cause is gained. But I cannot tell why we should conclude that the ancient writers had not as much advantage from the knowledge of others, that were ancient to them, as we have from those that are ancient to us.
[The ancients had many books, perhaps more than we have: but books are not really necessary to learning.
In Eastern countries there seems to have been a general custom that the priests should keep a record of public events; and in Æthiopia, Egypt, Chaldea, Persia, Syria, and Judæa they were equally diligent in the study of natural science and philosophy. From these sources Orpheus, Homer, Lycurgus, Pythagoras, Plato, and others of the ancients drew those depths of knowledge or learning which have made them so renowned in all succeeding ages.]
[ibia. pp. 449–452]
. . . to judge whether the ancients or moderns can be probably thought to have made the greatest progress in the search and discoveries of the vast region of
