Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-09

servatlon OF facts. To him il belors PIE %.
pare the results Of his investigation. 20 CON-
them TO deduce conclusions +, i ;s !, ana from
yze, to ascertain and to point ON, ~, NO 20 ana.
which have concurred in the nromo,;n. causes
ana learning, in the elevation Of na,;ona VI arts
sical or moral greatness and in general ;nO PM
ment OF the human race. Improve
from this very brief, and imperfec, on,r
OF the science OF Antiquities, will be Uult
that the subjects with which i, is co sppafent
are OF general interest and importance "'''Saat
he utshty OF this science will be m.,;s
we consider the advantages it affords ,n
who profess and practise the sciences .,S Snose
ornamental arts. Sad the
Most OF the arts and sciences had tb.;.
gin In remote antiquity. At an esrlv n n,H OIL
The existence OF man, necessity called F osIoi
ingenuity to provide for his wants, hi. 'ura his
and his convenience, and curiosity, evs sOm,of'S
prompted his genius TO investigate ths 1--WE 1--we
mena and laws of nature. On the plains r of 40
syria the arts we're first invented and cul,iv,,as
and the wales of Egyp, and of BabyIoni,' %ee
first illumined by the beams Of sciepce~pneIiee
and imperfect at first, the arts and sciences
gradually improved by the genius of SUGGEST
ages. Many OF the sciences and of the or .r,'
mental arts were cultivated by the ancents U mS
wonderful diligence and success, and were go.
rled by them to degree Of excellence and :.
tinement which modern ingenuity has endes
vored in vain to sur2ass, or even to equal
The philosophy, science, literature and -.
OF the anclents form an inestimabIe mine Of
tellectual treasure. The science Of Antion;s.
unlocks this treasure to the inquirer, and M
folds to his contemplation the ablcst achieve
ments OF the human intellect, and the chocs,,
productions of the human imagination
To all the higher branches of KNOWLEDGE ~,
all the more elevated pursuits of life, know.
ledge of Antiquities is highly useful, and in m.
ny cases Indispensable To specify few ev
ampes: 1t is useful to the physician, as it AZ.
quaints him with the origin and progress o,
medicine among the ancients, and with the wri
tings of Hippocrates, Galen and other illustri.
Gus masters Of the healing art, whose senius
has ever been advanced and whose doctrine
have always been held in respect and yeners
ton.
1t is necessary TO the lawyer: The mOde-l
systems of Jurisprudence are founded on The
laws OF the ancients. TO the accomplish
lawyer, then, 1t is indispensable that he shoqF
be familiar with the laws and judicial usages Of
ancient nations, that he may be able to under
stand, explain, illustrate and successfully apply
those of his own age and country. To be wor
thy of the respectable title Of lawyer" TO de-
serve the confidence Of the public, and TO enable
himself to discharge with honor and dignity
the duties of his profession, he must study the
doctrines and maxims of the duties of his pro.
tession, he must study the doctrines and max
inns of the great Legislators Of antiquity He
must explore the pure and original springs Of
legal science, and imbibe wisdom from the He.
brew, the Grecian, and the Roman fountains
The science Of Antiquities will acquaint him
with the history of Jurisprudence, and enable
him 10 collect from the records Of early nations
whatever is valuable In their laws and legal 10.
situations; TO store his memory with the pre-.
cepts of Solon--of Lycurgus-of Moses--ol
Numa-of Justinian, and many other iluslrious
sages, and thus to bring to his aid; both in the
theory and practice Of his profession, the aggre
gated wisdom of many ages and nations.
1t is Of essential use to the 1heologlan: It's
Of the highest importance that those who pro
TESS the sacred science Of theology, should well
understand the holy scriptures The Bible
which contains them is miscellany, whose
parts were written by different authorities, z.
different times, in different places, and on van
Gus occasions. 1t embraces vast variety o.
blects and all the possible diversities Of style
The poetical portions are clothed in the bold
and hgurative style of the east, and abound u
imagery peculiar to oriental poetry and eo'
qnence. The historical and descriptive parts
are often obscure or ambiguous from local az
lusons and phraseology, and the dlGacuc and
doctrinal parts, from peculiarly Of ldlom, a0d
perhaps, other causes, are sometimes apparent
ly incongruous and contradictory. A know
ledge Of oriental antiquities will enable Inc
theologian to discover and appreciate the Mum
berless beauties Of the scriptures, and 10 uN'
derstand and explain TO others, their genuine
meaning; and when it is considered that lhs
scriptures contain the rules OF our faith ana
practice and that they are our only guide to
immortal felicity, full and correct knowIedg.
of their sacred contents, their precious doc.
trines and precep,s, will appear indlspensa0Iy
requisite to the theologlan whose Office IS "
teach and point out to others the way 10 ever
lasting life. An acquaintance with anuqllutS
will also enable him to defend the authenticity
and antiquity of the scriptures against Vt
sneers Of the irreligious or the caVlls Of V'
sceptical.
An acquaintance with antiquities is also use.
full to the mathematician: In the fragments
Euclid, of Archimedes, of TheodoSius OF o'lt'