obvious harmony with the language of the catechism and baptismal service of the Anglican church. But we do conceive that Mr. Bristed himself needs to have his attention directed to the simple account of regeneration, which the Scripture gives, 1 John v. 1. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." Here it is obvious that the apostle states a divine truth, in the words, "Jesus is the Christ," the belief of which he declares to be always accompanied with the change called regeneration. But what Mr. Bristed means by faith, or believing, it is very hard to say: for he tells us, (p. 43.) that it is "unscriptural, unprotestant, unchurchmanlike, and dangerous to say, that infants are justified without faith." Now, it is evident that the infant, whether baptized or unbaptized, neither believes nor disbelieves any thing about a truth, of which it has never heard, and the import of which it is utterly incapable of understanding.

Yet we have the highest authority for maintaining, that of such, of objects so helpless, ignorant, and utterly incapable of doing aught to forward their own interests, of such is the kingdom of God." We are aware that the expression which we have just quoted is commonly interpreted in a very different way, as if it described characters as innocent, simple, and teachable as little children. It might easily be shown, that this popular comment is in direct opposition to the whole context of the passage, as well, indeed, as to the whole analogy of scriptural truth. But we must abstain, and hasten to conclude an article, from the length of which Mr. Bristed may perceive that we consider his book, with all its faults, as containing much interesting matter. The hints which we have suggested to his consideration, and a few more which we are about to subjoin, we hope he will receive with the same friendly feelings which have prompted them.

In his future publications, we strongly recommend that he should aim at more sobriety; sobriety of thought, and sobriety of language. No doubt it is much easier to prescribe this to an ardent, desultory, and head-long writer, than to administer the remedy. But let us ask him, whether the following position be not most unwarrantably strong. (P. 397.) "The chief objects of every native American, after bettering his own condition, are to aggrandize his country; to drive all Europeans out of this western world; to federate the two Americas, north and south, &c. and, eventually, to dictate the law to Europe, and to the world?" These the chief objects of every native American! even of the Christian natives! Alas! alas! for America, if this be true. Setting aside the influence of Christian principles altogether, we really had attributed a much greater share of good sense to the Americans than this passage would intimate; though we never doubted that there are foolish and hot-headed politicians among them who may conceive that such objects are desirable. Those who pursue them will be found among the worst enemies to the real interests of America.

Let us submit it also to Mr. Bristed's good taste whether such language as the following be really energetic, or do not rather throw a ludicrous and disgusting air upon his sentiments? (P. 410.) "He (Rev. Mr. Polwhele) dips his pen in the doubly-distilled venom of the damned, when he raves against the evangelical clergy." (P. 188.)

"Formal high churchmen . . . generally have about as much mercy, as there is milk in a male tiger."

We would especially advise Mr. Bristed to abstain from cant. Ought not either a Christian, or any educated man, to blush for penning such sentences as the following? (P. 42.) "It is my wish not to be understood as in any way designing to reflect upon the study or the practice of the law, by occasionally escaping from the toil and dust, and litigation of the forum, into the city of refuge." (P. 56.) "The unction of humility, which flowed from the silvered temples of Beveridge, down to the skirts of his garment."

As we are anxious for the preservation of the English language in the new world, we could have wished (though it is certainly a very subordinate matter), that our author had studied more purity of English style: and we might have reasonably expected, that a gentleman, who has received a literary education in these countries, should abstain from such barbarisms, or perhaps Americanisms, as the following: "to locate," "to eventuate,' procinct to drive," intermediate the complaints," one of our largest divines," &c. &c.

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But, to use Mr. Bristed's language, p. 413, the limits of the present article are waning to their close. We therefore only add our advice, that when he next writes on theological subjects, he would adhere more closely to the good principle expressed in the Greek motto of his title-page: ἐκ των θείων γραφων θεολογούμεν καν θελωσιν οἱ ἐχθροι, καν Hitherto certainly we may complain, that, in adopting that motto, he has hung out false colours.

μη.

REVIEW

OF

"A GREEK AND ENGLISH LEXICON;

IN WHICH ARE EXPLAINED ALL THE WORDS USED BY THE BEST GREEK WRITERS OF PROSE AND VERSE, &c.

BY

JOHN JONES, LL. D.

AUTHOR OF the GREEK GRAMMAR.

Longman and Co. 8vo. pp. 870."

[Published in No. II. of The Westminster Review, April, 1824.]

WHEN We consider the numerous and ample endowments which the liberality of former ages has provided in this country for the support of learning, and especially classical learning, it seems extraordinary that our schools have remained so long almost wholly destitute of books properly adapted for facilitating its acquisition. In numerous instances is this want observable; but in none is it more strikingly apparent, or more injurious in its effects, than in the instance of Lexicons. Every competent judge, acquainted with the state of scholastic education in England, is aware that the Lexicons generally used in our schools, for teaching both the Greek and Latin languages, are grossly and scandalously defective, utterly inadequate to afford that critical aid to the learner which a Lexicon ought to supply.

We have sometimes been inclined to think that it would be a fair and expedient object of legislative enactment, to apply some of the literary funds which exist in the country to the purpose of providing for our classical schools-what may be called-suitable classical furniture. In this we include Grammars, Exercise-books, Lexicons, and editions of the classic authors.

The most elementary works ought always to be drawn up by the most advanced scholars. But other qualifications, besides profound scholarship, would be essentially requisite in the persons engaged to undertake the task which we point out. It would be requisite espe

cially that they should have good sense; that they should have the faculty of taking a clear view of the end to be proposed, and of the means by which it is to be attained. They should be well acquainted with the kind of aid which a school-boy needs and ought to be furnished with; and they should aim at supplying that aid with all the brevity that is consistent with clearness, and not suffer themselves to be diverted from the singleness of this object by any of the literary vanity, which prompts to a display of erudition.

Such men, though they are not met with every day, yet surely might be found, and engaged in the work: nor do we see how the work is likely to be effected without some national interference, such as we suggest. It is vain to look to our Universities for stirring in it. They seem to think, with the bishops, that things go on very well as they are. Yet, even if this were admitted, it might be worth considering how long they are likely to go on as they are. All who know what passes in the world, know that the tide of public opinion has for some time been setting most strongly against classical learning. We are persuaded that it will be decried only by those who possess it not. We therefore consider the prevailing disesteem in which it is held as one of the indications, that our numerous public seminaries founded for its advancement are sadly inefficient; and we confess that, in the present unsettled state of Europe, we apprehend that all institutions ineffective, but costly, are of a very precarious duration.

It is, however; with great caution that the legislature ought to be desired to take a part in providing for the wants of the literary consumer (in this case the schoolmaster, tutor, &c.) who is generally the best judge of them, and who will sooner or later procure the object of his wishes. We have never seen the co-operation of literary bodies patronized by the state, attended with such advantages as to make us much lament the absence of that kind of assistance. The Delphin Classics may serve as a warning against empowering a government to appoint and pay individuals for remedying deficiencies in books designed for the purposes of instruction; the fact is, that had even a society for such a purpose been formed, we should have had nothing better than a revisiou of the old books, or perhaps more cumbrous and inefficient new ones upon the old bad plan. Neither literary individuals, competent to the duty of composing really good books, have been wanting, nor yet have the trade been backward in adopting the suggestions of such men. The backwardness has been on the part of the bodies who have hitherto monopolized the public education, and has arisen from the general mass of ignorance and prejudice in which the whole subject has for centuries been immersed, and which that monopoly was calculated to perpetuate. In the instances in which good books have been proposed to them, they have not been adopted: and it is now only, when these prejudices are beginning to disperse, that such good books are coming into favour, and many more into being; now that there is some chance of sale to the trade-and some hope of reward to the scholar. It never could be expected that the trade would produce books to rot in their warehouses, or that competent indivi

duals would expend their labour on works which were met with no other reception than that of neglect—or if not neglect, ridicule.

If in any case national funds are appropriated for the advancement of either literature or science, it ought to be especially provided, that they should be distributed in the way of compensation; and not after the manner too generally established. To give a man a place or sum of money to induce him to perform any given task, is to take away the principal motive to accomplish it; and, generally, to change an active and vigorous promoter of knowledge, into a lazy, and often dissatisfied, spectator of improvement.

But the more we lament the want which we have noticed in our schools, the more must any of the attempts to supply it, which are occasionally made by literary individuals, be commended to our favourable acceptance; and the more disposed are we to extend to such attempts all the encouragement that we can honestly afford. In the work which now claims our attention, Dr. Jones has made a commendable exertion, to furnish our schools with a Greek Lexicon of a moderate size and critical character. He states that it has cost him "three years' hard labour in composing and printing." We can readily believe it: and we know not many-may we sayoperative scholars. olo vv fçóro siri, who could labour so hard. In former ages, indeed, one scholar would bring out as many learned works, well executed, as we should think sufficient to employ the lives, and task the powers, of many.

Dr. Jones describes himself as engaged in preparing a larger and more general Lexicon of the Greek language, to finish which, he calculates, will cost him "the labour of five or six years more." Would that we could infuse the doctor's active industry into a dozen of the crack scholars of Oxford or Cambridge! And, as we are wishing, we may as well add-would that we could infuse all their knowledge of Greek into Dr. Jones! and then-would that he might live a thousand years!

We cannot, however, flatter Dr. J. with having succeeded in producing such a work as is wanted in our schools. The plan of giving the interpretations in English instead of Latin, we decidedly approve; and we think it likely that this circumstance alone will give his Lexicon a considerable currency, in a certain class of academies in this country. We expect, therefore, that a new edition will be called for; and as he promises to spare no pains in the revisal, and to give attention to "the suggestions of enlightened and candid criticism," we shall proceed the more freely to offer some strictures on the general plan, and on the execution of the work. Our author tells us, that he is " sufficiently sensible of its errors and imperfections." We hope it will not be between him and us, as it was with the facetious Rowland Hill, and the woman who came to him complaining that she was a great sinner. "Indeed, I know you are," said his reverence drily, "a very great sinner.” “What!” exclaimed the humble complainant, breaking out into a rage, "what bad have you ever known of me, or can any one say of me, with truth?" Seriously, we assure the doctor, that it is with no hostile feelings we have examined his publication; and that we

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