6 explain a warping bow which shooteth awry, and so deceiveth; but what is meant by this, I do not understand.' In Hosea vii. 16, occurs the reading which is thus pronounced to be unintelligible, They have been like a deceitful bow.' In Lament ii. 2, we have swallowed ;' in verse 5, ' swallowed up.' The filling up of passages really defective or assumed to be so, by supplementary expressions, has probably been the means of introducing not a few errors into the text of ancient authors. An editor or translator, therefore, should be extremely cautious in venturing to complete any portion of the sacred text by the addition of words which he may imagine to be wanting in many cases, it will be most adviseable to leave the ellipsis to be supplied by the reader. In Dr. Boothroyd's version, we have observed passages furnished with supplementary Italics, which could have occasioned no difficulty to a common reader, and where, therefore, they were not wanted; and in others, the insertion of these auxiliary expressions has perhaps given a meaning which was not intended to be conveyed. Such examples as the following may be cited as very questionable modes of translation. 'Psalm lxxvi. 5. The stout-hearted have been spoiled: They now sleep their sleep : Nor did any of those men of might Find their hands sufficient to save them. • Psalm lxxxiv. 3. Yea, as the sparrow findeth a house, So I seek thine altars, Jehovah, God of hosts, The Italics of the following passages are totally unnecessary. We have already noticed passages in which the maturer judgement of the Translator has decided in favour of the reading of the Authorised Version. The credit of that Version, indeed, will suffer much less on being compared with the present translation, than an inexperienced reviser of the sacred text might imagine: to the beauty and excellence of its diction, ample homage is paid. Still, however, the Public Version has numerous errors which require correction, and many blemishes which ought to be removed from its text. The work before us will shew to what extent emendations of the Common Version by a modern translator may be admitted. For the first time, the multifarious accumulations of criticism applied to the improvement of the English Bible are brought together. We have had numerous versions of detached books of the Scriptures by different Authors, but this is the only edition of the Bible in the English language, which includes improved versions of all the Books; and, as Dr. Boothroyd has largely drawn on the works of his predecessors, it may be considered as combining the results of the labours of all preceding translators. Its value may be estimated by this circumstance. With the substance of its contents, every Christian teacher at least should be acquainted; for it never can reflect credit upon one who has voluntarily undertaken to be an expositor of the Scriptures, that he is incompetent to discuss the question of the integrity of its text. But, unless he be amply furnished with critical editions of the Bible, (which, we believe, are not always to be found in the libraries of divines,) Dr. Boothroyd's volumes may be recommended to him as almost indispensable. Their Author has become entitled by his labours to the gratitude of many; and we trust that he will meet with such remuneration as shall at least be a token of public approbation. Before we lay down the pen, we must, however, remark, that less time appears to have been employed on the work, than its magnitude and importance demanded. The marks of haste which we have detected in the present volume, confirm us in the opinion, that the faults of this Improved Version would have been fewer if it had been less hastily despatched. Art. V. An Account of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of the Fever lately Epidemical in Ireland, together with Communications from Physicians in the Provinces, and various Official Documents. By F. Barker, M.D. and J. Cheyne, M.D. F.R.S. Ed. 2 vols. 8vo. London. 1821. 2. An Historic Sketch of the Causes, Progress, Extent, and Mortality of the Contagious Fever Epidemic in Ireland, during the Years 1817, 1818, and 1819; with numerous Tables, Official Documents, and Private Communications, &c. By W. Harty, M.B. 1 vol. 8vo. Dublin. 1820. THE HE history of Epidemics is a subject of deep and interesting inquiry to every one who feels an enlightened and benevolent interest in the happiness of mankind. The terror and dismay which the appearance of an Epidemic spreads over the whole community, the acknowledged obscurity of the origin of such diseases, the fearful extent of suffering and calamity which attends their progress, the wretchedness and desolation which they bring into the families of the poor, and the over whelming extent of physical and moral suffering which they occasion, all contribute to give subjects of this nature a very powerful interest. In the earlier ages of the world, Epidemics appear to have been regarded as direct manifestations of Divine vengeance or displeasure; and under these feelings, it ought not to surprise us, that no attempts were made to investigate their causes, or to connect them with the physical circumstances of social life. Of the existence of some connexion of this kind, no doubt can now be entertained. It was natural, perhaps, that, during the long period of more than midnight darkness, both moral and intellectual, which preceded the blessed light of Christian Revelation, the appearance of Epidemic diseases should produce no other feelings than those of overwhelming terror and dismay; and that the human mind should direct its views to the means of averting the calamity, by the rites of superstition, rather than endeavour, by the exercise of calm observation and correct reasoning, to determine by what causes, and under what circumstances they had been produced. The most superficial acquaintance with the state of the human mind during the early ages of the world, would prove the utter impossibility of any attempts of this kind being successfully made at that period. And we find that, down to a comparatively recent period, they are adverted to by those writers who recognized the existence of a Providential agency, as events having very little connexion with the ordinary occurrences of nature. If any thing beyond this was hazarded, it was more in the way of conjecture, than of legitimate inquiry. Our illustrious countryman Sydenham, for example,-a man who cannot be named without feelings of veneration,-satisfied himself with referring them to the influence of an atmosphere rendered pestilential by being loaded with mineral exhalations issuing from the bowels of the earth; and notwithstanding the perspicuity of his mind, and his fidelity as an observer of nature, he did not attempt the solution of a problem which appeared to him to be involved in impenetrable obscurity. It appears obvious, in fact, that no successful investigation of this subject could be attempted, until some important subdivisions of physical science had attained to a considerable degree of advancement. It was necessary, for instance, that the constitution of the atmosphere should be known, before it could be determined, whether the aeriform fluid on which all animal existence immediately depends, might not, by some unknown source of contamination, become itself the prolific source of this destructive agency. The progress of science has consequently reduced the question within the limits of more practicable investigation and inquiry; and it would appear to be surrounded no longer by any very formidable difficulties, to ascertain by what links these appalling visitations of human suffering are connected with the great occurrences which from time to time are observed to take place in the physical and moral world. In this way, truths, of the utmost importance to the happiness of man, may be rendered obvious; and the records of past suffering may be made instrumental to the security and happiness of future generations. It is however evident, that no great progress can be made in an inquiry of this kind, until the spirit of an enlightened and comprehensive observation shall have determined and recorded the peculiar circumstances under which Epidemic periods occur. The various and ever changing circumstances of social and domestic life; the influence of those moral causes by which the happiness of millions is so deeply affected; and the physical circumstances connected with, and arising from peculiarities of season; ought all to be known with considerable precision, before we can attempt to estimate the relative influence of each in the production of these calamitous periods. The works the titles of which we have prefixed to the present Article, are valuable documents of this kind, evidently drawn up with great care and accuracy; they present the results of a very extensive correspondence with a large proportion of the Physicians practising in the different districts in Ireland, and many of them connected with Public Hospitals, or with Institutions appropriated to the reception of persons afflicted with fever. They embrace, therefore, a wide sphere of inquiry; and record the impartial results of observation, conducted by men of accomplished education, of enlightened experience, of enlarged views, and mature habits of philosophical investigation. We do not think that any Epidemic was ever before observed by so large a body of competent medical observers; and the public, not less than the profession, have reason to rejoice that their labours will form so important. an accession to our medical literature. Although the influence of the various circumstances connected with the recent Epidemic period, were certainly experienced to a great extent in many parts of Europe, and in no inconsiderable degree in the British Islands; yet, it may be confidently asserted, that they were no where felt with more unmitigated severity than in Ireland. There is no portion of Europe in which Epidemic fever has prevailed more frequently, or has had a wider diffusion; and on the present occasion, its causes, whether necessary or concurrent, and its progressive diffusion, extensive prevalence, and characteristic features, were no where more strikingly displayed, nor ob served with greater fidelity. The history of the Epidemic as it occurred in Ireland, is consequently à fortiori to be received as applicable to the British Islands; and probably, to a considerable degree of the European Continent, where it is certain that fever prevailed to a great extent, for some time after the termination of the late war. It is, indeed, impossible to segregate this event, of which the influence was so powerfully felt through the nations of Europe, from the painful details of suffering and wretchedness which succeeded it, and which might appear to render it doubtful to a superficial observer whether even peace itself was on this occasion a blessing. Strongly, however, as we deprecate war, as one of the greatest of all calamities, and as an embodied epitome of all the moral evils which can be poured out on human society, yet, more ought not to be attributed to it, than falls to its due proportion of evil. Certainly, its termination aggravated greatly the baneful influence of other circumstances, which it had not the most remote share in producing. The effect of unfavourable seasons must be felt whenever they occur, and the more severely in proportion to the indigence of the country in which they happen, and the absence of circumstances by which they may be in some measure counteracted. It was the peculiar character of this period, that several circumstances, having a most extensive influence on the public prosperity, were coincident;—the termination of a war of unexampled duration and extent; ungenial seasons; and changes connected with these, which produced unexampled moral depression through all ranks of Society. It is obvious, that the events which we have enumerated, were of so general a nature, that their influence would be felt over the whole of the United Kingdoms. The winter of 1814 was a season of unusual severity over the whole Kingdom. The frost began in London with a fog of very uncommon density, extent, and duration, which continued without diminution for six days. It appears to have been equally severe and extensive in Dublin, and was followed by a fall of snow more severe than had been ever known before, and by a frost extraordinary in intensity and duration. Epidemic fevers have frequently been observed to succeed seasons of unusual severity. It is remarked by Sydenham, that the Plague of 1666, followed the extraordinary winter of 1665. The Epidemic fever of 1684, succeeded the winter of 1683, when, we are informed by Sydenham, the Thames was frozen over, as it was in the winter of 1814. The great Epidemic of 1740, 41, was preceded by a winter of unusual severity; as that of 1800 followed the extraordinary winter of 1799. The inference then, that the VOL. XXIII. N.S. Y |