In all these countries, letters were long unknown, and as a people in that state have no means of perpetuating their history except by oral tradition, they select the form best calculated to assist their memory; and it will, I believe, be found that the first rudiments of knowledge consist always of poetry, and often of rhyme.  The jingle pleases the ear of the barbarian, and affords a security that he will hand it down to his children in the unimpaired state in which he received it.  This guarantee against error increases still further the value of these ballads; and instead of being considered as a mere amusement, they rise to the dignity of judicial authorities.  The allusions contained in them are satisfactory proofs to decide the merits of rival families, or even to fix the limits of those rude estates which such a society can possess.  We therefore find that the professed reciters and composers of these songs are the recognized judges in all disputed matters; and as they are often priests, and believed to be inspired, it is probably in this way that the notion of the divine origin of poetry first arose.  These ballads will of course vary according to the customs and temperaments of the different nations, and according to the climate to which they are accustomed.  In the south they assume a passionate and voluptuous form; in the north they are rather remarkable for their tragic and warlike character.  But notwithstanding these diversities, all such productions have one feature in common:  they are not only founded on truth, but making allowance for the colorings of poetry, they are all strictly true.  Men who are constantly repeating songs which they constantly hear, and who appeal to the authorized 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