We cannot enter into the history of alphabetical wri ting. Like every other simple art, it was the produce of much generalizing, and many experiments. To ex press sounds by certain symbols, and to combine these into words capable of communicating the whole thoughts and intentions of the heart, could not be a work of rude times, and implies considerable skill and experi ence. The most natural way of communicating an idea in a state of unlettered simplicity, would be to give signs instead of words, and to draw a picture or representation of the things signified. Hence hiero glyphics, or picture writing, appears to have been the earliest method of entering ideas upon record, or com municating sentiments, without words or bodily signs; for, perhaps, knotted cords, which appear to have been of, ancient use, and mark the constellations in the Chi nese zodiac, may be considered as an additional step of improvement. Picture writing appears to have been common in ancient times. When the Spanish ships rii.st appeared off the coast of Mexico, an alarm was raised by figures and representations, transmitted to the seat of government; and in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, hieroglyphical writing is universally known.
But in- Egypt that species of writing has been more celebrated, because it was carried to a higher pitch of perfection. Before the use of alphabets was known, it was practised in the ancient schools of T h eL c s and Ax iom; and when cultivated as a science, and practised on an extensive scale, it was necessary not only to ex press simple ideas by a picture representation, but also to communicate abstract notions and various qualities. The simple representation of the eye only expresses that bodily organ, but when shewn in a cloud and seen from above, it denoted the inspection of the Di% inity. A serpent wrapped up in circular foldings, and the end not easily seen, denoted the perpetual duration of God. The representation of a figure, with several heads and eyes looking to every quarter, represented his univer sal observation ; and the head of a hawk, with its keen eye, pointed out the penetrating knowledge of God. This leads us to understand why the statues of the an cient gods in India have many heads and many hands ; and what is. to be understood by the figures of mon strous animals, like the sphynx, which nature never formed. They are all connected with hieroglyphical sentiments, and intended to communicate arious qua lities and dispositions of the mind.
In the same manner, a sceptre was employed to de note power, a lion to give an idea of strength, and a dog of fidelity. These hints are sufficient to slim the nature of hieroglyphical NV1 iting ; but it must be ob% i ons, that, in the course of its application, it became exceedingly complicated ; and the allusions being often arbitrary, they must, in some cases, have been difficult to be understood. In the course of time it fell into disuse, and, excepting the general notion which has been discovered of its nature and tendency, the parti cular knowledge of the art is lost ; and the hieroglyphi cal writings, though seen distinctly by the eye, are the same to us as a scaled book. Another circumstance
which has tended to conceal the meaning of hierogly phical inscriptions, is the progress which was gradual ly made from picture writing to arbitrary marks. The representation of an ear would every where imply hear ing, and a foot or a hand would denote action ; but a mark assumed at pleasure, to signify an object or ab stract quality, could only be known, where the origi nal intention and arbitrary assumption was communi cated. Most of the hieroglyphics, which are found in Egypt, appear to be allied to this description; and with the knowledge of the arbitrary signs and marks, which were adopted to express ideas, the meaning of the writing itself is forever lost to the world. in con nection with these arbitrary signs, the formation of the Chinese language seems to be placed ; and from that circumstance, the difficulties which attend the learning of it appear to flow. According to I lager, new cl) nas tics sometimes introduced new characters ; and thus the extent and the difficulty of the language were in creased. It appears from Staunton's Embassy to Chi na, (vol. ii. p. 576,) that approximations have been made toward converting the Chinese into letters, or elementary sounds, after the manner of al phabetical writing. Whenever this method shall be come general, the Chinese language w ill be as easily acquired as other foreign tongues.
Neither having come into the world by our own power, nor being preserved in existence without other resources than our own, it is natural to inquire about the Being who made, and the Providence m hich pre serves us. Even in a rude state, whilst sentiments of an acute or very rational nature are not to be expect ed, we should deem it impossible for the human mind to be destitute of all those feelings and view s which en ter into religion ; and hence, no nation has ever been found without some ideas, more or less legitimate, con cerning the existence and nature of God. Even with out the knowledge of our sacred books, we think it im possible that an unbiassed and enlightened mind could imagine, that the Supreme Being would form his ra tional creatures without an adequate knowledge of spi ritual things. Their instincts arc in immediate opera tion ; and though their religious views might be com paratively imperfect, yet we may be well assured, that he who takes care of the body would provide also for the mind. The book of Genesis, which is by far the earliest record of ancient things, represents the original state of man as enlightened in the knowledge of God; and the most ancient information which is handed down respecting his religious condition, represents to us the acknowledgment of one pure and supreme cause. Of this there are many indications besides the celebrated inscription at Sais. The first temples, too, were built of unpolished stone, without any image or sculptured figure; and this not only in Egypt, but in other countries.