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ART. IX. Novum Teftamentum Græcè. Lectiones variantes, Griefbachii judicio, iis quas Textus receptus exhibit, anteponendas vel æquiparandas, adjecit Jofephus White, S. T.P Edis Chrifti Canonicus, Linguarum Heb. et Arab. in Acad. Oxon. Profeffor. 2 Tom. Cr. 8vo. 16s. è Typographeo Clarendoniano. Oxon, Cooke, &c.; London, Mackinlay. 1808.

AS a handfome perfon is faid to be a filent recommenda

tion, fo the extreme neatness and beauty of this edition of the New Teftament are calculated at once to befpeak at tention and partiality. The type appears to be the fame with that of Dr. White's Diateffaron, which was remarkable for elegance, but the ink is evidently better, which of courfe improves the appearance of the book. What it offers of original advantage is the ready and intelligible view, firft, of all the texts which in Griefbach's opinion ought either certainly or probably to be removed from the received, text; fecondly, of thofe various readings which the fame editor judged either preferable or equal to thofe of the re ceived text; thirdly, of thofe additions which, on the authority of MSS. Griefbach confiders as fit to be admitted into the text. An intermediate advantage, to be derived from an edition thus marked, is pointed out by the learned Editor at the conclufion of his fhort preface; namely, that it may thus be feen at once by every one how very little, after all the Jabours of learned men, and the collation of fo many manufcripts and verfions, is liable to juft objection in the received

text.

"His animadverfis, pro fe quifque facile perfpiciet, quantu lum fit in textu recepto, poft tot Codicum ac Verfionum Colla ționem, quod ulla ex parte meritò reprehendi pofit.”

The received text, it fhould be obferved, is that which appears in the editions of Elzevir, Leufden, &c. and which even Wetfein and Griefbach have adopted as the foundation of their editions. It is pleafing to fee even the relaxations of a learned life thus dedicated to public utility, and the extenfion of facred learning. With the fame laudable propenfity, Dr. White is employing himfelf upon a ftill humbler exercife of inftruction; the printing what he calls a Synopfis of Griefbach's Criticifm. This is intended to be no more than an explanation, in words at length, of thofe illußrations with which Griefbach has filled his margin, by means of arbi

trary

trary marks, explained in his preface. This fpecies of shorthand, left any one through indolence fhould pass over, or through want of apprehenfion fhould miftake, Dr. White is condefcending to explain, in order to give all poffible effec and circulation to the labours of his German friend.

It becomes us, however, to do, what Dr. White would doubtlefs do if he expatiated at all, to warn young ftudents against the propenfity of Griefbach to prefer the lefs orthodox readings, where there is any controverfy. Thus in 1 Tim. iii. 16. he puts os in the margin, instead of eòs, as preferable, or at leaft equal, to that received reading. But is makes abfolute nonfenfe of the text, and is merely the fubterfuge of Socinians, to avoid the confequences of ads. We well know how much Griefbach has faid on it, both in his margins, and in his Symbolæ Critica; but twice as much could not reconcile fo abfurd a reading; on which it may be ufeful to ftate the oppofite teftimony of Matthæi refpecting the Moscow manuscripts.

"Bona fide teftor, me, in omnibus Codicibus Mofquenfibus Græcis, ἀναμφιβόλως καὶ ἀναμφισβήτως reperife, μυτήριον, Θεὸς ἐφανε án." Præf. p. xli.

After many proofs in favour of that reading, he concludes by saying,

"Quid fi ergo lectio ròs, et codicum ab aliis examinatorum multitudine et auctoritate nititur, et eam omnes à me ndnc primum collati Codices Mofquenfes habent, et interpretes difertè ejus ad hunc locum mentionem faciunt, et patres nobiliffimi, in his Theodorus, Chryfoftomus, et Cyrillus laudant, hujufque locus publicâ auctoritate Alexii Comneni, per Euthymium Zigabenum, ætatis uæ virum longe doctiffimum, contra Neftorios relatus eft in Pa nopliam, reliquas vero lectiones pauciffimi, ac fortaffe duo tan tùm (v. Mill. ad h. 1.) Codices habent, nec ovvapua contextus, nec fententia, nec ratio grammatica admittere poteft, definant tandem contrariæ fententiæ propugnatores tam impudenter ho mines credulos ac parum providos ludificari." Præf. p. xlv..

So ftrong a teftimony may furely be allowed to counterbalance the opinion, whether prejudiced or not, of Griefbach. With refpect to the much controverted text, 1 John ch. v. ver. 7. it is here of neceffity marked as probably to be rejected. At the fame time, we are not without fufpicion, that the controverfy is not yet completely clofed; especially if it should happen that fill older MSS. fhould yet be found than those on which we are now obliged to rely. This idea is much confirmed by the arguments of a learned correfpondent of Matthæi,

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Matthæi, fubjoined to that preface to the Catholic Epiftles which we have quoted above.

With refpect to Dr. White's edition, it is in all refpects a valuable as well as a beautiful book, and we have no doubt that it will be eagerly bought up as foon as its merits shall be known. It is altogether without notes.

ART. X. The History and Antiquities of Cleveland, in the North Riding of the County of York, comprehending an histo rical and defcriptive View of the ancient and prefent State of each Parish within the Wapontake of Langbargh; the Soil, Produce, and natural Curiofities; with the Origin and Genealogy of the principal Families within the District. By the Rev John Graves. Quarto. pp. 486. with an Appendix. 11. 11s. 6d.; Royal Paper, with Proof Impreffions of the Plates, 21. 28. London, Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe; Stockton-upon-Tees, Chriftopher and Jennett. 1808.

WE have had frequent occafion to notice the great utility and advantages to be derived from topographical pubfications, and the various requifites neceffary to fecure them the patronage of the public. How far the prefent author has difcharged the arduous tafk of a judicious topographer, and whether he has felected and arranged his materials in fuch a manner as to give an adequate effect to the general defign, will in fome degree appear from the following analyfis of the volume now before us. It opens with an introduction at fome length, in which, though there is not much that is new or original, we find fuch hiftorical circumflances recounted as tend to throw confiderable light on the ancient flate of the diftrict. The fituation, boundary, and extent of Cleveland are particularly defined; and the etymology of the name, which, according to Camden, is derived from its fituation by the fide of high rocks and precipices called Cliffs, or Cleeves, is, by the prefent author, who adopts the opinion of Baxter and others, fupposed to be "not Cliff, but Clay, as defcriptive of its foil."

After fome brief remarks on the climate, foil, and general appearance of the district, the author proceeds to ftate the population and general character of its inhabitants; and coneludes the introductory part of the volume with fome account of the Wapontake of Langbargh, and a table of defcens, which gives a clear idea of the fucceffion of the

Lords

Lords of the faid Wapontake, who, by virtue of the original grant from King John, are entitled to the execution and return of all warrants, writs, and precepts, iffuing against defendants refiding within the liberty; with court-leet, view of frank pledge, and divers other privileges.

The materials which the author has, with much diligence and industry, been able to collect for the hiftorical and topographical defcription of the feveral parifhes within the diftrict, are arranged on a perfpicuous and well-digefted plan, commencing in general with the etymology of the name, in which his conjectures are always ingenious and frequently conclufive. The fituation, boundary, and extent of each parish are also particularly flated. The Domesday furvey of the feveral manors is next given; and in the notes to his account of the Lords thereof are fubjoined extracts from the Inquifitions poft Mortem, &c. and particularly from the valuable record of Kirkby's Inqueft, taken 18 Edward I. in which the names of the ancient proprietors of the feveral townfhips, and of those under whom they are held, the quantities of land, and the rents payable for them, are particularly mentioned.

In the parochial details, which are interperfed with remarkable and interefting incidents, and many valuable pedigrees of the principal families, the author gives a minute account of the monaftic remains, ancient castles, mansion houfes, with the foundation, dedication, and revenues of the feveral churches and chapels, with the patrons, lifts of incumbents, monumental infcriptions, and other particulars of undoubted authenticity, concluding in general with a statement of the population, the foil, produce, and general appearance of each parish.

As a fpecimen of the work we fubjoin the following defcription of Mount-Grace Priory, which is accompanied with a beautifully engraved view of the venerable remains of that monaftery,

"This was a Carthufian priory, dedicated to the Bleffed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas, and founded (21 Rich, II.) by Thomas de Holland, Duke of Surrey, Earl of Kent, and Lord Wake, who endowed it with his manor of Bordelby, (near Cleveland) which he willed fhould, for the future, be called the House of Mount-Grace of Ingleby; and by the affent of the prior of the grand Carthufians, made Robert de Tredway the first prior; to whom and his fucceffors, &c. he granted and confirmed in pure alms his faid manor of Bordelby, to be an habitation for the faid prior and monks, and their fucceffors; for them efpecially to recommend in their maffes, prayers, and divine fervices, the good eftates of King Richard II. and Queen Ifabella his con.

Cc 3

fort;

fort; and of himself, the faid Thomas Duke of Surrey, and Joan his wife, &c. &c.

"In the 22 Richard II. at the fpecial inftance of the fame Thomas Duke of Surrey, the King granted to Edmund, prior of the House of Mount-Grace, and the monks thereof and their -fucceffors, the lands and poffeffions of the religious at Hinkley in the county of Leicester, of Wharham in Dorfetshire, and of Carefbrooke in Southamptonshire, three alien priories belonging to the abbey of St. Mary in Lyra (in Normandy) to hold the fame as long as the war between England and France fhould continue. But he dying foon after in arms again!t King Henry IV. before all the buildings were finished, the work was at a ftand, and the right of the monks to their poffeffions was queftioned, till King Henry VI. about the year 1440, confirmed in parliament all the Duke's grants to them. The buildings, after this, were foon completed, and the monaftery flourished till the general diffolution, when the revenues were valued at 3821. 5s. 11d. per ann. according to Speed, and at 3231. 25. 10d. as reported by Dugdale.

"The furrender of this priory was inrolled on the 18th of December (31 Henry VIII.) and the feite was granted (32 Hen. VIII.) to James Strangwaies, Knt. to hold the fame of the King in capite by military fervice. From the Strangwaies it defcended to the Lafcelles, and was fold, by the late Rob, Lafcelles, to the Mauleverers, the prefent proprietors.

"The fecluded fituation and romantic gloom of this monastery feem to have been particularly adapted to the aufterities of the rigid order of Carthufians placed here, and of which there were only nine konfes in England. The vale in which thefe venerable. remains are fituated is fhut on the fouth-east by a lofty hill cloathed with wood, which adds a folemn grandeur to the scene; and the ruins of the monaftery, though at no great distance from the road, being fheltered from public view, embofom'd hi,b in tufted trees, efcape the general notice of ftrangers.

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We approached the buildings on the weft by a narrow lane lead. ing from the main road, and entered by a Gothic gateway into the quadrangle of the monaftery, the outer walls of which inclofe about three acies of ground, and are ftill ftanding, fantasti. cally covered with ivy, which has acquired fuch a degree of Atrength and beauty as to realize the obfervation of the poet;

"Whofe ragged walls with ivy creeps,

And with her arms from falling keeps ;
So both a fafety from the wind

In mutual dependence find.”

"A part of the buildings on the weft, near the gateway, has been converted into a farm-houfe, of a caftellated form, with fpacious apartments, which appear to have been cotemporary with

the

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