ed singers of them as
final umpires in disputed questions, are not likely to be mistaken on
matters in the accuracy of which they have so lively an interest.

This is the earliest and most simple of the various stages through which
history is obliged to pass. But in the course of time, unless
unfavorable circumstances intervene, society advances; and among other
changes, there is one in particular of the greatest importance. I mean
the introduction of the art of writing, which, before many generations
are passed, must effect a complete alteration in the character of the
national traditions. The manner in which, this occurs has, so far as I
am aware, never been pointed out; and it will therefore be interesting
to attempt to trace some of its details.

The first and perhaps the most obvious consideration is, that the
introduction of the art of writing gives permanence to the national
knowledge, and thus lessens the utility of that oral information in
which all the acquirements of an unlettered people must be contained.
Hence it is that as a country advances the influence of tradition
diminishes, and traditions themselves become less trustworthy. Besides
this, the preservers of these traditions lose in this stage of society
much of their former reputation. Among a perfectly unlettered people,
the singers of ballads are, as we have already seen, the sole
depositaries of those historical facts on which the fame, and often the
property, of their chieftains principally depend. But when this same
nation becomes acquainted with the art of writing, it grows unwilling to
intrust these matters to the memory of itinerant singers, and avails
itself of its new art to preserve them in a fixed and material form. As
soon as this is effected, the importance of those who repeat the
national traditions is sensibly diminished. They gradually sink into an
inferior class, which, having lost its old reputation, no longer
consists of those superior men to whose abilities it owed its former
fame. Thus we see that although without letters there can be no
knowledge of much importance, it is nevertheless true that their
introduction is injurious to historical traditions in two distinct ways:
first by weakening the traditions, and secondly by weakening the class
of men whose occupation it is to preserve them.

But this is not all. Not only does the art of writing lessen the number
of traditionary truths, but it directly encourages the propagation o