corrected; and we fasten regularly the anchor of our confidence in the text of Scripture on a floating authority—that of a secret and irresponsible body of men in temporary possession of the Authorised Presses. The public Authorised Standard has been abandoned, and NO ONE FIXED AND SPECIFIC STANDARD (even on very important critical matters) has been substituted in its place. 9. In a loose and careless manner, altogether, has this precious book been transmitted. Which is the first edition of the Version, the Universities, its legal custodes, are not able to inform us; and neither University have kept a single copy, in modern times, of the successive editions which they have issued. So that what has been printed by them for sacred Scripture, can never in this world be ascertained. Why, my Lord, the law provides, that one hundred hand-bills shall not be issued, on any thing like a public question without the Printer filing a copy; and that a novel shall not be printed at the Minerva or any other Library, without a registration of it at Stationers' Hall, and copies being duly presented to certain public libraries. Edition after edition, however, of this all-important volume, the BIBLE, may be put forth, (the new one printed from the last, or the one nearest hand) and the precaution of keeping a copy shall not be thought of! responsibility as to any errors it may contain, resting in reality NO WHERE. I was perfectly astounded to find last year that of the successive editions of the Bible, no distinct traces could be found! 10. But would you return, I may be asked, to the obsolete orthography and its manifold inconsistencies? And are even critical improvements never to be made? My reply to the last question will be found in the language of other and able men-while an Authorised Version is professedly maintained, let good faith be kept with the public; it is, as Dr. Clarke has said, "another" Version in regard to every critical alteration that is adopted: and I would adhere to it in every critical point, "until with equal authority, equal publicity, and superior learning another can be made." I would not, my Lord, as the pretensions of the King's Printers and Universities, I conceive, now do, speak (7) 66 CROOKEDLY FOR GOD." Job xiii. 7. With respect to orthography, respectable national usage is followed with our best authors, and it is left ordinarily to competent printers. Before the publication of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary we had nothing like the standard orthography which that has contributed to fix; as the published Letters of Swift, Addison, and other classical writers will shew. No scholar will assert that this is not a widely different matter, generally, from the criticism of a translation. When it touches on criticism, and you profess to be printing other men's works, follow their decision, I would add:-as, moreover, that our modern Bibles are not without their absurdities and school-boy blunders, in this respect.* I quote finally, my Lord, the apology on a similar occasion of a distinguished present member of the Episcopal body— "The attention which has been paid to apparent trifles both in the text itself and the notes-may appear frequently superfluous; but let no one forget, that accuracy and impartiality are the two great virtues of a critic, and that objects of no importance in themselves lead not seldom to consequences of the greatest moment."+ And beg, with all deference, to subscribe myself, Your Lordship's most obedient, and The Right Hon. and Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of London, &c. &c. T. CURTIS. * As in the unfortunate word fole, occurring but four times in the whole Bible, but regularly spelt two different ways, ever since Dr. Blayney's time; i. e. twice in Genesis, fole; and in Zechariah and Matthew, foal. Unlearned persons if they cannot tell which is right, will conjecture both cannot be. We have also very frequently borne, for born; throughly, for thoroughly; ought for aught; twined, twice, for twinned; idle, for idol; palmerist, (Blayney) for palma Christi, &c. And why cherubims and seraphims are retained when the Philistims have been banished, I cannot divine. Marsh's Michaelis, v. i. p. 526. 86 LIST A. TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, IN AND SINCE DR. BLAYNEY'S EDITION: Many of the Editions quoted being still on Sale, especially to the Poor. C. denotes Editions in the Writer's own possession; all the others he has inspected, except the 8vo. 1804, Oxford, mentioned in the Congregational Magazine, May, 1823. Υποτυπωσιν εχε ύγιαινόντων λόγων.-PAUL. C. 8vo. Oxford, 1801. Gen. xi. 29.-The name of Abram's wife was Sirai, C. id. id. 1810. id. for "Sarai." Gen. xxxiii. 5.-And she said. "She" inserted, making (as it may be thought) Rachel the speaker, instead of Esau. id. 1804. Num. xxxv. 18.-The murderer shall surely be put together, for "put to death." C. fo. Oxford, Bl. 1769. Deut. xii. 19.-As long as thou livest upon thy earth, C. id. Oxford, 1801. Josh. xiii.-Title, Baalim is sla 87 C. to Oxford, 1814. Bibles to that of Oxford, 1814, shewing it to be an 1810. 2 Sam. ii. 24.-Gath, for "Giah." (Thirty miles id. id. C. fo. id. 1804. 1786. 1 Kings viii. 19.-Out of thy lions, for "loins." 24mo. Lnd. Kg's.Pr. 1822. Ps. xviii. 50.-(David) his apointed, for anointed." "his C. 8vo. Oxford, 1801. Ps. xxxii. 11.-Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, LORD, ye righteous-" LORD" inserted. C. id. id. Ps. xxxiv. 6.-The Lord hear him, for the "Lord heard him." C. 12mo. Camb. 1817. Ps. xxxiv. 13.-Keep my tongue, for "thy tongue from evil." C. 24mo. id. 1826. Ps. xlii. 1.-As the heart, for "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks." C. 8vo. Oxford, 1810. Ps. lxxxvi. 11.-Teach my thy way, for " me thy way." C. 12mo. id. 1820. Ps. cxix. 119.- Then puttest away the wicked, for C. 8vo. "Thou." id. 1801. Prov. xxvii. 2.-Let another man praise thee, and to, for "and NOT thine own mouth." C. 12mo. Camb. 1829. Eccles. v. 11.-When goods are increased, thy, for "they are increased," &c. C. 12mo Cord, 1820. Isa. lxvi. 9.-Shall I bring to the birth, and not C. cease, for "not cause to bring forth." 1770. Isa. Ivii. 1. Merciful men are taken away. omitted. "Are" *904. Jer. xxvii. 3.-Come to Jeremiah, for come to “Je C. 12mo. Camb. 1805. C. id. C. fo. Jon. iv. 6.-(Marg.) Palmerist, for Palme Crist, or Christi. Also Oaf. 4to. 1772, 1773, and 1786, fo. id. 1769. Hag. i. ZEPHANIAH, for "Haggai," at the top of page, no part of which has any thing but Haggai; and thus omitting that prophet from the top of the page altogether. C. fo. Oxford, 1786. id. C. 8vo. id. Error of seventeen years. This is page for page with Blayney, and shews the strange adherence to even his typographical errors. id. 1801. Zech. vi. 1.-There came forth, for "there came four chariots out;" destroying the whole sense of this prophecy. C. 12mo. id. 1793. Mal. iii. 6. I change not: therefore, ye sons of Jacob are ye not, for "ye are not consumed." C. id. Camb. 1819. Mal. iv. 2.-Son, for "Sun of righteousness," and "ye" omitted in last clause, destroying an often quoted promise of God. C. id. 8vo. id. 1801. Matt. xxvii. 15.-Want, for "wont to release a prisoner." id. 1823. Mark vii. 14.-And said unto them, for "he said," marring the sense of two or three verses, and copied unfortunately into a large edition of the Bible with Notes. id. 1801. Mark xii. 14.-Say unto me, for "unto him," quite altering the facts narrated. C. 8vo. C. 8vo. |