Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/119

ing who could have been the Interpreters of this Convention for ſuch Ideas, as, in conſequence of their not having any ſenſible Objects, could not be made manifeſt by Geſture or Voice; ſo that we can ſcarce form any tolerable Conjectures concerning the Birth of this Art of communicating our Thoughts, and eſtabliſhing a Correſpondence between Minds: A ſublime Art which, tho' ſo remote from its Origin, Philoſophers still behold at ſuch a prodigious Diſtance from its Perfection, that I never met with one of them bold enough to affirm it would ever arrive there, tho' the Revolutions neceſſarily produced by Time were ſuſpended in its Favour; tho' Prejudice could be baniſhed from, or would at leaſt conſent to ſit ſilent in the Preſence of our Academies; and tho' theſe Societies ſhould conſecrate themſelves, entirely and during whole Ages, to the Study of this intricate Object.