Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/177

 propagated Language, and accelerated its Progres by rendering it every Day more and more neceary. Great Inundations or Earthquakes urrounded inhabited Ditricts with Water or Precipices. Portions of the Continent were by Revolutions of the Globe torn off and plit into Ilands. It is obvious that among Men thus collected, and forced to live together, a common Idiom mut have tarted up much ooner, than among thoe who freely wandered thro' the Forets of the main Land. Thus it is very poible that the Inhabitants of the Ilands formed in this manner, after their firt Eays in Navigation, brought among us the ue of Speech; and it is very probable at leat that Society and Languages commenced in Ilands, and even acquired Perfection there, before the Inhabitants of the Continent knew any thing of either.