KIN G.

SIR,

BY YOUR MAJESTY's gracious Permission, this Work, which comprehends Specimens of ancient Documents, particularly of thofe which Your Royal Goodness has committed to my care, is with all poffible Respect and Gratitude dedicated to YOUR MAJESTY, by

YOUR MAJESTY's

most dutiful and

obedient Subject

and Servant,

THOMAS ASTLE.

THE

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

General Reflections.-Events which contributed to the decline and

refloration of Science. Some account of the Work.

Of Speech. Of the origin of Hieroglyphics.Of their different

kinds.Hieroglyphics common to all uncivilized Nations.

CHA P. II.

OF THE ORIGIN OF LETTERS.

P. I

Variety of Opinions on this Subject.-Alphabetic Writing not first

communicated to MOSES, nor of Divine Original.-General Re-

flections.-Progrefs of the buman Mind towards the Invention of

an Alphabet.How accomplished. Of the Compofition and

Notation of Language.

---

P. 10

CHAP.

OF THE ANTIQUITY OF
OF WRITING.

The Claims of different Nations to the Invention of Letters; name--

ly,-Of the Egyptians,-Phenicians,-Chaldeans,-Syrians,-

Indians,-Arabians.-Obfervations and Reflections.-Of Ante-

diluvian Writing.

P. 26,

C. HA P. IV.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF ALPHABETS.

All Alphabets not derived from one.-Alphabets derived from the

Phenician.

P. 48.

CHA P. V.

OF THE MANNER OF WRITING IN DIFFERENT AGES AND

COUNTRIES.

Forms of Letters.-Phenician Letters, and their Derivatives.—

Pelafgic Letters, and their Derivatives.-Roman Letters, and

thofe derived from them.-Specimens of ancient Alphabets and

Writing.

P.62

CHAP