The answer is, that the rules to be pursued in forming our conclusions, with respect to the original relations of those languages which can not be historically traced to their source, must be drawn from the experience furnished by that class of languages of which the transitions can be traced by means of the independent evidence of history.
It will be shown that the existing relations between these two different classes of languages are, and therefore we may infer that the original relations were, the same.
By the adoption of these principles of investigation as regards both: 1, The Resemblances, and also 2, The Differences, which Human Tongues display, the great maxim of Lord Bacon's philosophy will become legitimately applicable to language, and the researches of the Philologist may be directed by the same criteria, and his conclusions vindicated by the same tests as those which apply to the investigations of the inquirer into Physical phenomena.
It is upon these principles that I propose to conduct the inquiry of which the results are embodied in these pages.
Chapter I. On The Evidence Furnished By A Comparison Of Their Languages Of The Original Unity Of The Various Nations Of The Continents Of Asia, Europe, Africa, And America.
Absolute Identity of the Languages of the Four Continents when compared collectively.
Illustrations from the Names of the Gods of Egypt, Greece, Italy, and India, showing the Origin of Idolatry.
North American Indian Names for “The Great Spirit.”