I fuppofe Schutz, an attendant on George I. and fome court-story is probably alluded to. B.

Ver. 165.

no Prelate's lawn with hair-fhirt lin❜d.

Alluding to Cardinal Ximenes, and other dignitaries of the Romish church, who practifed this among their other aufterities. B. P. 248.

Thus do we take our leave of the labours of this critic upon Pope, excepting his edition of the Iliad and Odyffey; not lamenting certainly that the next commentator on the original works of this excellent poet, whom we are to confider will be, moft probably, the learned, ingenious, and judicious. Dr. Warton.

ART VIII. The firft, fecond, third, fourth, fifth, fixth, and Seventh Annual Accounts of the Collation of the MSS. of the Septuagint Version: together with two Tracts prefixed to the firft and third. 8vo. Oxford, at the Clarendon Prefs. 1789, 1790, &c. to 1795.

ART. IX. Honorabili et admodum Reverendo Shute Barrington, L. L. D. Epifcopo Dunelmenfi, Epiftola, complexa Genefin, ex Codice Purpures-Argenteo Cafares-Vindobonenfi expreffam; et Teftamenti Veteris Græci, Verfionis SeptuagintaViralis, cum variis lectionibus denuo edendi, Specimen. Dedit Robertus Holmes, S. T. P. E Collegio Novo, et nuperrime publicus in Acad. Oxon. Poetices Prælector, &c. Folio. 1795. ART. X. Epifiolæ Honorabili et admodum Reverendo Shute Barrington, L. L. D. Epifcopo Dunelmenfi, nuper data, Appendix; cum verfionis Septuaginta-Viralis denuo edenda, Specimine ad formam contractiore; A Roberto Holmes, S. T.P. dis Chrifti Canonico, et nuperrime in Academia Oxonienfi Poetices Prælectore, &c. Oxonii: Proftat venalis apud J. Cooke; Fletcher et Hanwell; Londini, apud T. Payne, B. White, et P. Elmily. 1795.

WE E fhould ill appreciate the treafures of divine knowledge,

opened to all who feel themselves interested in the cause of truth, by the illuftrious Kennicott, if we did not consider the moft honourable palm which facred literature can bestow, as already adjudged to that great and good man, whofe labours ftand not in need of our applaufe, and rife fuperior to cenfure. But while the polt of honour is thus pre-occupied, there is yet, and will be to the end of time, fufficient incitement for

the

the industry of biblical critics in the fubordinate paths of that most important purfuit. In fuch a cafe it is highly laudable. to be, if not a principal, an auxiliary: and the learned and refpectable author, whofe efforts now demand our attention, will think that praife no mean recompence for the alliduity of eight years, which pronounces him fecond to Kennicott.

Early in the year 1788 Dr. Holmes circulated a paper in the Univerfity of Oxford, with prop fais for a collation of all the MSS. of the LXX Verfi on known to be extant: a work which, if faithfully executed, and fuccefsfully accomplithed, would be conducive to the great ends of af ertaining the integrity of the facred text where it is inviolate, and of facilitating its recovery where impaired. After adducing feverai cogent arguments in favour of his defign, from the antiquity and authority of this verfion, and from the beneficial effects which, in point of fact, have been found to refult from the application of it to its Hebrew original: Dr. H. itated his propofals as follows:

"1. That all MSS. known or difcoverable at home or abroad, if prior to the invention of printing, thould be carefully collated with one printed text; and all particularities in which they differ from it diftinctly noted.

"2. That printed editions and verfions made from all or parts of that by the feven y; and citations from it by ecclefiaitical writers (with a distinction as to tho'e who wrote before the time of Aquila or after it) fhould alfo be collated with the fame printed text, and all their variations from it refpectively afcertained.

"3. That thefe materials, when collected, fhould be all reduced to one plain view, and printed either under the text with which the feveral collations have been made, as by Dr. Kennicott; or without the text, as by De-Roffi.

66 4. That references fhall be made to MSS. by numbers; to verfions by name; to citations of writers by name, place, and edition.

"5. That an account in Latin fhould be given of MSS. collated; containing fuch defcriptions of them, in all particulars, as may enable the reader to judge of the date and authority of each MS. refpectively; and fpecifying the number by which it will invariably be referred to."

To the honour of an eminent feat of learning, and of the literary world in general, we are happy to record that Dr. Holmes's propofals met with the moft liberal and decifive encouragement. from public as well as private patrons. The delegates of the Clarendon prefs came forward with a munificent annual fubfcrip.ion. The Universities of Cambridge, Dublin, and Glasgow lent their aid; and, at the end of the first year, upwards of four hundred guineas were dedicated to the fupport of this elaborate work. From that time till the prefent, Dr. Holmes, in imitation of his archetype and predeceffor, has

very laudably reported progrefs, by annual accounts of the fteps taken in profecution of his defign:

The first annual account, publifhed in 1789, after an effay, containing a recapitulation of the plan propofed for the work, and a variety of remarks on the neceffity for undertaking it, gives an account of two hundred and thirty-fix MSS. already known to be extant in Europe; and ftates that, at the end of the first year, eleven volumes in folio of collations were depofited in the Bodleian Library. The pamphlet concludes with the well-earned teftimonial of the delegates, and thofe pecuniary statements which, as a man of honour, Dr. H. thought it his duty to fubmit to the fubfcribers.

In the fecond annual account it appears that Dr. H. went himself to Paris to infpect the noble collection in the Billiotheque du Roi! and other celebrated repofitories of biblical MSS. It is with pain we ftifle our indignant feelings, when we perufe his literary commerce with thofe venerable men, whom fome among us knew perfonally, and loved unfeignedly; and who, to the very hour of their martyrdom, perfifted in the fame duties which had occupied their brighter days, the advancement of learning and of religion. The cloud was now gathering over their heads, which foon after burft upon them to their ruin. Dr. H. did not quit Paris till fome days after the murderous decree which let loofe the demons of anarchy on thofe innocent men, and threw them into the jaws of deftruction. The folio volumes of collations depofited in the Bodleian Library amounted, at the end of this year, to twenty-three. The third annual report exhibits fpecimens of various readings, many of them very important, the refult of collations carried on in different parts of Europe; and, in a preliminary effay, throws confiderable light on the interefting question, How the facred text stood in the fecond century? The number of MSS. collated to this time amounted to one hundred and fix, and thirteen more volumes of collations were added to the Bodleian Library.

The moft ftriking feature of the fourth annual account is the catalogue of MSS. difcovered among the archives of the Greck church, particularly at Mofcow. In this year [1792] Dr. Holmes had proceeded fo far in his work as to be able to prepare copy for the prefs, and to exhibit a printed fpecimen. to the board of delegates, containing various readings from Greek manufcripts, editions, citations, and verfions, on the first twelve chapters of Genefis. Forty-feven volumes of collations were now completed.

The account publifhed at the end of the year 1793 [No. V.] reports much respectable progress abroad, and much fuccessful

labour

labour at home. The principal object to which the learned editor feems to have dedicated his attention in this year, was, to collect the citations from the Greek Fathers, and their various readings. The ufual teftimonial of the delegates is fubjoined, and a general statement of receipts and difbursements. Three thoufand pounds had been fubfcribed and nearly expended by the end of this year. Volumes of collated MS. now depofited in the Bodleian, fifty-eight. We feel our attention particularly engaged by the fixth annual report. The rich difcoveries made of MSS. in Ruflia, the steps taken to procure their accurate collation, and the account of the Georgian, and fome other verfions, are highly important and interesting. At home the year was chiefly fpent in preparing copy for the prefs; and the variations from the Vatican text in Genefis and part of Exodus, were laid before the board. In confequence of this laborious employment, only fix additional volumes of MS. collations were laid before the board of delegates. But Dr. H. feelingly obferves, that, at the prefent conjuncture, his neceflary communication with foreign countries had been impeded, and that channels by which much of his materials for the work had been hitherto conveyed to him, were now either entirely clofed, or expofed to much hazard and delay. The feventh and laft annual account, published in 1795, announces the Emprefs of Ruffia's confent to the collation of the MSS. in the libraries of the Holy Synod at Mof

We learn alfo that the Codex Marchalianus, a MS. of the highest importance, containing the books of the fixteen prophets, with hexaplar marks and readings, was discovered, and in the fame ftate in which Montfaucon faw it. From this MS. Curterius, as well as Phelippaus, printed the text of Ifaiah. A complete collation of it has been made, and is fafely come to hand. The total number of MS. volumes depofited in the Bodleian Library, at the end of this year, was feventy-three. The fams received for the furtherance of the work, 4445. a fum which, magnificent as it is, we are forry to fee, falls thort of the expences incurred by the indefatigable and meritorious editor. From the mention of these annual accounts, we are to proceed to the two folio fpecimens publithed by Dr. Holmes, and fubmitted to the opinion of scholars and critics. The first contains Chap. I. and II. of Genesis; and the fecond Chap. I. according to the Vatican text, the divifion of chapters and verfes, in which fomewhat differs from

Should not the learned writer have rather said that the materials, rather than the channels, were expofed to bazard and delay?

the

the Vulgate; and are, as we understand, to be speedily followed by the publication of the book of Genefis, on the contracted and much improved plan. We think it our duty to fufpend our remarks, at leaft till the volume, containing the whole book of Genefis, fhall be published. But Dr. Holmes will forgive our obferving, that we cannot help regretting the neceffity; if indeed that neceflity exifts, for this method of editing a work of fuch high importance. It was not before the feventh year that the Codex Marchalianus was difcovered: who fhall fay what the next seven years may bring forth? or how far the completion of any part of the work is advifeable during the prefent unfavourable circumstances of Europe? We feel for all the delicacy of a generous mind. We allow for the anxiety of a gentleman and a fcholar, placed in fuch a flate of deep refponfibility. But more than twenty years, in a lefs unpropitious æra, elapfed before Dr. Kennicott ceafed his preparatory Jabour. His indefatigable refearches during that long period, at home and abroad, left it next to a moral certainty that no treafure of importance remained concealed: he collected all the various readings on all the O. T. and then, and not before, he committed to the prefs his immortal work. He confidered himfelf as "Conful non unius anni." He devoted his life, his whole life, to the caufe; he made arrangements, in confe quence of which it might have been purfued, in cafe he himself had not lived to complete it; and thus, with a full confcioufnefs that he deferved the protracted patronage of mankind, he continued to demand, and to receive it. We admit, that forbearance like this indicates no common vigour of mind; but is the work undertaken as a work of common elaboration? If it would have appeared with more accuracy in the next century, fhould the impatience of the prefent age be gratified? When the text of Genefis is irrecoverably printed off, may not Dr. H. lament that new matter has occurred, which ought, in its proper place, to have been inferted? We fay this because we think it not too late, and because attention to thefe remarks may make a great and excellent work yet more perfect. We know that the endowments requifite in an editor of fuch a book, are many in number, and molt important in degree; and Dr. Holmes, as we are fully convinced, poteffes them.

We have already faid that it is our intention to poftpone all critical remarks on Dr. H.'s work. There can be no doubt that Kennicot's edition of the Hebrew Bible was unjustly and prematurely cenfured, before its opponents had the means of forming a proper judgment, or of taking any ground, except that which was altogether untenable, the abfolute and literal integrity of the facred text. Dr. Holmes, from the nature of