A general collection of discourses of the virtuosi of France, upon questions of all sorts of philosophy, and other natural knowledg made in the assembly of the Beaux Esprits at Paris, by the most ingenious persons of that nation / render'd into English by G. Havers, Gent.

II. Whence comes the di∣versity of pro∣per names.

Upon the Second Point 'twas said, That a name is an artificial voice representing a thing by humane institution, who being unable to conceive all things at once, distinguish the same by their differences either specifical or individual; the former by appellative names, and the other by proper, as those of Cities, Rivers, Mountains, and particularly those of men, who also give the like to Horses, Dogs, and other domestick creatures. Now since conceptions of the Mind, which represent things, have affinity with them, and words with conceptions, it follows that words have also affinity with things, by the Maxime of Agree∣ment in the same third. Therefore, the wise, to whom alone it belongs to assign names, have made them most conformable to the nature of things. For example, when we pronounce the word Nous, we make an attraction inwards. On the contra∣ry, in pronouncing Vous, we make an expulsion outwards. The same holds in the voices of Animals, and those arising from the sounds of inanimate things. But 'tis particularly observ'd, that proper names have been tokens of good or bad success arri∣ving to the bearers of them, whence arose the reasoning of the Nominal Philosophers, and the Art of Divination, by names call'd Onomatomancy; and whence Socrates advises Fathers to give

their Children good names, whereby they may be excited to Virtue; and the Athenians forbad their slaves to take the names of Harmodius and Aristogiton, whom they had in reverence. Lawyers enjoyn heed to be taken to the name of the accused, in whom 'tis capital to disguise it; and Catholicks affect those of the Law of Grace, as Sectaries do those of the old Law, the ori∣ginals whereof were taken from circumstances of the Bodie; as from its colour the Romans took those of Albus, Niger, Nigidius, Ful∣vius, Ruffus, Flavius; we, those of white, black, grey, red-man, &c. from its habit, Crassus, Macer, Macrinus, Longus, Longinus, Cur∣tius; we, le Gros, long, tall, &c, From its other accidents, the Latines took Caesar, Claudius, Cocles, Varus, Naso; we, le Gou∣teux, (gowty,) le Camus, (flat-nos'd,) from Virtues or Vices, Tranquillus, Severus; we, hardy, bold, sharp; from Profession, Parson, Serjeant, Marshal, and infinite others. But chiefly, the names of places have been much affected even to this day, even since the taking of the name of the family for a sirname. And if we cannot find the reason of all names and sirnames, 'tis because of the confusion of languages, and alteration happening therein upon frequent occasions.

The Fourth said, That the cause of names is casual, at least in most things, as appears by equivocal words, and the common observation of worthless persons, bearing the most glorious names; as amongst us, a family whose males are the tallest in France, bears the name of Petit. Nor can there be any affinity between a thing and a word, either pronounc'd or written; and the Rabbins endeavour to find in Hebrew names, (which, if any, must be capable of this correspondence, in regard of Adam's great knowledge, who impos'd them) is no less an extravagance then that of matters of Anagrams. In brief, if Nero signifi'd an ex∣ecrable Tyrant, why was he so good an Emperor the first five years? And of that name import any token of a good Prince, why was he so execrable in all the rest of his life?