manifest from the authorities to which Pezron appeals. Such too frequently are the quotations made use of by people of an eager disposition; which, as they are introduced, answer but in part; when examined, are totally repugnant. His reasoning throughout is carried on by a chain, of which not one link is fairly connected,

ཟ

An ingenious writer and antiquary of our own nation has followed the steps of Pezron, and added to his system largely. He supposes, that all science centered of old in Bactria, called " Bochary, or the land of Books, which Pezron had supposed to have been the principal place of residence of his Sace. He accordingly tells us, that in these parts we must look for the origin of the Titans, Celts, and Scythæ. We are

17 See the History and Chronology of the Fabulous Ages, by Wise. p. 119. and note (1) in another treatise, he says: Pezron proves, that Uranus, Calus, Saturn, and Jupiter, were no imaginary beings, but the true names of Celtic emperors, who were more generally known by the name of Titans. Wise. Dissertation on the Language, Learning, &c. of Europe. It appears, that Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter were powerful princes; sovereigns over a vast empire, comprehending all Europe, and a great part of Asia. Ibid. p. 55. These writers were too modest in limiting Jupiter's empire, which they might as well have extended over all the earth, especially as they might have quoted authority for it. Τον Δία (φασι) βασίλευσαι TY CHUTAITOS KOOμs. Diodorus. 1. 3. p. 194.

likewise informed by another writer, that near

18

Cashmire and Thebet they speak good " Irish at this day. The learned Salmasius also deduces every thing from Scythia. "9 Nulla fere Europæ gens nec Asiæ, quin a septentrione proman verit, &c. Scythia igitur, quæ ad septentrionem, omnes fere gentes evomuit. But what are we to understand by Scythia? It is an unlimited, undefined term, under which Grecian ignorance sheltered itself. Whatever was unknown northward was called Scythian. It is certain, that vast bodies of men have at times come from the north: though Salmasius carries his notions to a degree of extravagance. But giving his opinion a full scope, What has this to do with the language and learning of Europe; which by many are so uniformly deduced from the same quarter? It is notorious, that this vast track of country called, ignorantly, Scythia, was possessed by people essentially differing from one another. Timonax, a writer of great antiquity, took notice of fifty nations of Scythians. Mithridates had twentytwo " languages spoken within his territories,

20

18 See Parsons, in his treatise styled Japhet.

19 De Hellenisticâ. p. 366.

20 Της

δε Σκυθίας εθνη πεντήκοντα Τιμώναξ αναγράφει εν πρώτω αέρι Exubur. Scholia in Apollon. 1. 4. v. 320.

"Mithridates duarum et viginti gentium Rex, totidem linguis

22

most of which were esteemed Scythic. The people of Colchis at one time carried on a great trade; and variety of inland nations came down to their marts. According to Timosthenes, they were not less than three hundred, which had each their particular " language. And even afterwards, in the times of the Romans, it is said, that they were obliged to keep up an hundred and thirty interpreters to carry on traffic. Yet we are apt to speak of the Scythians collectively as of one family, and of one language, and this the Titanian or Celtic. 25 The Titan language, says Wise, was universal in Europe: the Titan language, the vehicle of all the knowledge which dawned in Europe. -The Titans, masters of all the knowledge derived from the sons of Noah. And who these Titans were, he repeatedly shews, by saying, that they were the first civilizers of mankind, and Scythians. The true Scuthai, or Scythians, were undoubtedly a very learned and intelligent people: but their

jura dixit. Plin. 1. 7. c. 24. p. 387. See Aulus Gellius. 1. 17. c. 17. There were twenty-six languages among the Albani. Strabo. 1. 11. p. 768. See also Socratis Hist. Eccles. 1. 1. c. 19. Ρ. 49. Βαρβαρων έθνη πολλα, διαφόροις χρωμενα γλωσσαις.

22 Plin. l. 5. c. 5. p. 305. Many of these were probably only dialects. Yet there must have been in some instances a real difference of language; and consequently a distinction of people. 23 P. 56.

origin is not to be looked for in the north of Asia, and the deserts of Tartary. Their history was from another quarter, as I purpose to shew. How can we suppose one uniform language to have been propagated from a part of the world where there was such variety? And how could this language be so widely extended as to reach from Bactria to Thrace, and from thence to the extremities of Europe? What adds to the difficulty is, that all this was effected, if we may be lieve our author, six hundred years before Moses. Then it was, that Jupiter subdued all Europe from Thracia to Gades. As to the learning supposed to be derived from these Scythians, it is certainly a groundless surmise. The greater part of these nations, commonly styled Scythic, were barbarous to the last degree. There are no monuments, nor writings, remaining, nor any upon record, which can afford us the least idea of their being liberal, or learned. The Huns and Avares were of these parts; who over-ran the empire in the fourth century: but their character had nothing in it favourable. They were so rude in feature and figure, and such barbarians, that they were not thought human. It was a common notion, that they were begotten by devils

24

24 Jornandes de Rebus Geticis. p. 104.

25

26

upon the bodies of some savage hags, who were found wild in the woods. Procopius says, that they neither had letters, nor would hear of them: so that their children had no instruction. He calls them avпxoo xaι aμediTnTO; quite deaf, and averse to all science. In short, all the Tartarian nations of " old seem to have been remarkably rude. But it may be said, that the people spoken of by Pezron and Wise were of Bactria and Margiana. They may place them as they please: still they are no other than the Sacæ Nomades; a Tartarian clan, who from Strabo appear to have been in a continual roving state till they were cut off. But after all, who in their senses would think of looking for the Titans among the Tartars, or deduce all science from the wilds of Margiana? But if these countries had all the learning that ever Egypt or Greece boasted, how was it transmitted to Europe? How could it be derived to us, when so many, and such mighty, nations intervened? We have seen the plan adopted by Pezron; which was found defective from the very authorities to which he appealed: and Wise proceeds upon the same system. These were both in

25 Procopius. Bell. Goth. 1. 4. c. 3. l. 4. c. 19.

26

I say of old for there have in later times been some instances to the contrary.