Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/144

 cian Times was almost wholly confined to the Egyptians, excepting what was amongst the Israelites: And whosoever does but consider how difficult it is to lay the first Foundations of any Science, be they never so small, will allow them great Commendation; which if the Advocates for them had been contented with, there had been an End of the Controversie. Instead of that, all that has since been added to their Foundations, has been equally challenged as originally due to them, or at least once known by them, by (e) Olaus Borrichius, and several others long before Sir William Temple, wrote upon this Argument.

Before I enter upon this Question. I shall desire that one Thing may be taken Notice of; which is, That the Egyptians anciently pretended to so great Exactness, that every Failure is more justly imputable to them, than to other Nations; not only their History was so carefully look'd after, that there was a College of Priests set up on purpose, whose chief Business it was successively to preserve the remarkable Matters of Fact that occurred in their own Ages, and transmit them undisputed to Posterity, but also, there was answerable Care taken to propagate and preserve all other Parts of useful