Whether there ever were any Language natural, I dispute not: But that there have been, are, and may be, artificial Languages 'tis not difficult to prove. The _Chinese_ Court Language is said to be of this kind, invented and spoken by the _Literati_ and _Mandarines_ throughout the whole Empire of _China_, differing from all the other Languages spoken in it, and I conjecture it to be nothing else but the Names of the Character by which they write and express their meaning, arbitrarily imposed by them, as we in _Europe_ set names to Arithmetical Figures, not as we pronounce Words written with a litteral Character. This I Judge by comparing the Characters with the Names, Monosyllables or Words they pronounce and read them with. Nor do they ascend above a Monosyllabical Name, tho' the Character be composed of many single Characters, each of which hath its proper Sense, and Monosyllabical Name, and though the meaning of each Character, be an ingredient in the Notion of that compounded Character. I might give an Instance also in the Artificial Language Invented by the Late Reverend Bishop of _Chester_ Dr. _Wilkins_, which in all the accomplishments of Language doth excel any one yet extant; to which is also annexed a real Character, Legible into that or any other Language Spoken. By which Language the Character and every additional Mark is effable, and yet the Character is not Literal but Real, which is more curious and useful than the _Chinese_ way. Great pity it is that Discourse is not published in Latin, that the Learned of _Europe_, may think of further Improving it, and bringing it to Use. But whatever we may judge of Language, 'tis past dispute that Writing was ever Artificial, how Antiently so ever it were in Use, and was the Invention of some thinking and Studious Men. 'Tis also evident that there have been various ways thought of for Expressing Significancy, according to the several _Genii_ of the Persons that were the Inventors. As may be guessed by the _Ægyptian_ Hieroglyphicks, the _Chinese_ Characters, the _Mexican_ Chronology, and the Literal Characters of several Nations, each of which seem to proceed upon differing methods, and from differing thoughts of Invention.