o little likelihood in them that the
unexperienc't would take them only for the tricks and whims of a
melancholique brain; whereas an ingenuous Artist, from the most naturall,
and simple notions gradually conducts the mind to a kind of insensible
discovery of truth, and makes it see on a suddain what it could not expect,
and that with such open assurances as quit that from all suspicion, which
but now had scarce any face of truth.

Knowing no other method then this, that may be proper to make new
discoveries in the sciences I endeavour'd to make what use I could of it,
so farr as my subject permitted; And since amidst the severall resemblances
of the Languages, there are some so evident, as necessarily grance upon the
most unobserving eye, I have so order'd my reflections, that by a reference
to these, as models, I might by degrees arrive at the knowledge of the
others, which although reserv'd, and sometimes more distanc't, yet are
neither less certain, nor reall: not unlike the subalternate conclusions in
speculation, which are not a jot the lesse true for being farther remov'd
from their first principle.

Thus tis that a Language with which we are already acquainted, either by
the assistance of Art, or Conversation, leads us to an intimacy with those
that were altogether unknown to us before, and that their relation
redresseth the treachery of the memory in the close and juncture of one
with the other.

But that I may compasse this my designe with lesse trouble, my greatest
care is to make choise of one Language as a rule to measure by, and a
principle to reduce all the rest too: for to pretend to compare them
immediately one with another, as some would have it, is to cherish
confusion among those things that demand the most of order.

The veneration that I have alwayes had for antiquity, made me think at
first of ingaging for the _Hebrew_, as being (for ought we know) the
earliest, the most noble, and most naturall Language of the world and that
from which all others, in a manner, derive themselves. But it was not long
before I began to consider, that this would directly crosse the first
principles of my intended method, and appear a kind of indeavour to teach
an unknown Language, by another, of which we have the most imperfect, and
slender information of all. The kindnesse, and inclination I ought to have
for my own Country, had almost perswaded me to rest my self there, and to
make my native tongue the basis of