stranger. Mr. Dibdin is not writing for those who altogether despise book pursuits, but for those whose taste is congenial with his own. There is no question, therefore, upon the value of the pursuit itself; but what is the extent of the obligation which these latter owe to the author. The best answer to be given will be found in the work itself. I will venture to affirm, that there is no where to be found a greater quantity of matter, a greater multiplicity of anecdotes, or a greater variety of useful information within the same compass. He has contrived, at the same time, to set off and enliven his subject by that gentlemanly temper, and that good-natured vivacity, which wenever lose sight of, and for which qualities Mr. D. is himself, in private life, so distinguished. It was too true an observation of Dr. Johnson's, that the pioneers in literature are often trampled upon and forgotten by those whose progress they have been facilitating: nor must Mr. D. complain that he may in some instances meet with a similar fate: humani nihil alienum; he can claim no exemption. His labours, however, have not been frustrated: he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has secured to himself the grateful acknowledgements of a large description of readers, to whose favourite study he has contributed a fund of pleasing and useful information. Yours, &c. S. P.

Mall, on Thursday the 6th of February last, and was witness to a most extraordinary transaction. Mr. Christie, the worthy and skilful auctioneer, seemed himself to be lost in amazement: the biddings flew, like shuttlecocks, from one side of the room to the other. "On, gentlemen, on; as fast as you please: the pleasantest pace imaginable"-was Mr. Christie's remark; while surprize sparkled in his eye, and joy set his heart a dancing. The lot was the Philosophical Works of Cicero, printed for the Use of the Dauphin, in 1689, 4to; but the TRUE EDITION, Mr. Editor: mark that, I beseech you; the true edition: not the best (for it is an indifferent one*); but the true edition. I thank you, Mr. Dibdin, "for that word."

Who should be the purchaser of such a lot? and for what sum was it knocked down? Posterity will be incredulous, when they hear it was Mr. D. himself; and he gave 591. 68. for the volume: so said the Morning, Chronicle and the Courier, for the subsequent day and evening. From these too we find, that the purchase was made for LORD SPENCER; a Nobleman of whose book-spirit and book-treasures, the publick can never hear too much in commendation. Well, Mr. Editor, the volume now ornaments the shelves in St. James's Place; and its utility and rarity are no doubt justly appreciated by its noble possessor.

بور

I was much diverted on hearing the remarks that were made immediately after the purchase. "Here is Mr. D. (said one) who writes a learned volume, to distinguish the symptoms, and trace the history, of BOOK-MADNESS, himself giving public demonstration, that he is as deeply infected with the disease as any of his brethren!" I expect to read many sharp squibs against him, for so extraordinary a conduct; but I already hear

him

him defending himself with his own Lisardo-" Never fear; Bibliomania is, of every species of insanity, the most rational and praise-worthy."

I should not have trespassed with this squib, but that I perceive, Mr. Urban, you are yourself a little touched with this said Book-DISEASE. Yet, permit me to observe, that your continued notices of Mr. D.'s Romance, do equal credit to yourself, and to the author of that work.

LYSANDER THE LITTLE.

Mr. URBAN,

W

Feb. 4.

HEN I sent you the translations of the 32d and 33d Chapters of Deuteronomy, it was far from my intention to have noticed every criticism that might appear thereon. I was willing to state my own opinions, to see those of others, and to let the reader judge for himself. But your two Correspondents, W. W. and P. deserve, though from different reasons, peculiar notice. To W. W. I must in justice return thanks for his correct emendation of verse 40, to the superior excellence of which he has my cordial concurrence. Kennicott has likewise employed the same expression in this place. My own translation is indeed rather to be attributed to haste, than to a deliberate investigation of that particular verse. In respect to verse 5, I also think it to be corrupt; but cannot admit, that Bishop Lowth's translation is nearer the original Hebrew than my own. He, indeed, appears to have been dissatisfied with his own performance, and has subjoined the following note: "Lectionem Codicis Hebræi in initio prioris Commatis aliquo modo interpretari conatus sum: sed verior forsan est Lectio, quam exhibent Samar. Sept. Syr. שחתו לא לו בוי מום ;' Corrupti sunt! non sunt ejus, filii maculæ. Quam etiam partim confirmant Aquila, Vulg. Symmachus." The most celebrated Kennicott, in his posthumous volume, adopts the same opinion, which I humbly conceive to be the best elucidation of this passage:

"They are corrupted, not his, children of pollution;

A generation perverse and crooked."

In verse 10 I am also much inclined to his correction.

As to his other emendation, suffice

it to say, that it is both ingenious and plausible; but its superiority to. my own translation I cannot ademit. In proportion as the poetical parts of the Old Testament are more difficult than the prosaic ones, so are the translators more divided in their, opinions. Let any man read the excel lent works of Faber, he will both perceive the soundness of this maxim, and be able to account for the present difference of opinion.

sumes

In reply to P. I think it only necessary to notice his last sentence, relative to Hebrew Points. Can he possibly be ignorant, that those venerable characters Capellus, Kennicott, Lowth, Parkhurst, Bate, and others too numerous to mention, rejected them, as of modern date, and Masoretical invention. Before he prenes again to throw out his sarcasms, let him refute their obj ctions, and prove himself their superior. The arguments, which they have adduced, have convinced me, after a careful deliberation, of the propriety of reading Hebrew without points; and so I shall continue to do, till some new light can be thrown on the subject.As to the examining masters, whatever they may think, I shall not change my present system. There are few things, respecting which some difference of opinion does not exist; but "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." I should not have introduced them, had I not wished to protest, in the strongest terms, against the present low state of Hebrew literature among the Under-graduates. How few have passed a public examination in Hebrew! It is even now currently reported, that Hebrew will henceforth be rejected in the Schools. If this be the case, if the sciences of Aristotle and Cicero be preferred to the knowledge of the Bible, well may the Atheist shout, and the Sectary rejoice. The

deficiency of Hebrew literature arises

not from the Under-graduates; it arises from those, who, in framing the present Statutes, have unfortunately omitted to bestow those honours on the study of Divinity, which are open to the students of antient philosophy and the science of mathematicks. That the venerable framers acted from the best of motives, and with the most praise-worthy intentions, no man can deny; yet I cannot