq. Newman-Street J. Humphreys Esq, Barrister at Law, Llantrissentj» Glamorganshire Miss Hunt, at Mrs. Bowdler^s, Park-Street, Bath David Hunter, Esq. Blackheath Rev. Mr. Huntley, Boxwell-Court 2 Sets Herbert Hurst, Esq, Gabalva, Glamorganshire Samuel Jackson, Esq, 2 Sets John Jackson, Esq. Manchester W. H. R. Jackson, Esq. Mall, Clifton, Sir Walter H. James, Bart. Devonshire-Place 3 Sets Richard James, Esq. Ightham, Sevenoaks, Kent 2 Sets Rev. Morgan James,, Brecon 2 Sets Mr. James, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Thomas Jameson, Esq. Fire-Com't Rev. Mr. James, Rector of Rememham, Berkshire John Jeffreys, Esq. Peckham John Jeffreys, Esq. Swansea John Jeffreys, Junior, Esq. Ditto Walter Jeffreys, Esq. Brecon Elias Jenkins, Esq. Neath X.ewis Jenkins, Esq. Ditto 2 Sets Mr. John Jenkinson, Manchester Robert Jenner, Esq. Wenvoe-Castle, Glamorgan- shire 6 Sets Rev. William Jephson, Camberwell Mr. D. Jephson, Ditto 2 Sets Mr, J. T. Jephson, West Bromwich, Warwickshire Sir Hugh Inglis, Bart. &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Ingram, New College, Oxford Rev. P. Ingram, Stamford, Worcestershire Richard Ingram, Esq. Worcester Mr. Ingram, Trinity College, Oxford John Innes, Esq. 2 Sets Thomas Johnes, Esq. MP. 5 Sets Rev. Samuel Johnes, Vicar of Allhallows Barking 2 Sets Lieutenant General Johnson, Ireland 2 Sets Cuthbert Johnson, Esq. Swansea Richard Johnson, Esq. Stratford-Place Peter Johnson, Esq. Percy-Street Major Johnson, Swansea Benjamin Johnson, Esq. Barrister at Law J. Johnson, Esq. Mr. Johnstone, Trinity College, Cambridge Thomas Tyrwhit Jones, Esq. M. P. Clarence Lodge Heniy Jones, Esq. Gravesend Daniel Jones, Esq. of Lantvvit-Major, Glamorgan- shire £ Set^ John Jones/ Esq. Cardiff-Arms 2 Sets John Jones, Esq. St. Helen's, Glamorganshire 2 Sets Harford Jones, Esq. Resident at Bagdad 2 Sets Theophilus Jones, Esq. Brecon lo Sets Edward Jones, Esq. Llandovery, Carmarthenshire 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Jones, Redland 10 Sets Thomas Jones, Esq. Stapleton Rev. Richard Jones, Charfield 2 Sets Mr. Jones, A. B. St. John's College, Cambridge Rev. Thomas Jones, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge Rev. Thomas Jones, Wickwar 2 Sets G. Jones, Esq. Swansea Rev. B. Jones, Swansea, Vicar of Cheriton, Hants Mr. John Jones, Neath Mr. John Jones, Surgeon, Ditto Mr. W. Jones, Attorney at Law, Swansea Mr. O. Jones, Thames-Street Mr. Edward Jones, Harpist of the Prince of Wales Rev. Leland, Croydon, Surrey 2 Sets Ellas Isaac, Esq. Worcester James Kearne}'^, Esq. Garret's-Town, in the County of Cork Miss Keene, Bath 4 Sets Benjamin Keene,Esq.Charles-Street,Berkeley-Square ^ Sets Rev. Mr. Keet, Hatfield, Herts. William Kemys, Esq. Maindee, Monmouthshire . Edward Kendall, Esq. Langattock Crickhowell 2 Sets Mr. Joseph Fr. de Kergariou de Laninou en Bretagne Rev. Mr. Kett^ Trinity College, Oxford 2 Sets Heni7 Jarrett Key, Esq. Abchurch-Lane 2 Sefe Rev. Mr. Keysall Mr. Kilpin Thomas King, Esq. Nok§t Herefordshire Rev. Mr. King, Olveston o gg^ Henry King, Esq. Bristol Rev. Mr. King, Brazen-Nose College, Oxford Colonel Kingscote, Kingscote James Kinnersley, Esq. Ludlow g Sets Lieutenant-Colonel William Kirkpatrick 2 Sets Richard Kirwan, Esq. F. R. S. Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. Elton, near Ludlow 2 Sets Mr. William Knight, Park-Row, Bristol 2 Sets Henry Knight, Esq. Tythegstone, Glamorganshire Rev. Mr. Knottesford^ Hadleigh, Suffolk 2 Sets James Lackington, Esq. 2 Sets Lieutenant-Colonel Lambard 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Lambert, Fellow of Trinity College Samuel Langford, Esq. Peckham Dr. Latham, See. M. D. Bedford-Row 2 Sets James Law, Esq. Portland-Place Rev. Dr. Law, Archdeacon of Rochester Dr. Lawrence, M. D. Cambridge George Urquhart Lawtie, Esq. 53^ Upper Mary-le-bone Street John Martin Leake, Esq. Harley-Street Edward Lee, Esq. M. P. 2 Sets Capel Hanbury Leigh, Esq. Pontipool 2 Sets Mrs. Leigh, ditto 2 Sets; Rev. Charles Lesley Captain Lewes, Brecon Militia Rev Richard Lewis, Limerick Rev. Lewis Lewis, Gwynfer, Carmarthenshire John Lewis^ Esq. Byletts, Shropshire Rev. Mr. Lewis, Corsham David Lewis, Esq. Clan y Rhyd, Carmarthenshire Hugh Leycester, Esq. M. P. &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets Mrs. Liell, Richmond, Surrey 2 Seta John Liptrap, Esq. Mile-End 2 Sets Rev. R. Litchford, Boothby-Pagnel, Lincolnshire Rev. William Llewellyn, Thornbury 2 Seta John Llewellin, Esq. Penllergare, Glamorganshire 2 Sets John Llewellin, Esq. of Welsh St. Donats^ Glamorganshire 2 Sets Griffith Llewellin, Esq. Margam, Glamorganshire 2 Sets John Lloyd, Esq. Dinas, Brecon shire 2 Sets Thomas Lloyd, Esq. Bronwydd, Cardiganshire John Lloyd, Esq. Aberannell, Breconshire * David Lloyd, Esq. Brecon Rev. Evan Lloyd, Orsett, Essex Rev. Bartholomew Lloyd, Fellow of Trinity College Dublin Rev. William Lockton, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Dr. Lodge, Chancellor of Armagh 2 Sets Edward Long, Esq. Worcester Mr. Longfellow, Brecon Colonel Loraine, Wey mouth-Street Rev. Verney Lovett, Vicar of Bandon, Ireland: Jonathan Lovett, Esq. Deputy^ Persian Interpreter to the Government of Bombay Mrs. Lowe, Park-Street, Grosvenor-Square 2 Sets Richard Lowndes, Esq. Red-Lion-Square P. J. Luai;d, Esq. Worcester Rev. Dr. Ludlow, Sopworth Samuel Ludlow, Esq. Henrietta-Street, Coven t-Garden^ Mr. Luffinan, Geographer, Ball-Alley, Colemi^n-Street William Lukin, Esq, Royal Navy Sir Stephen Lushington^ Bart. M. P. &c. Upper Harley-Street Mr. Lury, Lower Hazel^ Olveston Samuel Lysons, Esq. F. R. S. and F. S. A. Winslow Rev. Mr. Maber, Rector of Merthir Tidvill^ Glamor- ganshire Dr. Macdonell, M. D. Ireland Colonel Mac Lachlan Donald Macleod, Esq. in Geannies Q Sets John Macnamara, Esq. Langoed Castle^Breconshire 4 Sets . Rev. Spencer Madan, Birmingham Rev. Mr. Madewell_, in Scotland Rev. Dr. Magee, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin Samuel Manesty, Esq. Resident at Bussorah Sir William Manners, Bart. Oxford-Street 2 Sets John W. Mansfield, Esq. Swansea 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Mant, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Thomas Markham, Esq. Glamorganshire 2 Sets Rev. Herbert Marsh, B. D. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge Rev. Mr. Marsh, Christ Church, Oxford Rev. Mr. Marshall, Lincoln College, Oxford Rev. Mr. Marshall, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Mr. Edward Marshall, Bradford, Wilts William Byam Martin, Esq. Portland-Place 2 Sets Mrs. Mathew, Rathbone-Place Thomas Matthias, Esq. &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets Rev. Thomas Maurice, Author of the Indian Antiquities Mr. Hugh Maurice, Thomas-Street, Bristol Mr. Joseph Maurice, Surgeon, Bristol Thomas Maybery, Esq. Brecon Peter Mellish, Esq. Brunswick-Square f Mil ^nhmittts. R. M. Mence^ Esq. Worcester Rev. Benjamin Mence^ Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford Richard Mence, Esq. Temple Thomas Meredith, Esq. Knighton, Radnorshire Thomas Meredith, Esq. Brecon Paul C. Methuen, Esq. Lower Grovesnor-Street 2 SeU Mr. Methuen, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Mr. Edward Michal, Bradford, Wilts VV^illiam Miller, Esq. Ozel worth Sir Francis Millman, Bart. M. D. John Miers, Esq. Cadoxton-Place, Glamorganshire Miss M ill grove, Thornbury William Minier, Esq. Adelphi-Terrace Mr. Minoch, Trinity College, Oxford Kev. John Mitchell, Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford Mr. Mitford, Fellow of Oriel College, Ditto Mr. Hugh Moises, University College, Ditto William MoncrifFe, M. D. Bristol Basil Montague, Esq. Paper Buildings, Inner Temple Dr. Moody, LL. D. Turnham-Green 2 Sets .Abraham Moore, Esq. Barrister at Law Rev. James Moore, Wimbledon, Surrey Rev. Thomas Moore Mrs. Hannah More Charles Morgan, Esq. M. P. $ Set§ Rev. William Morgan, Brecon Edward Morgan, Esq. Recorder of Brecoo Edward Morgan, Esq. LlandaiF 8 Set* Mr. Charles Morgan, Talgarth, Breconshire Mr. John Morgan, Brecon Mr. C. Morgan, St. Peter's College, Cambridgff Jblo Morgwng. ^ttbsmtiersi, Ux Hev. Dr. Morrice,, Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel John Morris, Esq. Clasemont, Glamorganshire Walter M. Mosely, Esq. Glasshampton, Worcestershire Michael Moseiy, Esq. King's Bench Walks^ Temple Rev. Dr. Moss, Prebendary of St. PauFs Rev. Mr. Moulding, Rector of Rotherham^ Essex John Moultrie, Esq. Aston-Hail^ near Shifnal, Shropshire Mr. Mount, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Abel Moj^sey, Esq. &c. 8cc. 8cc. 2 Sets Abel Moysey, Jun. Esq. Lincoln's-Inn Rev. Mr. Mulso, Abergavenny George J. Murphy, Esq. Mus. D. Dublin Sir John Macgregor Murray, Bart Sir John C. Musgrave, Bart. Portland-Place Rev. Dr. Myddleton, Rotherliithe 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Myddleton, Ditto Rev. Slade Nash, near Worcester Richard Nelms, Esq. Bradley- House Rev. Mr. Neve, Vicar of Sodbury Rev., Mr. New, Vicar of St. Phihp's, Bristo] James Nibbs^ Esq. Mrs. Nibbs Rev. Dr. Nicholas, Great Ealing ^ Sets William Nicholl, Esq. Barrister at Law, Great George- Street, Hanover-Square Q. Sets John Nichols, Esq. Red Lion-Passage, Fleet-Street Mr. Samuel Nicholson, Manchester Rev. Robert Nixon, A. M. Foot's Cray, Kent Robert Nixon, Esq. F. R. S. 2 Sete William Nodes, Esq. New Cavendisii-Stree* Dr. Noehden, Eton College Major Noelj of the Worcester Militia George Norman^, Esq. Bromley Common, Kent S Sets Rev. Francis North, Rector of St. Mary's^ Southampton Messrs. North, Brecon Thomas Northmore, Esq. Bentinck-Street Mr. Norton, Bookseller, Bristol 6 Sets Rev. Mr. Nott, All Soul's College, Oxford Peter NouaiUes, Jun. Esq. Greatness, near Sevenoaks, Kent 2 Sets Mrs. Nowell, Dorset-Street 2 Sets Mr. Geoi'ge Nutcombe, Priory, Warwickshire Silvester O'Hallaran, Esq. Limerick Rev. Mr. Oldnall, Rector of St. Nicholas, Worcester Mr. William Ogilvy, Bread-Street, Hull L. Oliver, Esq. late of Nook, in the County of Hants Q, Sets W^illiam Oram, Esq. Harley-Street Dowell O'Reilly, Esq. Dublin Mr. Ord, Trinity College, Oxford Sir Wilham Ouseley, LL. D. &c. &c. &c. Ralph Ouseley, Esq. Limerick Gore Ouseley, Esq. East-Indies Thomas Owen, Esq. Carmarthenshire Rev, Mr. Owen, Clifton, Bristol Rev. John Owen, Archdeacon of Richmond Mr. William Owen, Author of the Welch Dictionary James Pain, Esq. Maidenhead 2 Sets Rev. Richard Palmer, Grantham Robert Pardoe, Jun. Esq. Bradley, Worcestershire The late Rev. Dr. Parker^ Rector of St. James, Westminster 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Parker, Oxford Thomas Parker, Esq. Worcester Rev. Mr. Parker, Fellow of Merton College, Oxford Mrs. Parry, Gressford r.odge, Denbighshire 2 Sets Sir William Paxton, Middleton Hall, Carmar- thenshire 2 Sets Charles Partridge, Esq. Bristol Mr. Pasquier, Gray's-Inn-Square Sir George O. Paul, Bart. Lower Grosvenor-Street 2 Sets Robert Paul, Esq. Assistant Barrister for the County of Waterford 2 Sets Samuel P. Peach, Esq. Tockington 4 Sets Mr. Pearce, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Miss Frances Pearson, Percy-Street Peter Peirson, Esq. Paper Buildings, Inner Temple The late Henry Cressett Pelham, Esq. Counde Hall^ Shropshire 2 Sets Christopher R. Pemberton, M. D. Great George-Street, Hanover-Square Granville Penn, Esq. Secretary of State's Office 2 Sets John Penn, Esq. Spring-Garden 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Penny ^ Sets Mrs. Penny man Sir William Pepys, Bart, a Master in Chancery 2 Sets Dr. Percival, Manchester Rev. Dr. Percy Rev. David Peter, Carmarthen Mr. Peters, Gower-Street Henry Peters, Esq. M. P. Park-Street, Grosvenor- Square Richard Mansell Phillipps, Esq. Sketty, Glamor- ganshire 2 Sets^ Mrs. Catharine Philipps, Hampton-Court Mrs. Joyce Phihpps, Hampton Court Mrs. Jane Philipps, Picton Castle^ Pembrokeshire Ijcii ^hmiUts. John Philips^ Esq. Llandilo^ Carmarthen Rev. Luke Philips, Vicar of Grain, Kent John Phihps, Esq. Fen church-Street Joseph Philhmore, Esq. Christ Church, Oxford WiUiam Philhmore, Esq. Barrister at Law John Philhps, Esq. Carmarthen Mr. Philhps^ Frenchay, Bristol Humphry Phillpot, Esq'. g Sets Mr. Phillott, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Barre Phipps J. P. Picard, Esq. Rev. WiUiam Pigott, Rector of Edgmond Mr. Pigott, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Mr. Pinckney, Ditto John Pinkerton, Esq. Pimlico, &c. &c. &c. Mr. Player, Elberton Mr. John Player, Tockington, near Bristol Miss Player Miss Mary Player Rev. Henry Plimley, Rector of Shoreditch Rev. Mr. Plumbtree, Prebendary of Worcester Thomas Plumer, Esq. King's Counsel Miss Polhlll, Chipstead, Sevenoaks William Pollock, Esq. Secretary of State's Office 2 Sets James Poole, Esq. Barrister at Law- Thomas J. Powell, Esq. Berwick-House, Shropshire John Kynaston Powell, Esq. M. P. Thomas H. Powell, Esq. Barrister at Law, Brecon 2 Sets Rev. Thomas Powell, Cantref Walter Powell,-Esq. Brecon 2 Sets John Powell, Esq. Brecon 2 Sets Sir Gabriel and Lady Powell '^ Sets Thomas Jelf Powis, Esq. Berwick-House, Salop Rev. Mr. Poyntz, Rector of Tormartou Mr. Nathaniel Poyntz^ Ditto Mr. Pratt Sir G. B. Prescott, Bart. Theobald's-Park, Herts. Rev. Dr. Prettyman, Prebendary of Norwich Rev. William Price^ LL.D. Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Richard Price, Esq. M. P. 2 Set$ Mr. Rice Price, Surgeon, Hay, Breconshire 2 Sets Samuel Price, Esq. Coroner and Surgeon, Brecon Rev. J. Price, Trinity College, Oxford Theophilus Price, Esq. Harborne Nicholas Price, Esq. Saintfield, Downshire, Ireland John Price, Esq. LlandafF Q, Set§ Roger Price, Esq. Castle Madoc, Breconshire Penry Price, Esq. Rhayader, Radnorshire Thomas Price, Esq. Builth, Breconshire Thomas Price, Esq. Birmingham John Prichard, Esq. Bridgend, Glamorganshire Mr. Thomas Prichard, Ross Mr. D. Prichard, Builth, Breconshire Mr. James Cooles Prichard Miss Pritchard, near Ambleside, Westmorland 2 Sets John Pritchard, Esq. Dolevelin, Radnorshire 2 Sets Charles Pritchard, Esq. Brecon Captain Puget, Royal Navy 2 Sets Lieutenant-General Sir James Pulteney, Bart. Henry James Pye, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Rev. Reginald Pyndar, Hadsor^ near Worcester Jonathan Pytts, Esq. Alexander Raby, Esq. ^ 2 Sets Rev Dr. RadcliiFe, Prebendary of Canterbury p. Raikes, Esq. Gloucester Rev, Mr. Raikes, Ditto Rev. Dr. Raine, Charterhouse Ijct^j Subscribers* General Rainsford^ &c. &c. &c. Soho-Square Rev. Charles J. Rainsford^ Powick_, near Worcester James Ramsden^ Esq. of the College of Physicians Rev. Benson Ramsden_, A. M. Rector of Stanbridge, Essex Rev. Mr. Randolph^ Corpus Chri&ti College^ Oxford Joshua Reeves,, Esq. Canterbury-Square John Reeves, Esq. James Rennell, Esq. &c. &c. &c, Suffolk-Street, Middlesex-Hospital Rev. J. H. Renouard, Trinity College, Cambridge Jacob Reynardson, Esq. HoUywell, near Stamford William Reynolds, Esq. Colebrook-dale, Shropshire Mrs. WiUiam Richards, Cardiff Rev. Benjamin Richardson, Rector of Farley, Hun- gerford Rev. Mr, Richardson, Bennett College, Cambridge Mr. Richardson, Iron-Acton Samuel Richardson, Esq. Hensol, Glamorganshire 2 Sets Mr. Richardson, Druggist, Bristol Rev. Mr. Roberts, Cambridge Rev. Peter Roberts, Arundel-Street, Strand Edward Roberts, Esq. Little Ealing 2 Sets Mr. Roberts, Stoke's-Croft, Bristol Rev. J. R. Roberts, Great Portland-Street G. P. Rogers, Esq. Swansea Stephen Rolleston, Esq. Secretary of State's Office 2 Sets George Rolph, Esq. Tliornbury Mr. Rolph, Surgeon, Peckham . Samuel Rom illy, Esq. King's Counsel Lieutcnant-General Rooke Thomas Rov/erscroft, Esq. Broad-Street Rev. xMr. Rudd, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Dr. Ruddiman, Charlotte-Street, Portland-Place I Sir William and Lady Rush, Wimbledon^ Surrey 2 Sets ; Richard Rushworth, Esq. Manchester , j William Russell, Esq. Barrister at Law, Powick, | near Worcester 9, Sets James J. Russell, Esq. Limerick ■ i John Sahnon, Esq. Olveston, Gloucestershire ■ Mr. Edward Salmon, Surgeon, Thornbury, Gloucestershire , , Rev. J. L. Salvador, Grafton-Street, Piccadilly . j Sir Robert Salusbury, Bart. M. P. • David Samuel, Esq. Bolston, Glamorganshire 2 Sets ! Mr. Sandford, Wimbledon, Surrey ■ Rev. Charles Sandiford, Gloucester Mr. Sangar, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford ^ Rev. John Savage, Rector of Beverston Captain Saunders, Upton-Grove Joshua Saunders, Esq. j Rev. Mr. Sayer, Bristol ' i J. Sayer, Esq. Hallow-Park, near Worcester I David Scott, Esq. Upper Harley-Street ^ Sets ] Mr. George Scott, Manchester \ Edward Sealy, Esq. Bridgewater j Rev. Mr. John Sealy, Ditto 1 Mr. Selwyn, Corpus Christi College, Oxford ] Mr. Serle, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford Richard Seymour, Esq. St. John's College, Oxford ' ; Mr. Seymour, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Joseph Shapland, A. M. Rector of St. Peter's, I Worcester * , Miss Charlotte Shapland, Marshfield ^ Rev. Thomas Shepherd, Limerick ' Mr. Shepherd Wotton-under-Edge ' , ~ i John Sherborne, Esq. Hereford 2 Sets j Rev. T, Shurry ^ i Mr. Shute, Park-Street, Bristol James Sibbald, Esq. Upper Harley-Street t Sets Mr. Sibthorpe, Corpus Christi College, Oxford RadclifFe Sidebottom, Esq, 4 Sets G. Simcocks, Esq. Joseph Skey, M. D. Worcester Robert Slade, Esq. Doctor's Commons Rev. Dr. Small, Prebendary of Gloucester Charles Smith, Esq. M. P. Portland-Place 2 Sets Colonel Smith, &c. &c. 2 Sets Rev, J. Smith, of St. John's College, Cambridge Ferdenando Smith, Esq. Barbourne, near Worcester Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, Groom of the Bedchamber to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent Rev. J. G. Smith, Che-11-esworth, Suffolk, and Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent Rev. Samuel Snead, Ludlow Rev. Tlio. Sockett, Vicar of Ombersley, Worcestershire Henry Sockett, Esq. of Crickhovwell, Breconsiiire^ Barrister at Law ^ Sets Mr. Songar, Trinity College, Oxford William Sotheby, Esq. William A. Sotheby, Esq. Robert Sparkes, Esq. Portland-Place Joseph Sparkes, Esq. Bridgenorth James Spencer, Esq. Hay, Brecon shire John Spicer, Esq. George-Street, Hanover-Square Rev. Benjamin Spry, Bristol 2 Sets Miss Stanley, Court, near Wrexham Henry Stapleton, Esq. Richard J. Stark, Esq, Llangharn-Castle, Carmarthen- shire Henry Stephens, Esq. Chevenage-House 10 Sets Prancis Stephens, Esq. Ealing 3 Sets William Stevens, Esq. Rev. John Stevens J. E. Stock, M. D. Bristol Mr. Stock, Wickwar, Gloucestershire ^ Sots Rev. J. B. Stone, Forest-Hall, Essex Rev. Mr. Stone, Brazen-Nose College, Oxford Mrs. Stoiighton, Pontipool, Monmouthshire Hardinge Stracey, Esq. Upper Harlej-Street 2 Sets Edward Stracey, Esq. Ditto 2 Sets Edward Stracey, Jun. Esq. Fiudyer-Street, Westminster 2 Sets Hardinge Stracey, Jun. Esq. Lincoln's-Inn 2 Sets Josiah Stracey, Esq. Berners-Street 2 Sets William Strode, Esq. Upper Brook-Street Mr. Strong, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Mr, John Sturge Mrs. Elizabfeth Sturge Mr. Young Sturge, Westbury-upon-Trini Rev. Dr. Sturrock, Archdeacon of Armagh Mrs. Sullivan, Queen -Ann-Street East R. J. Sullivan, Esq. Grafton-Street, Piccadilly o gets John Surtes, Esq. University College, Oxford John Swale, Esq. Mildenhall, Suffolk Rev. Mr. Swaine, Puckle-Church Rev. Joseph Sympson, Stilton, Huntingdonshire Henry Tahourdin, Esq. Sydenham William Taitt, Esq. Cardiff 2 Sets Rev. William Talbot, Elmset, Suffolk Rev. Mr. Tavell, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge Mr. Taunton, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Dr. Thomas Taylor, LL.D. King s Chaplain Mr. Charles Taylor, Ludlow R. S. Taylor, Esq. Field-C<>urt^ Gray Vina l;r\)iii ^n^mi^m* Rev. Thomas Thirl wall, A.M. Lecturer of Stepney Dr. Thomas, M.I), of Kington, Herefordshire 2 Sets John Thomas, Esq. Llwydicoed, Carmarthenshire 2 Seta John Thomas, Esq. Cardiff ^ 2 Sets Rev. Thomas Thomas, Fobbing, Essex Rev. John Thomas, Lucton, Herefordshire Rev. Mr. Thomas, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Mr. Rees Thomas, Swansea Mr. Nelson Thomas, Swansea Mr. Evan Thomas_, Attorney at Law> Builth, Breconshire Mr. John Thomas, Langattock, Carmarthenshire Rev. Mr. Thomas, Kingswood, Wiltshire Rev. Nathaniel Thornbury, Rector of Avening Mr. Thornbury, Oriel College, Oxford Bache Thornhili, Fsq. Stanton, Derbyshire C Sets Samuel Thornton, Esq. M. P. 2 Sets Robert Thornton, Esq. M. P. 2 Sets Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P. 2 Sets Gervas Thorpe, M. D. Ludlow Charles Thorpe, Esq. University College, Oxford Mr. Ticker, Manchester Dr. Tierney, Brighton William Tighe, Esq. Ennisteog, L'eland 2 Sets Rev. William Tindal, A. M. Chaplain of the Tower Mr. Tongar, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford Henry Tonge, Esq. Devonshire-Street, Portland-Place William N. Tonge, Esq. Olveston Charles Tottenham, Esq. University College, Oxford Charles Hanbury Tracey, Esq. Portland-Place The Hon. Mrs. Hanbury Tracey, Ditto Edmund Traherne, Esq. Castella, Glamorganshire 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Trail William B. Trevelyan, Esq. St. John's College^ Cvimbridge Lady Tri gge, Sa\alle-Row Captain Trigge, Gloucester Fiennes Trotman, Esq. Siston Court 2 Sets Mr. J.F.Tuffiii, London Rev. Mr. Turner, Archdeacon of Taunton 2 Sets Edmund Turner, Esq. Sharon Turner, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Fetherstone- Buildings, Hoiborn 2 Sets Mr. Turner, St. John's College, Cambridge Rev. Mr. Turner, Oriel College, Oxford Dr. Turton, M. D. Physician to the King Dr. Turton, M. D. Swansea 2 Sets William Turton, Esq. Olveston Mr. Joseph Turton, Attorney at Law, Olveston Mr. Zouch Turton, Attorney at Law, Chepstow 2 Sets Mrs. Turton, Swansea Miss Turton ' 2 Sets General Vallencey, &c. &c. &c. 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Valpy, Reading G. C. Vanderherst, Esq. Swansea Mrs. G. Vansittart, Bisham Abbey, Berks. 2 Sets John Vaughan, Esq. Golden-Grove, Carmarthenshire Mrs. Vaughan, Portman-Square The late Mrs. Vaughan, Twickenham Mr. Uphill, Bookseller, Bridge-Street, Covent- Garden 2 Sets Rev. Dr. Vyse, Rector of Lambeth Robert Waddell, Esq. Daniel Wait, Jun. Esq. Thomas Walbeoffe, Esq. Pen-y-laii, Breconshirc James Waie, Esq. Belle Vue, Warwickshire William Wall, Esq. Worcestei' Ixx ^uiimiUts. Samuel Wall, Esq Ditto Mr.Walrond g Sets Mrs. Walrond 2 Sets Rev. Richard Ward, Portman-Street Mrs. R. Ward, Hazle, Olveston Rev. Mr. Holt Waring Mr. Waring, Alton, Hampshire £ Sets Rev. Francis Warre, Rector of Cheddon, Somerset- shire Henry Warre, Esq. Lincoln's-Inn William Warwick, Esq. Warwick-House, Herts. Rev. Thomas Watkins, Pennoyre-House, Breconshire Mrs.T. Watkins, Ditto Edward Watkins, Esq. Alveston, 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Watkins, Corpus Christi College Mr. Watkins, Oriel College, Oxford i). P. Watts, Esq. Gower-Street 2 Sets GeorgeWatson, Esq. Deputy Teller of the Exchequer 2 Sets John Watson, Esq. Preston 2 Sets John Watson, Jun. Esq. Ditto Rev. James Way, Powick, near Worcester Mr. Webbe, Corpus Christi College, Oxford The late Samuel Wegge, Esq. 2 Sets Rev. Mr. Weldale, Brazen-Nose College, Oxford Rev. Thomas Wellings Richard Wellington, Esq. of the Hay, Breconshire Richard S. Wells, Esq. Ely-Place Edward West, Esq. Weymouth-Street Mrs. H. West Rev. Richard Wetherell, Westbury, Gloucestershire 2 Sets Joseph Whatley, Esq. Bristol Mr. Wheeler, Oriel College, Oxford Rev. Joseph Whitchurch, Redcliff-Street, Bristol Charles N. White^ Esq. Portland-Place )u5)smtiet0» ixxi 2 Sets 2 Sets Sets. Sets Rev. Mr. Whitear^ Hastings Rev. Christopher Whitehead Rev. Walter Whiter, &c. &c. &c. Cambridge Rev. Dr. Whitfield, Rector of St. Margaret's^ Lothbury Rev. Dr. Whitmore, Lawford, Essex John Whitmore, Esq. M. P. Old Jewry Mr, Whittingham, Corpus Christi College, Oxford G. D. Whittington, Esq. St. John's College, Cambridge William Whitworth, Esq. Cornhill Rev. J. W. Wickes, Caplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland 2 William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. 4 Rev. Dr. Wilgres, Eltham Rev. John T. Wilgres, A. M. Trinity College, Cambridge Walter Wilkins, Esq. M. P. Maesllwch, Radnorshire 2 Sets Walter Wilkins, Jun. Esq. Ditto Thomas Wilkins, Esq. Brecon Jeffery Wilkins, Esq. Ditto William Wilkins, Esq. Ditto Rev. John Wilkins, Rector of Desserth, Radnorshire Sir Edward Williams, Bart. Clifton 2 Sets Rev. David Williams^ Brecon Rev. John Williams, Ditto Rev. George Williams, Rector of Martin^ near Worcester Henry Williams, Esq. Llangattock-Place,Breconshire R. R. Williams, Esq. 2 Sets Rev. George Williams, Limehouse, Middlesex Rev. Edward Williams, Stepney Mr. Williams, Trinity College, Oxford William Williams, Esq. Brecon William Williams, Jun. Esq. Ditto John Williams, Esq, Coroner and Surgeon, Brecon Mr. Williams, Corpus Christi College, Oxford Rev. Mr. Williams, Abergavenny John Williams, Esq. Covvbridge, Glamorganshire Mr* Williams, Oriel College, Oxford Mr. Williams, Bookseller, Strand 6 Sett Rev. Evan Williams, Clipstone, Northamptonshire 2 Sets Rev. Joseph Williams, Wickwar, Gloucestershire William Williams, Esq. Aberpergwm, Glamorganshire Rev. Edwai'd Williams, Rector of Uffington, See. Shropshire David Williams, Esq. Q, Sets David Williams, Esq. Brompton-Row Thomas Williams, Esq. Brecon The late Bloom Williams, Esq. Cardiff ^ 2 Set» Thomas Williams, Esq. Cowbridge 2 Sets^ Robert Williams, Esq. Town-Clerk, Brecon Miss Willis 2 Sets John Wilmore, Esq. Worcester Edward Wilmot, Esq. Lansdowne-GroveyBath Mr. Wilson, Lincoln Edward L. Wilson, Esq. Philip Wilson, M. D- Worcester Richard Wilson, Esq. &c. &c. Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 2 Set* Mr. John Wilton, Hazle, Olveston Joseph Windham, Esq. F. S. A. See. Portland-Place 2 Sels Sir Edward Winnington, Bart. Stanford,Worcester* shire Colonel Wood, of the East Middlesex Militia Colonel Wood, late of Hereford William G. Wood, Esq. Devizes John Wood, Jun. Esq. Cardiff Colonel and Mrs. Woodburne 4 Set* Richard Wooddeson, Esq. Chancery-Lane, Barrister- at Law 2 Sets C, R.Woodward, Esq. Tetbury, Gloucestershire Rev. Mr. Woolcombe^ Fellow of Oriel College_,Oxford LadyWrey, Bath 2 Sets Sir James Wright, Bart. Little Ealing 2 Sets Rev. Ihomas Wright, A. M. Rector of Whitechapel Rev. T. Wright, F. S, A. Mr. William Wright, Park-Row 2 Sets Robert Wrixon, Esq. Tentham-Down, Glamorgan- shire ' 2 Sets Mrs. Wroughton, Bedford-Street, Bedford-Square George Wyatt, Esq. New Bridge-Street, Blackfriars Thomas Wyndham, Esq. M. P. Dunravon-Castle, Glamorganshire 2 Sets Sir William Wynne 2 Sets Robert Wynne, Esq. Garthowen, Denbighshire Mr. Wynniott, Trinity College, Oxford William Wynter, Esq. Brecon Rev. Robert Wynter, Rector of Penderin, Breconshife Rev. Dr. Yate, Bromsberrow, Gloucestershire Rev. Mr. Yates, &c. Chaplain of Chelsea College. Rev. John Yeatman, East-Brent Philip Yorke, Esq. Erthig, Denbighshire Mrs. Yorke, Ditto Captain Young, Worcester Militia Mr. William Young, Surgeon, ShifFnal, Shropshire Added since the foregoing was put to Pres:^, Sir James Duberly ^■"■■""■— -^ SKETCHES, THE STATE AISI D JTTJ INMENTS ^rimitibe g^octet?. L Th^ importance of distinctly marking fundamental principles. w, HEN I entered upon a serious inquiry into some paiticulars respecting the original, and primitive inhabitants of these countries, I found my thoughts necessarily carried back towards their original state as a people, and conse- quently, towards the general attainments of human society, when mankind beoan to be formed into distinct nations. It became desirable, to distinguish those customs, arts, and stores of knowledge which the Celtcz probably imported into their Western settlements, from those, which they must have acquired afterwards, by their own diligence, or by their intercourse with strangers. I could not proceed with satis- faction., till my thoughts attained a certain degree of pre- A 2 cision as to these points. This appeared an essential ground- work of local inquiry: It may indeed be affirmed,, that for the discussion of any difficult subject^ certain bearings^ and relative distances^ to wliich the argument may be directed, and from whicli a chain of inferences maybe drawn, should be distinctly marked. For want of such leading objects, it has frequently happened, that propositions have been as- serted upon one set of principles, and have been denied upon another; — so that historical truth has been left, after an elaborate discussion, enveloped in tenfold obscurity, or buried under amass of contending elements. It is true, that all deductions of argument are sometimes regarded, as more, or less conclusive, in proportion to their harmony, or disagreement, with some preconceived opinion. It cannot therefore be expected, that general assent must be the consequence of unfolding first principles ; but at least, by this means a charge of inconsistency may be avoided. That charge, I hope to obviate, by presenting a few sketches of my conceptions, relative to the attainments of primitive society, and by offering a few plain arguments in support of my opinion. In order to form this opinion, it was necessary to enter into periods, far bej^ond the reach of profane histor5\ The first point, that was to be settled, was the choice of th^ most faithful guides^ through such remote regions. Thej^oe^s, and mythological writers, o( Greece jand Rome, have transmitted some interesting tales, respecting the most early times : but these, are delivered in language highly figurative, and are mixed with so much allegory, or fable, that it seems hardly possible, to reduce them into fact. Hetice the most learned, and sincere investigators of an- tiquity, are far from being agreed in their interpretation of poetical traditions. And this is not to be wondered at ; for so hidden Was the subject^ even to the generality of the Greeks themselves, that we find those authors, who made it their business to elucidate mythological narration, two thou- sand years ago, perpetually amusing us with puerile con- ceits, or shifting the solution with a commodious plea of sacred mysteries. This darkness, and the uitcertainty of poe^icaZ reports, the €>nly ancient histories, which the Gree/i:5, and JJomows pos- sessed, induced ^eiv philosophers to reject it altogether, and frame new theories of their own, upon the original state of mankind. Amongst all the ancient professors of oracular wisdom, none carried their specuhuions upon this topic, so far, as that gect, which denied the operation of the first intelligent cause^. and the superintending energies of a Divine Providence, — ascribed the formation of all things to a fortuitous concourse of atoms, and consigned the government of the world into the hands of chance. The most connected of the details, which give us the opinions of the EpicureaiiSy. is contained in the learned, but most unphilosophical poem of jLwcre^?*M5. From^ this, we may gather, that in that peculiar sect were men of genius, and, could we but grant their fundamental prin- ciples, men of acute reasoning. . According to their hypothesis, the first men, that were produced, were fit inhabitants of the world that existed only by accident. And they were above resting tlieir specula- tions upon imagination alone: it was their ambition, ta support them by data, when they could reach them, and such, as could best accommodate their atheistical pre- conceptions^ AS 4 Tlie condition of a few ancient hunters, who, as is usual in tW newl}^ inhabited countries, wandered amongst the woods, and were driven occasionally to extreme difficulties in pro- curing food, and lodging, was brought forwards, and was. obtruded, as the general picture of original society.. They had observed, that in general, wherever th(^ arts, and sciences had flourished, they had, for some ages, been slowly,. and uniformly, accumulating their acquisitions ; from which they inferred, that their progress had observed the same line of march universally. They could not ascertain the time, nor the manner^ in which man had begun hi* existence. They were supplied with no authentic history of his pri- mitive condition, and therefore, as their own scanty line of research carxied them back far beyond the invention of many arts in the pale of their own district, into an age compara- tively barbarous, they concluded themselves warranted in imagining a period of indefinite extent, before the invention of an}^ arts whatsoever, before human reason had made her successful exertions, and even before her light had begun its dawn in the mind of man. During this imaginary period, the race of mortals were described, as making slow, and painful progress, towards the verge of humanity ; as having, for a long series of ages> crept, and felt their way, through various degrees of savage life^ before they emerged into a superior condition. Such was the hypothesis, opposed by these philosaphers, to the few rays of early light, preserved by xhepott, and recog- nized by the more temperate reason of other philosophers, who represented man, as originally distinguished froin other terrestrial animals, by his erect countenance, and his capacity for sublime contemplation— as formed of two dis- tinct parts, a governing, as well as immortal spirit, related, ijhough inferior, to the Divine Creator, — and a passive body, which degraded him to the nature of brutes. But the hypothesis of the philosophers , obtained great popularity. It was not only received, as founded upon, truth, during the most illustrious ages of Greek, and Roman learning, but it has also been adopted, and refined upon, by eminent writers of modern times. We have consequently been amused with strange, and monstrous tales of that mute, as well as ill-contrived quadruped, Man, — a being, who, for a series of ages, crawled upon the earth, before he began, occasionally, to assume an erect posture, and walk upon his hinder feet ; who afterwards made slow progress through the monkey, and the savage, accidentallj/ acquired speech and reason ; till at length, forming himself into a kind of terrestrial God, he established a dominion over his brethrea of the forest. In this country, there are perhaps few men who would not refuse to admit these notions in their full extent; yet I believe, there are multitudes, whose imaginations are in- fluenced by them, in a certain degree. When they describe an original state of nature, an early age, or the first in- habitants of a country, they represent a condition of the most wretched barbarism. If, therefore, elaborate theory, or popular opinion^ were to be received, as unerring guides, the points, now under con- sideration, or the original state of society, and the condition of those, who first inhabited the West of Europe, might isoon be disposed of, by a few quotations fromLucretius, and 6 Horace, a few scraps from the ancient Historians^ Phi- losophers and Geographers, or from their disciples in modern days. But the connection of this hypothesis, in its mature state,, with such atheistical, and most absurd principles, renders it, in all parts, highly suspicious. Recollecting the purposes- for which it was framed, we should be guilty of an unpar- donable negligence, to embrace it, without a jealous exa- mination. And it will not bear such a test. It is not only injurious to the honour of our nature, but is contradictory to the venerable remains of the ancient world, and the testimony of all our senses. Besides, we ought undoubtedly, in this point, as in every other, carefully to estimate all the facts, before we adopt any theories whatsoever. If authentic information can be obtained, it claims preference to the most flattering hypothesis, and the most acute inferences of abstract rea- soning. Where this rule is not observed, no wise man can acquiesce in opinions, merely because they have been popu- lar, and because they have been supported by favourite names, or by ingenious arguments. The original state of mankind, in the earliest ages, is avowedly one of those topics, upon which we have an oppor- tunity of examining well authenticated facts. By all those, who profess our Christian religion, it will readily be conceded, that, in one ancient volume, we are furnished with a correct epitome of the most ancient periods ; and the generality evCn of those philosophers who reject the writings of Moses, and thfe other books of the Old Testament^ as matter of religious faith^ are yet candid enough to ^dmit^ that they contain the best, and most authentic accounts of the first ages. The notices they give us of those ages, though few, and short, are the most clear, | and comprehensive that can be imagined. In the following sheets I shall regard these venerable documents, in the light of authentic histories. My inferences, being founded upon books which are universally read, and which, for many centuries, have employed the united learning, and critical sagacity of the Christian world, may not offer much that is absolutely new; yet may be of some use, in directing the attention of my readers to those truths, which they pr,o/^ss tobeli^pf. II. Ceneralvkw ofthejirst ages — primitive knowledge preserved, ayid communicated by Noah, ayid his sons^ An the book of Genesis, we have a consistent, and clear, though brief account, of mankind, in their primitive state, — of their disposition to acquire knowledge during the first ages, — and of their success in the pursuit. We are there informed, that the first man whom God created upon the earth, was far advanced above the condition of a dumb, and brutal savage ; — -that he was not formed by his nature, to associate with inferior creatures, but for dominion overthem: — that nd sooner did he come out of his Maker's hand, than he began to exercise his distinguishing endowment ©f reason, and ac- 8 quired the faculty of speech, as a medium for tlic expressi(ja of his perceptions^ and ideas ; — that in the period of his inno- cence^ and after his transgression^ he employed his rational powers in the dihgent prosecution of arts, which have, in all ages, heen peculiar to civilized, and social life. The solitary savage, knows hot what is meant, by dressing a garden, and keeping it ; the habit, and the talent, of tilling the ground, and eating bread by the sweat of his brow, are things, of which he is neither skilled, nor stiidio2is. Of Adam's two elder sons, we find, that one was a tillet of ground^ tlie other a keeper of sheep; — and this, before the birth of Seth, or about a century after the human creation* This deserves notice. It proves, not only, that in this early age, men understood the comforts of life derived both from agriculture, and pasturage, calculating, how to enjoy the advantages arising from both ; but that also they pursued these advantages upon the most improved plan of civil so- ciety. They divided amongst individuals those cares, and occupations, that were conducive to the mutual benefit of all. Their attention was never distracted by a multitude of objects 5 but was directed skilfully to one. The shepherd in that age did not overlook the necessary care of his flock, in his cul- tivation of the field ; nor the husbandman lose the season of tillage, when he guarded his flocks. This, demonstrates a vigorous eflfort of tlie reasoning powers, and the most luminous acquisitions of useful experience. Again : Cain brought to the Lord an oftering of the fruit of the ground, and Jbel, of the firstlings ofhisfock. Here was no community of rights — no promiscuous plunder. Every man claimed, and was allowed, his property in that, which he had procured by his individual care, or labour; ancl 9 he had a nglit to dispose of it^, within the regulations of societ^\ The epitome of primitive history, in the fourth chapter of Genesis, informs us of several eminent men amongst the descendants of Adam, down to the flood, who discovered and improved upon the first principles of such arts and sciences as are conducive to the comfort and ornament of society. ^Nor was this all that they did. The antediluvian ages were evidently ages o^ application as vrell as of genius. Men did not accidentally strike upon some solitary discoveiy, and content themselves with the fame they acquhed in the completion of it. They applied the principles of the art al- ready known, as a clue for the discovery of other arts_, with which it had a natural connection. Thus, the first inventor of stringed instruments kept sight of the general principles of music, and the scale of haimo- nious sounds, till, by analogy, he had found out the nature of wind-instruments : and, by repeated efforts of genius, he became the father of all such as handle the Harp ajtd the Organ. The first artificer in brass pursued the same course, till he had likewise developed tlie nature and proper management of iron ore. If we refledt that these men retained the visrorous use of their faculties for a space of six or seven centuries, to re- peat their experiments, and to make continual improvement upon the useful hints which presented themselves, I think we may conclude that they carried their inventions to a high degree of perfection. And it was perhaps the wise design of Providence to afford an opportunity for such improvements. 10 ^tiring the primitive ages^ by extending the period of human hie to nearly a tiioiisand years. At present^ our days are only comniensurate with the ends of hving : may we npt believe that this was the case from the beginning? Moses directly records only the inventions of one family, the house of Cain. But Adam had sons and daughters whose names and history are not preseiTed. Let us form a conception of tlie longer catalogue which has been omitted by tJie sacred penman — the inventions of all these families^, and add them to the present record^ and it will be evident that^ the state of nature^ or the original state of man^ was not that of brutes and savages_^ but a state of immediate mental exertion^ arid of rapid progress in civilization, and the acquisition of useful arts, — a pi6lure which true philosophy might have presented of rational beings, as formed and disposed by the hand of a good and wise Creator. If we carry our attention forward to the generation which immediately succeeded the flood, we shall discover no /estiges of a savage state. Human society was now, for a second time, confined within narrow limits, and the abilities of each indi-r \idual were necessarily called forth, to secure general comfort* If this age did not display so much inventive genius as those which had preceded, yet its comparative advantages were far superior to those which had been enjoyed by the iirst race of mortals.. The mental powers of the species could ngt now be regarded as unexperienced, Keason had now the accumulated stock of }650 years, ready to be employed. For it is evident that Noah and his sons preserved, not only the general history of the primitive world, but as much of its acquu'ed knowledge as could be useful to themselves and their posterity. This they had ample opportii'* 11 7Uti) of doing; for the floods in regard to Noab^^vas \\o sudden and unforeseen event. And it teas done ; for Moses records the antediluvian inventors of many arts whicli had been preserved to his own time. The book of Job dehneates an age long prior to that of Moses, And it must be recollected that the piclure is not taken at the time of JoFs death, but of his affliction, an event "^vhich appears to m.e to have certainly happened many yeai-s before the death of Shem, of Heber, and of many patriarclis born in the first postdiluvian century. Upon the contra6tecl scale of human life, such as it was become in the days of Job, Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite were *'' very old and grey-headed men-" yet we find them familiarly and confidently appealing to the living testimony of a former age —to the words which would be uttered by the men of this age^ by which they could mean bo othej* than these patriarchs. The intedocutors, in this most ancient book, either expressly Mention or clearly allude to every science and every laudable art which has usually been placed to the account of the Babylonians, Egyptians, Phoenicians vhich I have seen will I declare;, which wise men have told from their fathers (^nd Iiave not hid it) itntQ whom alone the earth was given,'' ^ — Chap. XV. From these and similar passages, we must infer, that a general stock of knowledge had been treasured up by the great patriarchs, for the benefit of their posterity; and that good men amongst the descendants of Noah, for several generations, regarded it as their greatest wisdom to learn and attend tq i^eae traditions of their fathers^^ who lived many days upoii the earthy We also learn that the rapid abridgment of the period of human life, which was not only recent but progressive in the time of Job, had struck the race of mortals with a consterna- tion which, for a while, checked the ardour of original inves- tigation, and damped the confidence of genius. The life of man still comprehended a space of, at le^st, two centuries ; yet men regarded themselves, when compared with the formev age, but of yesterday. They could not extend the limits of knowledge, because their days oi^l earth were as a shadow. — All they could pretend to was, to preserve those inestimable treasures which they had derived from happier times. 13 IIL Detail of 'primitive traditions — Religion and morality — Crdl arts, and sciences Agriculture, architeRnre, metuUurg^^ natiiral historij, computation of' time, astronomy/, geographf. At may not be impmper in this place to touch briefly upo^i some particulars of this valuable patrimony of the early ages. Of the state of religion and moral philosophy in the primi- tive worlds we have no detailed information » Yet several ^'elJ important circumstances may be collected from tlie books cited above^ the latter of which I particularize on this occasion^ because the notices contained in it are wholly independent of the Mosait? legation. These circumstances will, in a great measure, -elucidate the notions entertained by mankind, as to these points, before the promulgation of the Jewish law. It appears that at a very early period, the Divine will and purposes, and some of the essential tmths of religion, were revealed to mankind in a more full and complete manner than they are expressly recorded to have been. In the old testament we have allusions to tlie immortality of the soul, the resurret B 3 22 again curse the ground aTny more for man's sake ^AA^hile tlie earth remaineth^ seedtime and harvest, and cold and Jieatj, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease,''' seems rather to imply the uninteri-upted continuance of an order of things already known, than the conmience^ ment of a new and different order. Supposing that the course of nature was changed at the deluge, it must be obvious that neither lunar months nor the year of 360 days could have been adequate to the purposes of agriculture or of pasturage. They would by no means cor- respond with the stated returns of the seasons. They could not have been retained for half a century, without producing the greatest inconvenience, changing summer into winter, and suggesting the necessity of reformation, to a society in- finitely more rude than the family of Noah. How are we then to account for the lunar months and the year of 360 days which occur in ancient authors ? Some societies may have gradually sunk into such a state of rudeness, as to have little occasion for marking with pre- cision the length of the year, they may therefore have neglected and forgotten the science of their ancestors. But in many cases, it is probable that the scantiness or imper- fe6lion of ancient documents may have betrayed us into some error upon this subje6l. A vague and familiar mode of expression, in wlrich many people indulged th^emselves, may have occasioned a similar detect in those early authors we consult. Thus, for instance, we call four weeks a month and a year a twelvemonth. A month with us is a very vague term. It implies 4 weeks, a lunation, the ninth part of the time of gestation, a calendar month of various lengtlis, &c. Sic. Wc 23 also compute the annual return of certain festivals^ by tlie age of a certain moon. All this produces no error nor con« fusion. But had such a seeming confusion, amongst any ancient people, fallen in the way of the Greek writers, what euibarrassment would their slight and superficial accounts have occasioned to modern chronologers ? The vanity of several nations led them to ascribe to their own ancestors many of those inventions, and improvements in science, w^hich were due to the primitive ages, and there- fore, to speak of 2^ former state of rudeness, which in fadl^ had never existed amongst them as distincl; people. The early ages in general must have been acquainted with the solar period, which alone could be of use in the compu- tation of years. For while we deny them this knowledge, it is yet granted that they had the use of cycles, by which their defe6tive years -were adjusted to the course of nature. If they knew the sum of 19, 30 or 60 years, could they have been ignorant of the extent of one ? That their years were 60 adjusted is evident; for we find the same months con- stantly fall about the same season. Hesiod's description MiTva 5's r^nvaiuvxy See, Epy. ?. 322, can be applied only to the depth of winter, and therefore can have belonged only to years which, taken together, amounted to solar years. The Abib of Moses, or Month of Green Com, as the name im- plies, must have constantly returned after the vernal equinox, from the first time it received the name. And this name could not have been new. It was not Egyptian, but either Hebrew or Chaldaic ; the Israelites had therefore brought it with them into Egypt. It had been known in the time of Abraham. For on the 14th of this month the children of Israel came out of Egypt, and, 0:1 the selfsame dai/, 430 years before, their great ancestor^ Abraham had begun his pore- 24 grination. The length of the solar year had then heeii knovvii from the days of Shem^ who survived the commence- ment of Abraham's sojom'ning about 75 years. Had this year been unknown; had the Epagones, or even the Bissextile been omitted, the month of Green Corn must, during that period of 430 years, have sometimes fallen in the beginning, and sometimes in the depth of winter. The Egyptians claim the Epagones, and the accurate com- putation of time, as inventions of their own ancestors. This claim may be granted, if we take their own account of the inventor. The first Thoth, amongst other things, calculated the annual period. We learn from Manetho, the celebrated Egyptian historian, who relates the genuine traditions of his nation, that this Tlioth lived hefoYe the flood. For he left; his discoveries engraved upon certain columns, in the sacred Dialed, and in Hieroglyphic Letters (where we may observe by the way that hieroglyphics, in ani/ particular dialeSl, where Hieroglyphics representing elementary sounds) and, after the deluge (another) Thoth (or philosopher) the son of Agathodemon (Osiris or Mizraim) transcribed these inscrip- tions into books, and placed them in the sanctuaries of the Egyptian temples. Jpud Euseh. prap. Ev. L. 1. C. 9. What discoveries do the Egyptians boast of, whic?i were not origi- nally derived from the Great Thoth ? Those ancestors of the Egyptians, who so eminently distinguished themselves, were then antediluvians, and consequently the common parents of ail other nations. When strangers spoke of the deluge, the Greeks imme- diately thought of Deucalion's flood, which they date in the 16th Century before Ciirist, but which, in facft, could have been no other than the flood of Noah. Tiioth is said to have left 3650,3 Bolls of his discoveriesf^ 25 by which the learned understand,, periods of time which he had calculated. I find, by Philo Jndaeus, that the ancient Mystagogaes regarded 100 as a perfe6i; number. As the parts which composed a perfed whole : or as the number of units which constituted tx complete series. If we regard 100 parts as equal to a complete diurnal revolution, then 365^5 parts will amount to 363 days and 6 hours : or if 100 years con- stitute a perfect age, agreeably to Philo's application of the number in the case of Abraham, then 36525 will be the diurnal revolutions comprehended in that age. This I con- sider as a moTe simple method of accounting for the number of the Hermetic volumes, than by supposing a multiplication of cycles, which must imply much more than a true calcu- lation of the solar period. The Egyptians had years, as they are styled by the Greeks, of 6, 4, or 3 Month?. They may have divided the annual Circle into seasons, by inscribing some of their geometrical figures, as the line or the triangle, or else the square, touching at the 4 cardinal points. Still the complete circle remained the same. Is there nothing in the old testament to confirm the antiquity of this computation and the use of the Epagones ? Job speaks (Chap. iii. 6.) of days joined to the year, exclusive of the number of the months. The Epa- gones appear then to have been known, out of Egypt, about the time when Abraham settled in the land of Canaan, and during the life of the great patriarchs. Let us consider Noah's year. In the history of the deluge we have 5 successive months consisting altogether of 150 days, or 30 days each. I cannot conceive how such months could have been formed upon any lunar observation. From the first day of the tenth month, we have an enumeration of 6l days, together with an unspecified period of time, before the commencement of the succeeding year. A complete year in Noah's days could 26 not then have consisted of fewer than 12 such months or 360 days. But if with the hest copies of the 70^ and with some other versions of credit,, we date the 61 days from the first of the Eleventh months this point must be regarded as fully determined. There will be 12 months and a few days over, during which Noah waited for the return of the third dove, and before he removed the covering of the ark, on the jint day of the first month of the new year. And there is the greatest probability in favour of this reading. Noah iJready hiew that the waters were abated from aff the earth. The question was now, whether the Earth produced any thing, or whether the dove would be compelled by hunger to return to the ark. It is not to be supposed that after having, for some time, dispatched his weekly messengers, the patriarch should now wait 29 days to make this experi- ment; 3 or 4 days must have been fully sufficient for the puiTJOse. Would not these circumstances have pointed out some error in the text, had no ancient version suggested- and authorized its corre6lion ? Upon this authority we have 12 months of 30 days days each, and the Epagones, or in all 365 days. Bat how are we to account for the number and the precise length of the months ? Perhaps something in the following manner. The first periodical phoenomenon which attracted the notice of our first parents was probably the re- appearance of the moon, after the change. The iteration of the seasons, and the periodical approach and retreat of the sun, wdth which the seasons were obviously conneded, must have idso presented themselves to observation. It could not but be desirable and useful tc ascertain the period of these changes. The m.oon was icsorted to, as the first means of computation, and 12 lunations were found to come round nearer to the same point, than any other number : Hence the (■.Zk^tlvc months. But these were very soon discovered to be too short. The object in view was to obtain a knowledge of the ,27 return of the sun and the seasons. His course was then divided into 12 portions or signs^ coiTesponding witli the number of moons in the first computation). Each of these portions was found to consist of 30 days and A fra6tion ; but as it would be inconvenient to divide aday^ the whole number was retained^ and the surplus added to complete the year. The first idea of a year must have been that of the return of the sun and the seasons to the same point. And from the ^'^siblc revolution of the sun, men must have first obtained months and years thus constructed. Hence the Hebrew term for a year nili* implies an Iteration, Kepetition, a Return to the same point. This could have been no other than the retm-n of the sun and the seasons. The sun was tlie great luminaiy which, by his regular com*se amongst the other lights or stars, was appointed to measure years. Gen. i. 14, iG. If the moon was first resorted to for the purpose of measuring the sun's course, it was soon found inadequate to the purpose. Its revolution had no connection with tlie return of the seasons. It only served to suggest a division of the sun's course into 12 portions. In most nations, of which any ancient records and traditions are preserved, we find that this division of the year, and the signs of the zodiac, by w^iich it was marked, were known from remote ages. The discoveiy is claimed by several different nations, a circumstance whicli generally attends those inventions which were derived from tlie common parents of the nations. The history of the deluge is understood to be recorded in the names and delineations of some of the constellations. It is not improbable that the Noachida;, assigned to them new- names and representations, in order to commemorate this awful event, in the volume of the heavens, which would be open to their posterity, in every region of the emth. But with BO postdeluvian nation can astronomical studies have origi- 28 mated'. Astronomical observations had been preserved at Babj^Ion^ for somewhat more than 19 centuries^ before the conquest of that city by Alexander. They had therefore coiiimenced from the very time when^ agreeably to om* chro- nology, the sons of men first began to dwell in the land of Shinar^ Before their removal into that country, they could have had na observations calculated for the latitude of Babylon, and their date, from tliis very sera, absolutely proves that the science was not the discovery of the inhabitants, but that they brought it with them, from their former residence amongst the mountains of Ararat, where the antediluvian astronomy had already been adjusted to the circumstances of time and place. An investigation and discovery of the principles of the science must necessarily have preceded a series of just observations. The antiquity of this study may be inferred fix)*m the book of Job, where several stars and constellations are mentioned, in conne6lion with observations upon the seasons, and as parts of the works of God, which had been pointed out by the search of the great fathers, of the human race. Tlie Mosaical years from the Creation cannot, one with another, have fallen much short of solar revolutions, which were evidently the measure of calculation in the time of Noah ; for the age of this patriarch rather exceeds an avarage of the age& of his progenitors. From their common ancestors then, the several nations may have derived the nidiments of astronomy, and a pretty exax^i knowledge of the annual period. Different societies may, for the regulations of festivals and for various purposes^, have employed lunar calculations, and reckoned from the age of a 29 moon which appeared after a certain equinox or solstice, or after the rising of a certain star; but such calculations were adjusted by C3xles so as not materially to affecl the ttuth of chronology. If we find a people acquainted only with lunar months, or only with ^ears of 360 days, that people must have fallen, at some period, into a state of rudeness far below the standard of the primitive ages, 6. A great philosopher of our own days accounts for the marine substances found in various parts of the earth, by supposing that, at the deluge, the primaeval continent sub- sided, and the bed of the old ocean heaved itself above the waters so as to constitute the present habitable world. This hypothesis may not be devoid of truth, yet I tliink it ought to be received witli caution and great limitation. There can be no doubt that great local alterations took place wiien tlie foun- tains of the great deep were broken up. Yet it appears to me that the universal deluge w^as not so much direcled against the eaith itself, as against the lives of its inhabitants, and that the general face of the globe, as to its grand features, was not materially changed. As to the marine substances, which are seldom entire, we must recollect that the great deep covered die earth at the time of the creation, and the waters may have begun to form the embryo of their productions, before they were wholly gathered together into one place. The impe- tuous currents of the deluge may have forced upward some of the younger fry, w hich partly came to maturity, in the shoal- waters upon the sides of the mountains, during the continuance and gradual subsiding of the flood. And in other instances, the bursting of the internal abyss may have forced up moun- tains and large islands, from the bottom of the ocean^ crowned with thcii* unknown inhabitants. That the general face of the earth was not transformed, we 30 have several reasons to believe. We find traditions in many counlries, that certain mountains, rivers, and even cities had survived the deluge, or, at least, that new cities were built upon the site of the old ones, and retained their names. What- ever credit may be given to the particulars of such traditions, their whole sum, and their great geographical extent, suffi- ciently declare the general opinion of antiquity upon this subje6i;; and it is a subjecl;, upon which it may be supposed, that some historical truth survived. Moses describes the branches of the river of Eden, which had existed from the Creation, by their names and courses, as known in his own time. No circumstance could possibly have constituted the identity of these rivers, but the identity of the country through which they flowed. It is evident then that the part of the old continent which formed the cradle of the human race, and the centre of antediluvian population, survived the deluge. Wh}' should we think otherwise of those remote regions, which must have been less obnoxious to tlie Divine displeasure ? It appears that even the trees were not wholly eradicated, that their vegetative power was not destroyed, and that the productions of the earth were not re-created, but gradually recovered. For no sooner had the waters left the surface of the ground than the olive-trees began to put forth leases, " And the dove came to Noah in the Evening, and lo ! in Kcr mouth was an olive leaf plucked off." It must have been a leaf in full vegetation, otherwise it could not have been dis- tinguished from the leaf of a branch which had floated upon the waters. But though the dove found dry land, and trees producing leaves, she found as yet no proper sustenance, and therefore was compelled to return — a necessity to which she was not reduced at her next visit, when vegetation was furtlicr advanced. 31 It IS not then Improbable that many ruins of the x^-orks of men — such works as had been designed to outhve their antediluvian constructors^ may have survived tlie deluge. — - Such remains may have suggested to Nimrod and his associates the idea of making brick, and ereding the tower of BabeL Without some leading hint, we can hardly conceive that mankind were then in an apt situation to embrace so vast a design. Tlie mutual cohortations of the children of men— *^ Go to, let us make brick and burn them thoroughly," clearly imply that they were previously acquainted with the durable nature of brick, and with the method of preparing it. At any rate, large countries retained after the deluge the situation they had occupied before. They must have been recognized by Noah. And it appears in fact that, in after ages, the geography of the old world was not wholly forgotten. The site of Paradise is minutely described, by its relative position to certain streams that traversed well-known regions. The residence of Cain, in the land of Nod, on the East of Eden, a land known in the time of Moses, is pointed out; and the name and situation of his city, the oldest city in the world, are still upon record. Noah could not then have been igno- rant of the general extent and nature of the patrimony lie left to his offspring. He must have had some knowledge of the face of the earth, as far as it had been known and inhabited before the flood. He had dwelt upon it for a space of six hundred years. He must have known how its various regions were divided by seas, rivers and mountains. He must have heard something of the nature, temperature and extent of these regions. Accordingly he appears to have been aware of the disproportion of the lot assigned to Japheth, when he pro- phetically promises that " God shall enlarge him." In the days of Pelcg, who was bom about a centuiy after 32 the deluge and died ten years before Noah, we are told obliquely that the earth teas divided. The manner in which this event is touched upon by Moses shews that the circum- stances of it were familiarly known in his time. But our accounts of it are rather scanty. In one other passage, the sacred historian alludes to the time, " AYhen the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance." From these passages we may collect that, by a Divine decree, there was a solemn division of the countries amongst the descendants of Noah. This division took place in the time of the great patriarch, and there can be no doubt but it was condu6led under his inspection, and ascertained by lot, as we find a similar division of the land of Canaan amongst the Israelites. Throughout Gen. c. x. Moses is not speaking of a com- pulsory separation of families ; but of a regular division of the earth amongst the Noachidce. ^^ The sons of Japheth — By these were the isles of the gentiles divided, in their Lands. — < Tlie sons of Ham — in their countries and in their iiations. — The sons of Shem — in their lands, after their nations. These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood." v. 2, 5, 20, 31, 32. The name of Peleg gives occasion to specify the tune, zvhen the land zoas divided, not when the people were scattered abroad. The narrative of this division is interrupted only by the incidental account of the rebellion and ambition of Nimrod, the subje6l of which is resumed and its consequences described chap. xi. If Nimrod's kingdom comprized the whole of mankind, their scattering abroad must have been, each into his land, agreeably to the previous division; but it is sufficiently evident that Nimrod's empire was not universal. — Ashur^ Jilam, JNlizraim, Canaan; Gomer, Javan and many 33 (^thers, certainly retired with^ at leasts, part of their families. In a subsequent age we find amongst the children of Canaan many little settlements of Amakins or Giants. But that was not the general description of the Canaanites. They were not all Anakims. The language of the whole earth was confounded. Indivi- duals, perhaps of each family, experienced this confusion and aftenvards carried it with them into all lands, whither they were dispersed. We say, the peace of all Europe is disturbed, when only the minds and a(5lions of certain descriptions of men are irregularly aifedled. The Heathens retained some traditions of such a distribu- tion. The Phoenician Historian says that Clonus (the Hus- bandman) bestowed upon Thoth the Kingdom of Egypt, and upon Minerva that pf Attica. Hesiod speaks of a general as- signment by lot, to all the sons of Heaven and Earth, and adds that the Titans were permitted to enjoy their portion, according to the former distribution} which was made in (he beginning. Theog. 390 — 42o.* The very idea of Noah's dividing the land amongst his des- cendants, necessarily presupposes his knowledge of the land that w^as to be so divided. He must have described the several shares, their extent and boundaries, by certain names. And these, in general, could have been no other than the names^ by which the same regions, rivers and mountains had been already known to him, and consequently, which they had borne before the flood. Thus may we account for the identity of the names of several streams and mountains, in ancient * See many and strong authorities for a general division by lot, Bryant'% Analyiis iii, 13, and Holtocll's Mythol. DiB. v. Earth, € 34 geography, from India to Britain, and from the Northerm Ocean to the middle of Africa. The names must have been descriptive, in the primitive kmguage, and several streams and mountains must have come under the same description. From the time of this general allotment, it seems to have been a common practice for men to distinguish themselves and their children by the name of their patrimony or estate. Hence Moses, in his genealogies of the early ages, frequently gives us the names of cities and distridts, or names descriptive of local and relative situations, instead of the propernames of men, The declaration of this distribution seems to have been made after the human race had assembled iri the land of Shimar (Jfter Cronus came into the land of the South, Sanchon.) The founding of the kingdom of Nimrod, The Son of Rebellion, and the enterprize of those Children of men vrho joined his party, was in dire6l opposition to the Divine decree. It was lest they should be scattered abroad, or to prevent the execution of a purpose already known and declared; but not as yet carried into effe6l. The topic will be resmned in the course of my sketches. IV. On the Antiquitij of writing. X HERE can be little doubt that the primitive ages pos- sessed some means, beside oral tradition, of recording and perpetuating their several branches of knowledge, but re- spe61;ing the nature of these means, we are left somewhat in the dark. It is universally allowed that no human device could have answered this purpose better than alphabetical ¥ ¥ 35 writing. Were the early ages acquainted with an alphabet'^ Tills has been a great question. Amongst some ancient and modern nations,, we find pidure writing, hieroglyphical re- presentations, or else arbitrary signs of ideas, employed as the general means of preserving memorials. But v/lietlier any of these are the remains of a primitive art, or the resources of those societies which had forgotten the accomplishments of their forefathers, is another question. Our lower order of me- chanics and labourers, who have never been taught to vrrite, use a variety of marks and figures, to record their little trans- adlions : And if one of these families were removed to a se- questered island, and excluded from other society, this would become their established mode of writing, though they were descended from a people who had the use of an alphabet. The sacred volume has given us no express information, relative to the antiquity of an alphabet. It has been the opi- nion of some eminent men, that this important expedient was Divinely communicated to Moses, when he received the tables of the law upon Mount Sinai. But it is clear from the testimony of Moses himself, that this opinion is erroneous. Of this, the following proofs have been urged ; and, for my own part, I cannot but regard them as incontrovertible.* We are informed (Ex. xvii.) that Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim, and was there overcome. And the Lord said unto Moses, ^^ Write tliis for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." As this record related exclusively to Amalek, it might be concluded that the command zcrite this was given in Rephidim, immediately after the war, and before Israel had come near to _\iount Sinai. * For several of these observations, I am indebted to AsUc, on writing :-< But I quote from memory, C 2 36 But the context is decisive. Moses built an altar (in Rephi- dim) and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi ; for he said, " Because the Lord hath szoorn, that the Lord will have war with Amalek, from generation to generation. Moses knew, therefore, what was meant by a Book, and was acquainted with the nature of MemorialSy the art of Writing, and of Reading or rehearsing out of memorials, before the delivery of the sacred tables. Again (Ex. xxviii.) Moses is commanded to take two onyx stones and grave upon them the names of the children of Israel — ^^ AVith the work of an engraver in stone, LIKE the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, with the names of the children of Israel." In the 3ame chapter, he is further commanded to engrave twelve stones, with the names of the children of Israel, according fo their names, like the engravings of a signet. In these passages w^e have a constant reference to a well known art of engraving names upon signets ; and these engravings cannot be regarded as cyphers or mere hieroglyphical symbols; for (v. 36) we find another command to make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, " HOLINESS TO THE LORD." This cannot possibly mean any thing else than writing in JVords and in Letters: and all these com- mands were given, before the first tables were delivered. It is then an indisputable fa6i:, that books or memorials in writing, and consequently reading, were things well under- stood before the giving of the sacred tables. These tables certainly consisted of alphabetical writing, and the preceding inscriptions were undoubtedly of the same kind, and in the same character. Otherwise the introdu6lion of a nezv and sacred mode of writing must soon have rendered the former, and less perfe6l mode obsolete; and the names upon the gems and the golden plate must have become obscure and uninteU ligible. 37 But in this age, the art of writing could not have been a recent invention. The engraving of na^iies upon signets is referred to, as a thing pubhcly known ; and surely, the first essays in writing had not been made in precious stones. — Signets were used by the Israelites before they went down into Egypt, and it is not improbable that they were inscribed. — Their inscriptions must have been in simple charaders, adapted to the subject and the space which the gems afforded; whereas the letters in general use in Egypt seem to have consisted of the representations of animals, and other produ6lions of nature. In some Oxd Asiatic alphabets, we still discover ktttrs in the figures of certain quadrupeds, and exa6lly similar to some of the hieroglyphics on the Egyptian obelisks. Such characlers may have been liable to abuse, amongst a people so prone to idolatry as the Israelites were, and for this reason, it may have been commanded that the more simple alphabet of the en- graver of signets siiould be used in preference. In the book of Job, we find the antiquity of writing asserted in a manner no less positive. In one passage, that illustrious^ sufferer complains, ^' Thou writest bitter things against me^ and makest me to possess the iniquity of my youth .^' In another, he exclaims, ^^ Oh ! that my words were now written. Oh ! that they were printed in a book ! (stamped, as on the Babylonian bricks r) — that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!" Here writing is not spoken of as a new invention. It must have been an art long established^ before its various forms, uses and properties could have been so well understood. In the time of Job, it was applied, as at present, to the taking of minutes of trivial circumstances or zcrithig of bitter tilings; the recording of greater events in books, and the preserving a lasting memorial of what is very remarkable, in public inscriptions. It must have been one of those arts which are ascribed to the search of the father* c 3 38 of the human race. Had there been any just grounds for ascribing the invention to a Divine communication on Mount Sinaij it is impossible but that some notice would have been taken of so wonderful an event. We should have had some hint of the Great lawgiver's instructions. Every circumstance of the giving of the law is minutely recorded^ but not a word has been found to this purpose. On the contrary, the Israelites appear to have been readers in general. Each of the princes looks upon, and discriminates the rod which bore his own name (Numb, xvii.) Again : such a circumstance as the original communication of writing must have been notorious to the whole assembled nation. A thing so remarkable, and of such magnitude^ could not have been forgotten. Some allusion to it, at least, would have occurred in the subsequent writings of the old tes- tament ; but nothing appears. The vanity of the more modern Jews would have disposed them to claim the discovery j but their traditions uniformly ascribe it to the first age of man. It may be demanded — How happens it, if the art of writing was really understood by the primitive ages, that Moses has not recorded the name of its inventor, amongst other antedi- luvian instructors .? To this it may be answered. That the Mosaic history of the Antediluvians is a mere epitome. The historian records only the inventions of one family, that of Cain. His catalogue must have omitted many great arts which the Antediluvians possessed. Who was the first carpenter or the first weaver? Had the descendants of Cain a6lually invented writing, yet its progress to perfe6tion, from its first simple iiidiments, may have been so gradual, that Moses could not ascertain the name of its first inventor 5 and he records no invention, where 39 he has not an opportunity of adding this circumstance. His Resign seems to have been^ not so much to mark the antiquity of the arts known in his time^ as to preserve a memorial of eminent persons; more particularly in that family which was now wholly cut off, hom the face of the earth. But why has not Moses mentioned, or alluded to ancient Wiitings, in some passage of his history be&re the xvih chap, of Exodus? If it be jEertain that no such mention or allusion is made, it may be replied that the subjed; may not have come imme- diately in his way, and that it was not the custom of v/riters,, far less ancient than Moses^ to be minute in quoting their authorities. But we are not certain that Moses has not both alluded to, and expressly mentioned writings, of a date long prior to his own time. In the historical part of the sacred scripture, we frequently find references to the authority of books which are no longer extaut. Such historial parts were therefore com- piled from the materials of earlier writers, and not communi- cated to the authors of the present volumes, by immediate inspi- ration. It is sufficient in this case to believe, that the Divine spirit dire6led the judgment of these authors, and disposed them to examine with diligence, and record nothing but the truth. The book of Genesis, if we except the account of tlie creation, consists of matter purely historical, or such as might have cpme within the compass of human research, and have been recorded in history. And Moses no where dechues that he derived it from any other source. ISo part of it is intro- duced with the solemn form, ^^ The Lord spake unto Moses." 40 tVe have it siiriply as a brief introdu(5lion to the history of the Israelites, and the promulgation of the law. Between the several portions of this introductory history, a considerable difference of style has been remarked. They differ in this lesped from each other, and from the usual style gf Moses ia his subsequent writings. In the several portions of this primitive history, the same events are recapitulated, to the same general effed, but with "new and peculiar circumstances. This is a thing not usual in the original and entire composition of one author. It has rather the character of a colledlion of documents. The several portions are also distinguished by such appro- priate titles as, in any other volume of antiquity, would be ac- knowledged to point out the beginning of detached compo- sitions. Thus chap. i. and to v. 4, chap. ii. contains the history of the creation, and the institution of the sabbath. Then follows another brief history of the creation, the garden of Eden and the fall of man, with an exordium which intimates a distinct; and independent composition. ^' These are the generations of the heaven and the eaith," &c. This book concludes with chap. iii. It is remarkable that the only term for the Divine Being, in the former of these portions, is Elohim, God, which is re- peated 35 times. In the latter portion, excepting in the conversation of Eve with the serpent, it is Jehovah Elohim^ the Lord God, which is also repeated 20 times. In chap. iv. which contains the history of Cain and Abel, 41 and of the descendants of the former, the sacred name k . Jehovah, without any variation, excepting once, in a ^puch of Eve, The use of these terms as here described is, I think, a pecu« liarrty which could not well have happened, in the original and entire composition of one age^ one country, and one m.an. For however the mysterious meaning of the terais themselves inay be discriminated, yet Elohim iu the first chapter, and Jehovah Elohim, in the second and third, are evidently used in a synonymous sense^ and precisely the same operations are ascribed to them. Chap. V. beg'ms with an appropriate title, which more par- ticularly indicates a distin61; and independent composition. — *^ This is the Book (or Record) of the generation of Adam," Here again, the history of the creation of man is briefly recited, as an introdu6i;ion to this separate book, which is complete in its kind; for it begins from the creation and concludes with the birth of the sons of Noah. May it not be regarded as a transcript from an authentic genealogical table or pedigree, which had been regularly kept in the family of this patriarch I We have afterwards — '' These are the generations of Noah^* *^ These are the generations of the sons of Noah," &c. These things I cannot but consider as internal proofs, that Moses has not only alluded to writings which existed before his own time, but has actually given us transcripts of some of the compositions of the primitive ages: and that the book of Genesis, like other historical parts of the scripture, consists iu a great measure of compilaiions from more early documents. May not these several Books, which recapitulate the^ same €\^nts, and the matter of which has not been wholly forgotten 42 by ilie heathens^ be regarded as so many primitive records^ adding mutual strength to eacii other, and refle6ting mutual light, in the same manner as the books of Kings and Chrg-; nicies, and the narratives of the four Evangelists ? If we duly consider the matter contained in the book of Genesis, I tiiink Ave shall be led to conclude that much of it must necessaiily have been coile6led from prior documents. For example (Gen* xxii. 20.) Abraham receives information respe6ling the family of his brother Nahor. No reason is given why it was told Abraham : nor does any thing imme- diately follow, as a consequence of such information. But as the account related to Abraham's family, we are left to conclude, that he recorded it; and, upon his anthoriti/, Moses preserves the record. He gives it not as a subjed; of revela- lation, nor as the result of his enquiry amongst the descendants of Nahor, nor yet does he content himself with registering the simple fadl, but he tells us Z£)hat had bee??, told Abraham at such a time. At a distance of 400 years, he transcribes the names of Nahor's eight sons in due order, with some particular circumstances respeding them, as it had bee?i told Abraham, and therefore, as it must have been recorded in some memo- rials in Abraham's family. Moses must have possessed a very exa6l detail of the transa6lions of Abraham's time. Hence the circumstantial account of the expedition of the four kings, of that patriarch's treaties with the princes of the land in which he sojourned, of his sacrifices, and of the promises he received, and the allusion (Ex. xii.) to the year, the month, an4 the very day on which he began his peregrinations. In confirmation of the opinion advanced above, it may be observed, that history furnishes no instance of an exa6l chro- nology having been preserved, for a series of ages, by any people who were totally illiterate. Relative dates, and the 43 emimeration of months and days^ would soon become unrna- nageable in oral tradition: and the precise length of mens' lives, and their age at the birth of their children, are circum- stances not likely to have been the subje6l of immediate revelation to Moses. Yet his history of the primitive world preserves an unbroken chain of chronology, from the creation. Sacred and profane writers have mentioned an ancient mode of recording fa6ls by means of nails fixed in pieces of timber or notches cut in sticks ; but if these customs were capable of preserving historical fa6ls, connedled with their dates, for 25 centuries, we must regard them as, in some manner, equiva- lent to the use of letters ; and I trust I shall be able to prove in the ensuing essays, that this was the case. The enumeration of circumstances, in the history of tlie deluge, clearly points out the early use of letters, or of some-^ thing equivalent to letters. Here we have upon record, the particular month, and the day of the month, upon which the rain began — the number of days it continued — ^the period during which the earth was covered — the day on which the ark first rested — on which the tops of the mountains were first seen — on which the face of the ground was first ohserved to be dry, and on which Noah and his family descended from the ark, with several other particulars. Surely all this must have been colleI^ a city, and ^*7AD a tower, and let us make us d"^ a Name, or Renown. This was the order by which they ascended the climax of their ambition : but w^hen they had attained the highest step, they must, from thence, have named their city. They must have called it oi:; Shem, the Name, or Renown. The other degrees would naturally be subjoined, to make out its descrip- tion. Thus it became ^IJD ^')^ CD\^ '^RENOWN, the city of the Tower.'' 59 Instead of ^"t^d, the children of men may have employed ^)^^y Amud^ A Column or pillar, a term nearly synonimous with the former, and which is emphatically applied to The pillars of Heaven, or the Cones of mountains, and therefore was a very apt term to describe that tower, whose top might reach to Heaven. The name would then stand thus *7lDi^ n>)^ CD^l^ Shem OirAmud, Hence perhaps the Semiramis, Semiramid-os of mythology, the name by which Ninus or the Ninevite, in a subsequent age, married, or took possession of Babylon. If this conje<5lure be admitted, we may regard Nimrod and Babel as names which were imposed only by the enemies of this ambitious prince. And the prevalence of these names proves that his enemies were numerous. Are we then to conclude, that the associates of Nimrod consisted solely of his brethren and their children? This will by no means follow. Foi*, had one family only formed a conspiracy, the express reason here assigned for their enterprize could not have applied. In that case, they could not have been forced upon the expedient of making themselves a name, '^ Lest they should be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earthy' for their destined habitation, as one family, must have been in some certain part of the earth, and in the neighbourhood of each other; whereas, on the contrary, they clearly understood that it was intended, they should be separated from one another, to the most remote corners. And accordingly, we find that the Lord interposed his power, while they were yet in the prosecution of their design, beginning to build the city and the tower, and scattered them from thence upon the face of all the earth. In all probability, he scattered them into those several regions, which had been originally destined for their respedive habitations, and whither many of their obedient brethren had already repaired. 60 Again : the language of the whole earth had been one^ ta the aera of the confusion: yet Moses speaks of the various tongues of the children of Shem and of JaphethJ as well as of the descendants of Ham^ at the time when they retired to their rcspedive patrimonies. The progeny of the former patriarchs were not^ therefore, wholly clear of the rebellion or of its punishment. The tradition of almost every country presents us with certain giants, exiles and wanderers, wiio intraded amongst the more regular and orderly inhabitants, and whose condition was at once the obje6l of pity and detestation. Upon the whole, it may be thought most agreeable to the Mosaic history, to universal tradition, and to truth itself, to conclude that some of the children of each of the three great patriarchs joined in the impious confederacy, and that other branches in each of these families, rejected the proposal. Nimrod^s subje6ls then consisted not of families, but of hidimduahf of a certain temper and disposition. As his confederacy did not embrace the whole of mankind, there can be no reason to suppose that those who were not concerned in it, immediately lost eitlier their religion or their language, or any part of the valuable traditions of their i'athcrs. Whatever may have been the extent of the Babj'lonian rebelUon, it could not have overthrown the original plan of a regular allotment. It was itself overthrown by a miracle: And the Ahnighty does not exert his miraculous power, to frustrate, but to enforce and accomplish llie designs of his. providence, and to bring to nought the counsels of wicked men. The miraculous interposition which now took place^ 61 must have been fully adequate to the puipose for which it Avas intended. . It must liave operated, as an effectual cor- re(5lion, or as a signal punishment,, which disposed the remains of the human race to comply with the Divme decree. Chronology has not expressly marked the sera of Nimrod's rebellion, or of the dispersion of his adherents. But as the immediate obje6l of the former was to prevent tlie execution of a decree, which appears to have been published at the time of the birth of Peleg, we may conclude that it took place soon after that event. Nimrod might now be 60 or 65 years old, about the same age as Salah, his parallel in descent. If so, he was not in early youth, but in the prime qf manhood. — - For though the patriarchal age was hitherto of great extent, yet it appears that men soon came to maturity. In th-e first century after the deluge, they married and had children, generally about the age of thirty. The Samaritan copy regularly adds 100 years to the age of the patriarchs both before and after the flood, at the birth of their sons ; so that the birth of Peleg is removed to about 400 years after the deluge. Many learned men adopt tliis chro- nology, because it allows time for an increase of popuIatio?i suitable to the great events of his time. May I offer a few remarks on this subjedl? 1 . Down to the death of Noah, Moses regularly gives the age of the father, at the birth of such a son, he adds the lemaining years of his life, and then sums up the whole. — The constant change of this enumeration cannot have hap- pened through the mere inadvertency of transcribers. Some wilful and systematical corruption must be supposed, either in the Hebrew or Samaritan text. 62 2. Nothing of the kind has been laid to the charge of the Jews. The pious men who revised the sacred books after the captivity, certainly used the best copies that w^ere to be found. Their transcripts were long preserved. The people after this period never relapsed into idolatry. Their numerous scribes must have deteded error, and the mutual jealousy of their se6i;s exposed corruption. Beside, the lawgiver of the house of Judah was under the care of a special providence till the Shiloh came, and our reliance upon the authority of the scriptures rests, in a great measure, upon the firm belief that they have not been wilfully corrupted. 3. The half pagan Samaritans, who rejected a great part of the sacred canon, may be supposed to have taken unwar- ranted liberties with the books they retained, in order to countenance their heathenish errors. And it was ati error of the Heathens that during the second or Silver age men remained with their mothers for 100 years, in a state of infancy, which was succeeded by a short and infirm period of manhood. Hesiod. E^y. xui Uia a. v. 129. How contrary is this to the purpose of Providence declared Gen. ix. 1. ? 4. The ^'eri/ old and grey-headed friends of Job, about the time of Abraham, repeatedly speak of men of a former age (and whose term of life abundantly exceeded theirs) as still existing. This could not have been the case upon the Sama^ ritan scheme of chronology ; but upon that of the Hebrew text, it was a certain truth. 5. As the Samaritan copy does not add to the number of generations, but only retards die population of mankind, I cannot perceive how its chronology would remove the obje6lion respe($ling the age of Peleg. If the race was prolific at the age of thirty, it must evidently have increased as much in 100 63 years as it would have done in 400, supposing men had no childien till they were 130. 6. Observe the patriarchs from Arphaxad to Nahor according to the Hebrew text. The variety of their ages when they became parents is natural and probable. So, 30, 34, 30, 32, 30, 29. Whereas the 135, 130, 134, 130, 13£, 130, 129 of the Samaritan copy presents a monotony unprecedented in history, and highly improbable in itself. At the age of 60 or 65 Nimrod may have retained as much of the fire of youth as would dispose him to undertake a great and daring enterprize, and, at the same time, have acquired as much of the resolution and decision of manhood, as would enable him to persevere in it. At no period of his life could he have been better qualified to plan the city and kingdom of Babel. Those hardy adventurers, who gathered round him, may not indeed have been sufficiently numerous, immediately to accomplish the design ; but they may have entered upon it with confidence, calculating upon iie long prospedt of their own lives, and the assistance of their children, who were continually multiplying. How far they had proceeded in their enterprize, and extended the limits of their kingdom, before the scheme was completely ruined, may be a difficult question to decide. The opinion that Nin^rod was the builder of Nineveh, and the founder of the Assyrian empire, has antiquity on its side, and has been generally received. But I recolleD")K the Aramitc. I think it ought not to be translated Spian, as by this term we generally un- derstand an inhabitant of Syria proper, and a descendant of Aram the sou of Shem. We may hence perceive the greatness of the sacrifice which Abraham made to his faith, when he went out from his own land, not knowing whither he went^ and became ix E 3 70 sojourner, dwelling in tabernacles iu a strange country. He submitted to a condition very different from that to which he was born. Yet we find this patriarch's high rank duly ac- knowledged by the Canaanites themselves. He is styled My JLordy and a Mighty Prince , even by the Princes of the 'Country, though he was but a stranger amongst them, and possessed not a foot of land. Kings go forth to meet him, attended by the first officers of their state, honour him as their equal in dignity, and conclude solemn treaties with him. It cannot be urged in obje61;ion, that the family of Heber, as friends and associates of another people, who may be regarded as the proper Chaldeans, may have enjoyed peculiar immunities and privileges, and even have been included in the national name. Whatever the title TD, and seems to imply a Healer or Restorer of "lii^D. It may have superseded the former name Cainan, which is retained in the Septuagint version, and therefore be nothing more than an epithet, wdiich this patriardi acquired in the days of Iris manhood. As Nahor was about 60 years older than Abraham, liis son Chesed may have been about the same age as his uncle. The general opinion that this Chesod was the chief of the distin6l family of the Chaldeans, acquires great support from hi? name, exa6lly copied from that of his great ancestor, who was still living at his birth, and exac^tly preserved in the Gentile name of the- Chaldeans, the inhabitants of pait of Kahor's kingdom. Why should this son be emphatically 71 styled the Chaldean, unless it was becan^ Chaldea was his * share, in the distribution of Nahor's inheritance among his children ? Those relations and descendants of Nahor who continued in this district, retained the name of DHDDj, while those who settled in the portion of Kemuel, the father or prince of Aram^ obtained that of D'D^K. It appears to me that these Clia]deans_, after the dispersion af Nimrod^s parti/ y and the overthrow of his kingdom, extended themselves over Bab3donia. Hence authors derive the family of the Jews,, sometimes from the Babylonians_, and ^ometime?^ from ihe Chaldeans. Semiramis is a well-known mythological name of Babylon : And Steph. Byzant. V. Uv^aia,, informs us from Alexander Polyhistor, that the Jews and Idumeans or Edoraites were descended from the children of Semiramis. They were not descended from the first founders of Babylon; but from a people who were very early in possession of it: perhaps lon^ before the birth of Chesed. The author of the book, De Mundo, which is ascribed to Philo, equally derives the race and the learning of the Jews from the ancient Chaldeans. All this coincides with the testimo- nies of Moses and Joshua, and with the express declaration,, Judith V. 6. that the Jews were of the race of the Chaldeans. We learn from the two next verses, that some branches of the Chaldeans, or house of Ileber, reje6led the coiTupt worship of their fathers, and removed into Mesopotamia, which they go^ verned for a long time. The more numerous branches, which still continued in their native country, w ere so far from wishing to detain them, that they thrust them forth from the presence of their gods. The ancient Chaldeans theu were not descendants of Ham. 72 The}' were the children of Shem and of Arphaxad, and the genuine ancestors of the Jewish nation. These were the people who possessed that part of Chaldea, which lay between the rivers^ from the time of the general allotment in the days of Peleg; who afterwards^ upon the destruction of Nimrod's kingdom^ began to extend their doininion over Babylonia-, and held it for many ages_, till it was incorporated with the growing empire of Ashur. And these were the people who raised the fame of Babylon to such eminence in the annals of ancient lore. Whether this celebrated city was part of their intended patrimon}^ or not_, they seem to have been put in peaceable possession of it_, in the days of Arphaxad, the restorer of the The names of the descendants of Shem_, in the line down to Abraham^ are evidently descriptive of the successive conditions of the Chaldean family. As it is probable that the precise meanino' of these names is not alwavs to be obtained from the Hebrew diale6t^ I could wish to see it investigated by a good general orientalist^ a chara6ter to which I have no pretension. On die present occasion, I must content myself with setting them down in their order^ together with those derivations and interpretations which are usually given, and adding a few conjeclures. *li:>r)D^K Arphaxad, from KD"1 He healed, repaired, restored, consolidated, 3, an adverb of similitude, and Td! Devastation. But as nWD thus derived, is not hkcly to have formed the name of a great people, may it not imply d according to, H'kiV the Almighty^ the Disposer: intimating that they were the 73 true possessors of the land by Divine appointiAent ? Or else^ it may come from d about^ and nii^N or iw the Stream, so as to be descriptive of their local situation. The initial ^? in Arphaxad^ forms the first person future, perhaps intimating that the name arose from a declaration made by this patriarch — ^^ I will heal the true possessors — or — the dwellers about the stream," Li the story of Judith^ the same name is given to a king of the jNiedes,, probably in allusion to the history of Arphaxad; as we find this prince had entered upon a similar design — ^^to liberate the Chaldeans from under the Assyrian yoke. nbuf, Salah_, He shot or c«st; sent forth, sent awaj^; a dart, a missile weapon. ^Ti'J, Heber, he passed over; The opposite side. :i^D Peleg, He divided ; a stream. 1^% Reu^ Ragau, from n^^l He united; fed; a friend: Perhaps rather, A Shepherd, or feeder of flocks — the same as nj/i. :i)^]V, Serug, from :int:* to be wreathed, twisted; a weak or tender branch. ^rrrD Nahor : '^ it has some affinity to. the Chald. root "T-in to liberate or set free/' — G. Pasor. Perhaps its meaning may be intimated in the Heb. nrri, >nnn3. Snorting, as of a war- horse^ enraged and exulting. Job xxxix. £0. Jer./viii. 16^ n"in Terah, from m^ Is spacious, refreshed; space, interstice, distance., breath, spirit. - ' 74 ■ May I not be allovy-ed to infer from this series that^ about the time of lieu's birth, Heber, who had passed over, or who occupied the opposite side of the stream, had collected his friends and relatives in social niiion; or else, that the Hebrews had already betaken themselves to tlie peaceful occupation of shepherds — that about the time when Serug was born, Nimrod was extending his kingdom on both sides of the EuphrateSj and building Erech and Accad and Calneh, tlie outposts of his great city, and that, in consequence of this, th^ Hebrews jiO\Y hegdLa to he perplexed, weak, and affli6ied? This must have been the time for Arphaxad, the great patriarch of the Hebrew family, to begin to exert himself — to form that resolution, make that declaration, and undertake that enterprize which gave him the name of the Restorer or healer of the D^TiTD. This design he may have carried into efle(5i:, by forming a confederac}^ with liis brethren, and attacking tiie subjects of ISimrod in open war. And it is pretty clear, from some allusions to this event, in the old testament, as well as from the general language of mythology, that the confusion of tongues was not the only means employed for the breaking up of the rebelhous kingdom. The Lord confounded their language, and the?/ left off to build the city: and then, the XiOrd scattered them from thence. In other passages of scripture, the Lord is said to have scattered his enemies, when he discomfitted them before the armies of his servants. The same external means seems to have been employed upon this occasion, accompanied perhaps with an awful confli6l of the elements. It was in war that the Gods and sons of the Gods scattered the Giants, from the heap they were raising, or buried them under its ruins. The subjeds of Nimrocl included a great proportion of the liuman race. The}^ were strong and they were confident. — How greatly must their strength have been reduced, and their confidence damped, at the approach of battle, when an evil conscience, awakened by the voice of thunder, shook their inmost frames, and a supernatural panic convulsed the organs of speech, so that they could utter only nnformed sounds, and communicate no idea to their comrades, but the general im- pression of horror and dismay ! Sal ah, the son of Arphaxad, as his name imports, must have been an adth-e warrior: and he was probably instrumental in liberating the affiicied Hebrews, or in pouring forth the torrent of indignation, about the time of the elder Nahor's birth,, and m expelling the children of men from Babel, about 90 years after their great rebellion. They had already been thei'e no inconsiderable time, if we recollecl that they had not yet lost sight of their original design, that they had hitherto been emploj^ed in building the city, that tliey were but beginning to do this, and that the city -which they were beginning to build must not be rnistalien for Babylon the Great, such as it was in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. The early, overthrow of Nimrod's power may be inferred ii'om other circumstances. jN'loses names the ISoachidai who divided the land, jJfter their nations. In other words, he records only the names of the nadons they respectively planted. It should then seem that the house of Heber, after an interval of two or three generations, or about the space of a century, (by the scale in Gen. xi.) gained an ascendency over the house of Cush. In the 4th degree from Noah we find, j<3D and nbnn Seba and Havila, sons of Cush, and in the 5th ^^"2"^ bheba, his grandson; but in the 7th degree, Sheba and HaviJa occur amonast tlie G:randsons of Heber. — 76 ^lay we not infer that tins family gained possession of the land which the others had occupied? The Schohast upon ApolL Argonaut. L, iv. v. 320, remarks that Timonax (an old historian) in his first hook U-^i ^Kv%y, reckons 50 different nations of Scythae, The name then does not belong to a captain faniil}-,, but to a certain description of people who were dispersed over various regions. St. Epiphanius says that tlie people who went under the general name of ScythaB were those who erected the tower^ and built Babel. Advers. Haes. p. 6. He adds that Scythism^ or the dominion of this people^ extended only to the time of Sei'ug, and that from Seiiig to Abraham^ and from thence to his own time^ Hellenism ov gentihsm prevailed. 76. p. 9. The declension of this kingdom may again be inferred from the early aggrandizement of another family in the neigh- bourhood. About 300 years afcev the birth of Peleg, the king of Elam^ or the South of Persia^ peopled by the house of Shem, was the Great King. The kings of Shinar^ Eilaser, and certain other nations were his allies^ and probably his tributaries. Tlie branches of his throne, passing direc^l}'' over Shinafj extended 1000 miles to the West, into Arabia, Idumea and Canaan, where he had vassal princes, of the race of the dispersed Giants, whose rebellion he chastized, and whom . either himself or his father must, in the first instance, have awed by authority, or reduced by force. A monarchy thus powerful could not have sprung up at^ ■ n once; it must have taken deep root in the ''^.ast before it coiiW acquire sufficient i^rmness to bear down the weight of it^ adversaries^ and it must have passed the Tigris and Euphrates some time before it could reach the banks of Jordan. The house of Shem had then prevailed over that of Cush, before the days of Abraham. It may be a question of some importance whether tbe Eastern princes called TK-sns or Shepherd Kings who, according to Dr. Hales, Orient. Coll, v. iii. No. 2. began to govern Egypt 511 years before the Exode of the Israelites, were not the S^ti'aps of the Elamite. Jerusalem which they are said to have built was very near, if not within, the provinces of Che- dorlaomer, Egypt was governed by a Shepherd about 430 years before the Exode. The king entreated Abraham well, and gave him Sheepy and Oxe7i, and He asses, and She asses and Camels. — ■ Gen. xii. Kings display their munificence by bestowing estimable things, such as constitute the riches of their country. Before the descent of Jacob, some great revolution had taken place in the minds of the Egyptians. At that time they held shephej-ds in abomination. Perhaps they resented the ilb they had lately suffered from them. The ancient books of the Hindus, have something very curious upon this subject. From the learned tj-act O/i Egypty by Lieut. Wilford. Asiat. Res. v. 3. Lond. Edit. 1801.. I extract tlie following particulars. *' It is related in the Padma-Puran, that Satyavrata, wdiose miraculous preservation from a general deluge is told at length, ia the Matsya^ had three sons^ the eldest of whom was named • 78 Jj^apeti;, or Lord of^Iie Earth. The others were C'liarma and Sharma, which last words are, in the vulgar dialedls, usually pronounced Cham and Sham; as we frequently hear Kishn for Crishna. The royal patriarchy for such is his character in the Purans^ was particularly fond of Jyapetij, to whom he gave all the regions to the North of Himalaya^ or the Snowy Mountains, which extend from sea to sea, and of v/hich Caucasus is a part. To Sharma he allotted the countries to the South of these mountains. Bat he cursed C'harma ; because, "when the old monarch v/as accidentally inebritited with a strong liquor made of ferme'nted rice, C'harma laughed ; and it was in consequence of his father's imprecation that he iDCcarae a slave to the slaves of his brothers/' p. 312, '■'■ C'harma having laughed at his father — was nick-named Hasyasila, or the Laugher ; and his descendants were called from him liasyasilas in Sanscrit — By these descendants of C'haraia they understand the African Negroes, whom they suppose to have been the first inhabitants of Abyssinia, and they place Al)yssinia partly in the Dwipa ,(oi' country) of CusHA." p. 330. We may colle6i: from a variety of circumstances, that Ciisha Dwip w'ithin) extends from the shore of the Mediter- ranean, and the mouths of the Nile, to Serhind, on the borders of India, p. 301. Cusha-dwipa without is Abyssinia and Ethiopia: and the Brahmens account plausibly enough for its name, by asserting, that the descendants of CusiiA bein