The Arabic language is divided into many dialects, which differ from each other as well in construction as in pronunciation: yet it is so generally understood, that Mr. Jackson states, that any one having a knowledge of it, may travel from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope; across the widest part of the African Continent from East to West; along the course of the White River, or Nile of the Negroes; and proceed from Marocco to the Eastern shores of China, opposite the Islands of Japan; in the whole are an immense portion of the Eastern hemisphere, and yet find the Arabic language spoken and understood, wherever he came. The Moors use the Arabian language somewhat corrupted, though the characters are the same; but in Marocco, Fas or Fez, Salee, Mogadore, and the Northern parts of Africa, the following letters were formerly used, under the name of the

rocco, by James Grey Jackson, Esq. Lond. 1809, 4to; and the same excellent Arabist is now employed upon a Moorish and Arabian Grammar, which (from his well known abilities) may be expected the most perfect introduction to those languages yet published. Before closing our account of the Arabic, it will be proper to mention that Arabia received its name from the Hebrew word Arub, which signi fies West, because that country was situated to the West of Chaldea. The Arabians themselves, however, derive it from Yarab, the name of their founder, whose descent from Shem, the son of Noah, is mentioned in Genesis x. 21--26. "Unto Shem also, the father of the children of Eber, even to him were children born.---The children of Shem; Elam, and Ashur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.-And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.--And Arphaxad begat Salah, and Salah begat Eber.---And unto Eber were born two sons; the name of the one was Peleg for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.---And Joktan begat Almodad, and Seleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jeruh.". (Yarab.)

SYRIAC.

THAT the Syriac language is an immediate descendant of the ancient Hebrew, is not to be doubted, since it was frequently called by that name, as well as being denominated the Chaldean, Babylonian, Aramean, Mesopotamian, and Assyrian. It was also one of the common languages spoken by the Jews in the Babylonish Captivity; and in the New Testament, many words occur in this tongue. Some historians, however, carry it back to a much earlier time; and assert that it was a distinct language, when Jacob served Laban of Padan-Aram for his daughter Rachel. This, however, proves it more closely to have been a dialect of the Hebrew, since those who are even most anxious to establish the antiquity of its own characters, assign to them an existance of only 300 years before Christ; whereas Jacob left Padan-Aram 1739 years before that event. The warmest supporters of the Syriac, however, assert, that it is the an. cient Hebrew, and that its earliest characters were used by Abraham and Moses. The Syriac was divided into three dialects. First, the Aramean, or Syrian properly so called; which was spoken in Mesopotamia, by the inhabitants of Roha or Edessa, and Harran, and the outer Syria: second, the dialect of Palestine; spoken by the inhabitants of Damashk, Mount Libanus, and the Inner Syria: and the third, the Chaldean or Nabathean dialect; spoken in the mountainous parts of Assyria, and in the villages of Irak or Babylonia. The first of these was the most elegant, and

the latter the most rude. In the sixth century after Christ, the Syrians had carried the Christian religion into China, in the reign of the Emperor Taitcom; as in 1625, a large fragment of marble was found at a small village near Sighaufou in the province of Chensi, which contained an account of the Syrian Missionaries success, from the time of their entering the country till the year 782, when the inscription was written, The letters were engraved in the Stranghelo character, and round the margin were the sig. natures of sixty-six Syrian priests, and also of one Adam, to whom was given the title of Vicar-General, and Papal Deputy of Tsinestan, or the Kingdom of China, which is denominated Tsin by the Orientals. The Syriac language is written from the right to the left, although Duret quotes a Latin verse, to prove that the Syrians wrote from the top of the page downward, like the Chinese and the Mantchou Tartars. The names of the twenty-two letters of the Syrian Alphabet differ but little from those of the Hebrew; they are also used for numerals, in the ordinary way, as far as Tzodde, and then are extended in the following manner. Youd, with a point above it, signifies 100; while Koph, Lomadh, Mim, Noun, Semkath, Ee, Phe, and Trodde or Ssodhe, similarly marked, express 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900. Olaph, with a sign below it, like the French grave accent, stands for 1000, and Beth, with the same. mark, for 2000. Olaph, with an horizontal line beneath it, is equal to 10,000; Youd, also underlined, makes 100,000; and Koph, thus distinguished, is one million. Again, Olaph with a mark similar to a circumflex put under it, specifies, ten millions; under Beth it makes twenty millions, and so continues through the alphabet. The Syriac is not spoken at the present time, as the common language of the Syrians and Maronites is Arabic; although the Syriac, like the Latin language in Europe, is used for their religious services and their sacred writings. When the Syrians would write any thing to be concealed from the Turks, they use the Arabic tongue and the Syriac characters; and as the former language has six letters more than the latter, they add a point to their own Tav, Koph, Dolath, Ssodhe, Tteth, and Ee, to stand for the Arabian Thse, Cha, Dhsal, Dad, Da, and Gain. The Syriac is also the learned tongue of the Christians of St. Thomas in India; and some of their books which contain certain of the spurious Gospels, are written in a beautiful hand, and with as pure a dialect as that used in the Syriac version of the New Testament. The Syrians yet call their vowel points, by the names of Abrohom, Eschaia, Odom, and Ouriah. The following is an ancient Syriac alphabet, which, according to Duret, consists of the small letters only, invented for running characters,

These, he also hints, were written from the top of the on account of the facility with which they might be traced.

paper to the bottom.

Tzode tz

Phe

p ph

Duret has given a curious account of the application of the Syrian alphabet to a religious purpose, by forming words expressive of the names and attributes of God, commencing with each letter of it; and after these invocations, the petition of the person praying is added. The following is the way in which the characters compose these addresses to the Almighty. Olaph, A, Aloho, God. Beth, B, Baruio, the Creator. Gomal, G, Gaboro, Powerful. Dolath, D, Daiono, Judge. He, H, Hadoi, the Meek. Vau, V, Vagdo, the Promise. Zain, Z, Zaiono, the Nourisher. Hheth, Hh, Hhanono, Merciful. Teth, T, Tobo, Good. Iudi, I, Iohabo, Bounteous. Coph, C, Cino, Righteous. Lomad, L, Lmino, Peaceful. Mim, M, Morio, Lord. Nun, N, Nuhero, Enlightener. Somchath, S, Sabro, Hope. Gain, G. Gabado, Governor. Phe, Ph, Pharuquo, Saviour. Zzodde, Zz, Zeibo, Crucified. Quoph, Q, Quadiso, Holy. Ris, R, Romo, Most High. Schin, Sc. Sbihho, Glorious. Thau, Th, Thlithoiutho, Trinity. The following are the medial and final letters of a large modern Syriac in present use.