A New System, or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology: wherein an Attempt is made to divest Tradition of Fable, and to reduce the Truth to its original Purity. By Jacob Bryant, formerly of King's College, Cambridge, and Secretary to his Grace the late Duke of Marlborough, during his Command of the British Forces abroad, and Secretary to him as Mafter General of his Majefty's Ordnance. Two vols. 4to.

T is not without diffidence great that we venture to give any judgment upon this very elaborate and extremely ingenious performance. The extent and depth of erudition that is difplayed throughout, would have placed Mr. Bry. ant's name in the first rank of learned men, in the most learned ages; and the accuracy and exactnefs of his judgment muft entitle him to ftand among the most refpected names of critics, and antiquaries.

It is no wonder, that the Grecian, and ftill more the Egyptian Mythology, should be involved in the darkeft obfcurity; and, if a thousand circumftances contributed to perplex and confound the first enquirers, the difficulties muft increase tenfold upon those who followed them, who, at the very time, they make thofe firft writers the

authority for their own opinions, are obliged to detect their errors, and in a manner invalidate the very authority they themselves must stand upon; and yet this course they must follow, or they only copy antiguated and inveterate abfurdities. But this inveftigation, this difcrimination of truth from falsehood, confounded in the fame mass, requires the clearest head, and the foundeft judgment, and is a work only fit for fuch a writer as Mr. Bryant.

It is from his Preface that we make our extract, to let the reader fee what it is he propofes to do; and as it is a matter of conjecture, we will not prefume to fay, whether he has or not abfolutely proved his hypothefis; but we will recommend it to our reader, as a work undoubtedly full of learning, and replete with ingenuity; infomuch, that thofe, who may not agree with the author in his theory, will at least be at a lofs how to anfwer his arguments. The reader will be startled to find that he is no longer to give credit to the conquefts of Ofiris, Dion ufes, and Sefoftris, and will, we think, a little grieve, that the hiftories of Hercules and Perfeus are void of truth. But we will leave our author himfelf to speak the hardiness of his undertaking.

" What

"What I have to exhibit, is in great measure new; and I fhall be obliged to run counter to many received opinions, which length of time, and general affent, have in a manner rendered facred. What is truly alarming, I fhall be found to differ not only from fome few historians, as is the cafe in common controversy; but in fome degree from all and this in refpect to many of the moft effential points, upon which historical precifion has been thought to depend. My meaning is, that I must fet afide many fuppofed facts, which have never been controverted: and difpute many events, which have not only been admitted as true; but have been looked up to as certain æras, from whence other events were to be determined. All our knowledge of Gentile history muft either come through the hands of the Grecians; or of the Romans, who copied from them. 1 thall therefore give a full account of the Helladian Greeks, as well as of the Iönim, or lönians, in Afia: alfe of the Dorians, Leleges, and Pelafgi. What may appear very prefumptuous, I fhall deduce from their own hiftories many truths, with which they were totally unacquainted; and give to them an original, which they certainly did not know. They have bequeathed to us noble materials, of which it is time to make a ferious ufe. It was their misfortune not to know the value of the data, which they tranfmitted, nor the purport of their own intelligence.

It will be one part of my labour to treat of the Phenicians, whofe history has been much mistaken: alfo of the Scythians, whofe original has been hitherto a fecret. From fuch an elucidation many

good confequences will, I hope. enfue: as the Phenicians, and Scythians, have hitherto afforded the ufual place of retreat for ignorance to fhelter itself. It will therefore be my endeavour to specify and diftinguish the various people under thefe denominations; of whom writers have fo generally, and indifcriminately fpoken. I fhall fay a great deal about the Ethiopians, as their history has never been compleatly given: alfo of the Indi, and Indo-Scythæ, who seem to have been little regarded. There will be an account exhibited of the Cimmerian, Hyperborean, and Amazonian nations, as well as of the people of Colchis; in which the religion, rites, and original of those nations will be pointed out. I know of no writer, who has written at large of the Cyclopians. Yet their history is of great antiquity, and abounds with matter of confequence. I fhall therefore treat of them very fully, and at the fame time of the great works which they performed; and fubjoin an account of the Leftrygons, Lamii, Sirens, as there is a clofe correspondence between them.

I

As it will be my bufinefs to abridge hiftory of every thing fuperfluous, and foreign; I fhall be obliged to fet afide many ancient lawgivers, and princes, who were fuppofed to have formed republics, and to have founded kingdoms. cannot acquiefce in the ftale legends of Deucalion of Theffaly, of Ina chus of Argos, and Ægialeus of Sicyon nor in the long line of princes, who are derived from them. The fuppofed heroes of the firft ages in every country are equally fabulous. No fuch conquefts were ever atchieved, as are afcribed to Ofiris, Dionufus, and

Sefoftris.