"Luke xiv. 11. our tranflators have used the word abase in oppofition to pride, as in Job, where we have juft noted that humble would have been more properly used; but here we find in the fame verfe the fame verb in the original rendered by abafe, and alfo by humble For whosoever exalteth himself, fhall be abafed, ταπεινωθησεται ; and he that humbleth himfelf, ταπεινῶν alov, fhall be exalted.' What, but the impropriety of applying the word abafe to a mental and moral act, could induce the tran lators to avoid the repetition of it in the latter claufe, where the impropriety was fomewhat more apparent ?" Most of our readers will allow that here is much ado about nothing, objecting to Dr. Johnfon where there is no real caufe of objection, and to the tranflators of the Bible, where they are right and the author wrong for the how is very expreffive, and means as the Apoftle meant, that he knew with what temper of mind to bear abasement or exaltation namely, with contentment; alluding to the fentence immediately preceding; "I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." If we take the derivative of this word, what does the Philologer give us by way of a definition?"Abafement, the aft of abafing;" which many will not understand, and they who do will not find it instructive. But Dr. Dawfon feems to think that an unintelligible definition is perfection, for he far exceeds this fpecimen in many places. Ex. " Abate, Attributive of a ftate of remiffion;" Abdicated, Attributive of being abdicated ;" and, in general, derivatives have here only a reference to their primitive, with fome fcholaftic diftinction, fuch as it pleafed the author to think accurate. But does Dr. D. think that Johnson could not have been as logical, or as metaphyfical as he, if he had not tranflators) how to bear or to behave in a low condition in life, particularly in a state of indigence; for the contraft is here between want and abundance. We may remark, however, that though our tranflators use abafe in its proper fenfe, fo far as it refpects condition in life, yet they have not with equal propriety made choice of a word to exprefs its connection with a verb which governs it. The word how, which they have inferted between the verbs, denotes the manner in which the thing announced by it is to be brought about, in this cafe, the manner of being abafed. But the apoftle means not to fay that he knows the manner of, but the thing itfelf-has experienced the being brought low in life-from a ftate of plenty the being caft down into a ftate of indigence. Orda Tamola, therefore, would have been more accurately rendered I know what it is to be abafed,' than I know how to be abafed.' Indeed, the expreffion how to be abafed, i. e. how to be brought low in life, is next to unintelligible. Dd 2 had had a different object in view; that of being generally intel. ligible to those who should cafually confult him. We fay generally, because we know that some of Johnson's definitions have been ridiculed, as peculiarly unintelligible. But this was only when a word was in itfelf fo plain that nothing could make it plainer, and then he thought it allowable to give a fcholaftic definition. But to proceed with our inftances. "Abide v. n. trans. to abide upon the fame fpot with the object on which it is tranfitive," and this is to explain fach fentences as, "the Sun pulls in his light, as not abiding to fee the fufferings of his Creator." "Able, Attributive of power, adequate to the object of its exertion; in oppofition to weaknefs, or want of means.' Abortion, the production of what has perished in the womb, or through fufferance there is prefently to perish." "About, ferving to denote the circumftance of being outward to the object which it announceth; but having respect to the compafs within which it lies." This may be very correct, but how many people will understand or be informed by it? But we have a worse quarrel with the Philologer, which we must proceed to explain. It was the object of Dr. Johnfon, and an object well worthy of his great character, fo to choose his examples, as to lead the enquirer to the beft authors, and to imprefs upon his mind the belt precepts; nor has Dr. D. altogether neglected this principle, in his quotations; yet in fome inftances he has deviated from it, in a way which we cannot but regard as extremely reprehensible. When we fee Hobbes quoted, without neceffity, we cannot fail to wifh that fome more fafe author had been fubftituted; for why fhould the confulters of the dictionary be fent, on any account, to a Deift? Dr. D. however, quotes him. feveral times, even in this fhort fpecimen. But what per verfeness of intellect can have led him to quote "Evanfon's Diffonance?" (See p. 24.) If people cannot be taught English without being led to the enemies of the Gofpel, let them folecize for ever, and be happy to do it. Dr. J. Jebb's Works, might in our opinion, as well have been left unnoticed, but on this we will not contend. But, what have we to do with Mrs. Wollstonecroft's Letters? (p. 68.) Another fault, but inferior to this, is that of quoting authors who are no authority: as for inftance Mifs Parfons, (p. 12,) who may be a very pretty novel writer, but no eftablished oracle of English. Still worse, for authority, are the Anonymous Public Prints, (p. 32,) famous for folecifms; the York Com mittee, 1784, (p. 35,) famous chiefly for faction; Hamilton's Hydrophobia, (p. 68,) a good medical tract, and praifed by us in our XIIIth Vol. p. 195, but now not easily met with, aud when found no authority; Mr. Peacham on Drawing, (p. 87,) of doubtful merit in the art of drawing, and probably of none in that of writing*. Obferve alfo that all thefe curious, abfurd, or mischievous quotations occur in only 100 pages, not a fourth part of which is occupied by quotations. Confidering all we have ftated, it feems very plain that inftead of having any caufe to regret that this work can never be completed, it is a circumftance at which we have good reafon to rejoice. BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 16, Woman; a Poem. By Eaton Stannard Barrett, Efq. Student of the Middle Temple. 1810. 12mo. 4s. 6d. Murray. The author of this poem tells us in his preface, that it is addreffed not to the freethinker and the philofopher, but to the libertine, the pedant, and the clown. In fhort it is a practical instead of a theoretical effay, and in order to be comprehended requires of us an acquaintance, perhaps, with the common forms and relations of fociety, but, difpenfes with the perufal of Boling broke, Leibnitz, and Spinofa. The author's defign cannot be objected to, and in some parts he rifes to confiderable vigour, but he is evidently a very young writer; and many examples might eafily be adduced of feebleness and abfurdity. We rather turn to the pleafing fide of the picture, and give the following fpecimen as indicative of taste, feeling and vigour. After a general panegyric on the beauty of the fex, the author proceeds thus: "But most in Erin native ifle divine, * These examples have no claim to the benefit of Johnson's apology, that words must be taken where they can be found, for they might be found any where. Dd 3 "Her had a different object in view; that of being ge fently to perish." ftance of being outwar having refpect to th be very corre may or be informed b But we hav we must pr die; ye figh, finging burn, ver to return." m defcriptive of the Place and Parts Poems, by Mary Lloyd, 12mo. 75. Johnfon, a ted and elegant compofition, and must prove fo to cho authors, has Dr W f lovers of poetry and Brighton. We willingly ing fpecimen. A fofter fcenes invite the cheerful eye, the calm fea reflects the azure ky when gentle zephyrs o'er the waters sweep, eir filken wings and fcarcely move the deep; 1 1 Now Tow aged grown, and toil no more her lot, is not altogether to be defpifed, iritual Quixote, from the bofom to reform mankind in the merors and follies of this way, a modern reformer, and a paes his beloved mift refs, who is married ntlefs, but good natured, and on the whole is finally reformed himself, and rescued from aft of suicide, by a daughter of one of the Elect, her father's vices and hypocrify; and with her he re ais paternal inheritance, and lives refpectable and happy. ne fatire on the Methodifts is fevere, and we are willing to ope overcharged; but confiderable talents are difplayed in the execution of the work, talents which feem qualified for better undertakings and fome of the characters are remarkably well delineated. ART. 19. A Concife View of the Conftitution of England. By George Cuftance. 2d Edition. 12me. 491. pp. Longman and Co.'0 1. To thofe who cannot afford the purchase of Blackstone's Commentaries, or whofe employments do not allow time for the perufal of that work, this Epitome of the Laws and Conftitution of our country will be an acceptable and inftructive book. The au hor appears well acquainted with his fubject, and to have imbibed the true principles of rational and conftitutional freedom. That fome paffages fhould be nearly a tranfcript of Blackstone was almost unavoidable, in a work on the fame fubject, from a writer manifeftly of the fame fchool. His object feems to have been to afford general information, without defcending to technical minuteness; and confequently the moft intricate parts of the law of property are omitted, and the history of civil actions is abridged. In recurring to the various important topics in this work, we find the author almoft invariably perfpicuous, generally correct in his opinions, and as comprehenfive in his information as the limits of fuch a work will admit. |