the author translates by "has my body washed from uncleanness."*

I shall not trouble the committee with the translation of the same or similar sentences in other African languages, the forms of which the author thus exemplifies, of which six are mother tongues,† and the others derivative dialects. I shall content myself with referring to the original work, by which my assertions may be contradicted or confirmed. In my opinion those languages appear alt formed nearly on the same model.

From the above facts and observations it would seem to result, that the languages of the Negroes of the western coast of Africa, are in a degree complex and synthetic in their forms; to what extent does not sufficiently appear; but enough is shewn to warrant the inference that they differ in several material points from those of the languages of the American Indians.Their greatest resemblance appears to be in the combinations of the verb with other parts of speech.

Perhaps, therefore, it may not be an improbable supposition that the great characteristics which so generally distinguish the idioms of the aborigines of this continent, are not to be found to the same extent in any other language upon earth. Considerable labour, however, will be required before this question can be fully solved, and the fact completely ascertained. The study of the languages of the different races of men, considered in relation to their internal structure and grammatical forms, has but lately begun to be attended to, and may still be considered as being in its infancy; the difficulties which attend the pursuit of this interesting branch of science ought not to deter us from still

* C. G. A. Oldendorps Geschichte der Mission, &c. C. G. A. Oldendorp's History of the Mission of the Evangelical Brethren in the Caribbee Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, edited by J. J. Bossart. Barby, 1777, octavo, p. 344.

1. The Congo. 2. The Amingo. 3. The Mandingo. 4. The Yalof. 5. The Serere. 6. The Serawalli.

pursuing it, in hopes of discovering some path that may lead to a better knowledge than we yet possess of the origin, history, connexions, and relations, of the various families of human beings by whom this globe now is and formerly was inhabited.

CATALOGUE

Of Manuscript Works, on the Indians and their Languages, presented to the American Philosophical Society, or deposited in their Library.

DICTIONARIES.

1. Deutsch und Onondagoisches Warter buch, von David Zeisberger. A Dictionary of the German and Onondago languages, by David Zeisberger. 7 vols. 4to. Deposited by the Society of the United Brethren of Bethlehem.

2. Aruwakkisch Deutsches Warter Buch vermehrt, 1803, durch Theodor Schultz. A Dictionary Aruwack and German, augmented in 1803, by Theodore Schultz. 1 vol. 4to. 622 pp. Deposited by the Author.

3. Dictionaire de la Langue Huronne, par Samuel Sagard. MS. copy of the original work, printed at Paris in 1632. Presented by P. S. Duponcau.

GRAMMARS AND GRAMMATICAL WORKS.

1. A Grammar of the Lenni Lenape, or Delaware Language; by the late Rev. David Zeisberger. Translated from the German MS. of the Author, by P. S. Duponceau; fol. 140 pp. Presented by the Transla

tor.

2. Grammaticalische Sætze von der Aruwakkische sprache. A Grammar of the Aruwack language, by Theodore Schultz, 12mo. 173 pp. Deposited by the Author.

3. Essay of an Onondago Graammar, or a short introduction to learn the Onondago, alias Maqua Tongue; by David Zeisberger, 4to. 67. pp.

4. Onondagoische Grammatica; by the same, 4to.

87 PP.

5. Another Onondago Grammar in the German Language, by the same, 4to. 176 pp.

6. Affixa Nominum et Verborum Lingue Macquaica. Auctore Chr. Pyrlæo, 4to. 25 pp:

[With this work are bound several Iroquois Vocabularies and Collections of Phrases, the whole together making 178 pp. 4to.]

7. Abjectiva, Nomina et Pronomina Linguæ Macquaicæ, cum nonnullis de Verbis Adverbüs ac Præpositionibus ejusdem Lingua. By the same, 4to. 86 pp. [The five last above mentioned works have been deposited by the Society of the United Brethren at Bethlehem.]

VOCABULARIES AND COLLECTIONS OF WORDS AND

PHRASES.

I.

A Collection of Words and Phrases in the Iroquois or Onondago Language, explained into German. By the Rev. Chr. Pyrlæus, 4to. 140 pp. Deposited by the Society of United Brethren at Bethlehem.

The following are all donations made to the Philosophical Sociey.

II.

Presented by Mr. Jefferson.

1. A Vocabulary of the Language of the Unquachog Indians, by the donor.

2. Of the Nanticoke, by

3. Of the Miami, by M. Volney.

4. Of the same, from the mouth of the Little Turtle