As to the rest, the Zan, or Zaun, was, with the Sidonians, no uncommon prefix to On.

Adonis was but another name for Zanonas, whose worship in Sidon Hesychius records.

To this profound and unanswerable derivation Mervale listened with great attention, and observed that he now ventured to announce an erudite discovery he himself had long since made,--namely, that the numerous family of Smiths in England were undoubtedly the ancient priests of the Phrygian Apollo.

"For," said he, "was not Apollo's surname, in Phrygia, Smintheus?
How clear all the ensuing corruptions of the august name,--Smintheus, Smitheus, Smithe, Smith! And even now, I may remark that the more ancient branches of that illustrious family, unconsciously anxious to approximate at least by a letter nearer to the true title, take a pious pleasure in writing their names Smith_e_!" The philologist was much struck with this discovery, and begged Mervale's permission to note it down as an illustration suitable to a work he was about to publish on the origin of languages, to be called "Babel," and published in three quartos by subscription..