AN APOLOGY то JOHN RICHARDSON, Efq. Of the MIDDLE TEMPLE, and of WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD. By the SA me. ΑΝ APOLOGY, &c. I Had fcarcely finished the above defence; when another Treatife made its appearance, in which are some strictures of a different nature upon me, and my work. This is by no means like the former a dry and fcholaftic bufinefs; the offfpring of a dull grammarian: but a compofition highly coloured and embellished: abounding with tropes and figures, and enriched with a multiplicity of learning: fo that we are bewildered in the variety of entertainment. The author's purpose is to give an account of the languages, literature, and manners of eaftern people. And he feems in many inftances to have copied the lively turn of those nations; for he does not confine himfelf to that unneceffary grammatical exactness, to which we generally think ourselves bound to attend : nor is he a flave to that rigid and logical method of reasoning; which has prevailed among us for fome time. In fhort he does not fcruple to expatiate freely, and to deviate fometimes from the fubject matter, whenever new views open; and his fancy is caught by fresh appearances. He has been led to think from an unfortunate line in my first volume, that I have spoken irreverently irreverently of the Perfic and Arabic languages; for which he very justly entertains a great esteem. On this account fome pages in his Treatise are taken up with fhewing me my great mistake: but chiefly (what may not appear altogether to the purpose) with pointing out many fundamental errours in the hiftorical part of my own writings. The nature of my offence in its full extent cannot be better defcribed than in his own words. Among other learned men, who apparently from an idea of their modern date have difputed the utility of the Arabic and Perfian languages, is the ingenious author of the New Syftem, or Analysis of Ancient Mythology: a work, in which the novel ingenuity of the Analytic System, the penetration, and judgment difplayed in the refutation of vulgar errors, with the new and informing light, in which he has placed a number of ancient facts, leaves the learned world the regret, that this claffical writer had not to his fingular knowledge in the Greek and Roman literature, added fome tincture of the languages and learning of the east. As there however appears an impropriety in any perfon's condemning, what he confeffedly does not understand: and as this learned Gentleman has attacked a province, which I conceive it my duty to defend; I shall endeavour to remove fome prejudices, which he may have created: as the errors of a writer of uncommon abilities, who has laid down canons for future history, may have a more dangerous tendency, than the miftakes of inferiour men: whom few read: and fill fewer follow. Differt. p. 87. All this, I must confefs, is very humane and polite. We fee here attributed to me, learning, penetration, judgment; attended with much informing light; and a particular degree of knowledge in the Greek, and Roman languages: and at the clofe I am reprefented as a perfon of abilities. Though I cannot pretend to to deferve one half of what is here faid, yet I ought to think myself greatly obliged to this gentleman for his candour and good opinion and fhall be forry to find any thing, as I proceed, that may leffen the obligation. The great mistake, which entitled me to his observations confifted in my condemning what I did not understand; and in attacking a province, which he thought it his duty to defend: in fhort in having dif puted the utility of the Perfian and Arabic languages. He therefore thought it neceffary to remove fome of the prejudices, which I had created. In an fwer to this I can only fay, that I am ready to recant every thing, which I have unduly afferted, when he shall ftate to me my unfair course of reafoning. I fhall gladly make an apology and give the utmost fatisfaction; if fatisfaction can be given. But let all thofe expreffions be first brought together, the whole procefs of my argument, wherein I have difputed the utility of thefe tongues, and condemned them. I mention this, because they must neceffarily have been very copious to have caused this alarm. This is the great point, to which we are to attend and this being fatisfactorily disclosed, I am ready to make due fubmiffion. Let us then attend to what immediately follows, that we may fee, how these articles are made out. The chief points, which Mr. Bryant means to establish (in his Analyfis) are, First the univerfality of the Deluge from Gentile authorities: Secondly the migration from Babel &c. and Thirdly the Arkite ceremonials with the general worship of the fun and fire. I fhall not here difpute, whether these are the only great points, which I had in view all that at prefent I fhould be glad to know, is, how this is to the purpose. I am accused of having treated Perfic and Arabic liteF rature |