The Sun.
London, England, 1818-12-14 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL JOMNALS.

The sound principle, and elocim nt manner With
,which The Leeds Intelligencer has been conducted,
first induced us to conceive that Extracts from
the Country Journals would he gratifying to our
Readers in general 'throughout the British &rt.-
pire, and tent to the diffusion of true constitu-
tional doctrines, not only by circulating the opi-
nions published in particular- districts, hitt in-
ducing the respective Editors of those Country
Journals to support with zeal any measures in-
tended to promote the national interest, and zea-
lous!y to oppose all mischievous and delusive te-
nets, from the
.consciousuess that, throntth
the medium of 'Vita SUN., their sentiments
would he communicated to the People at
large thoughout the United Kingdom. We
understood, that by the death of the late re-
spectable Proprietor of The Leeds Intelligencer,
that Paper has devolved into other hands. We must
rherefore consider it as a new concern, as the late
Editor is no longer connected with it, But we
learn with much pleasure, that from the increased
importance of the town, and the extent of its
population, it requites a third Paper, and that the
late Editor of 'The Leeds Intelligerteer has insti-
tuted a new Journal, which is promised a libel al
support,. The town of Leeds, therefore, will not
lose the talents•whieh have been so long ,-mploved
in its service, and a notorious dcmocratical Pa.
per of the same place. will still 'he resolutely op-
pose 4 by an able writer and a loyal subject.

FOR THF.,

THE BIBLE.

EDITnR,—AS you have opened your en-
lumns to inquiries concerning Mr. BELLAss
nrocosed 'l't-Ansi:olon of the Bible, it appears to
me that the qiiestion naturally divides itself 'into
two Noss : the first is, whether a real necessity
does exist for is New Translation ; and the se-
cond is, whether, if there does, Mr. Bellamy is
eorensetent to that important task ? Of the first,
1 will say but little, because, though 1 do not
think the necessity apparent, I am persuaded that.
the supposed errors of our present Version have
been, for various reasons, repiesented as much
more frequent, and of mire!) greater consequence,
than they really are ; vet there are good and
learned men of a different opinion. However, the ins.
stances which Mr. B. has pointed out, and pretend-
ed to ameod, do by no means prove that neces-
sityi ; and where they have not, by bold addi-
tions and alterations, departed from the sense of
the original, are less plain than' our present Ver-
sion. The psssage urged so triumphantly
.by, 1
think, Stackhouse, concerning the reply to Hazael,
2 Kings, 8. 10. is quite clear,, and needs not the
arneodirg not which Mr. B. is pleased to insert,
contrary to the Septososiot, the Vulgate, Ire-
Hollins, and Juniers, Diodati, Robert Stephens,
Cavallo, all of them Translators 'from the ori-
ginal Hebrew, contrary also.to.the Hebrew Cris
tics, as expressly stated by Grotitet, and contrary
also to Josephus. The sense is evident .that
Benhadad might recover of his sickness, but that
be should die by the hands of Hazael. And the
Prophet does not say that he shall recover, but
orders him to deliver that message to his Master,
probably in order to lull him into a false security.
For Hazael was fippoiuted by God to execute his
purposes, (1. xix. 15. and 17.) and Was one
of many instances of his being pleased to make use.
of wicker) instiuments to promote his will.
But supposing the necessity fur a New Version
to exist, I will venture to affirm, not only that
Mr. Bellamy is not competent for that
purpose, but that no one person is, how-
ever learned he' may be. We leave seen
the greatest scholars, such as Newsome, Horsley,
Durell, Lowth, and others, attempting a por-
tion only of the Sacred Books we have
seen the Translators of the present Version,
47 in number, the most learned men then in the
kio4dom, and particularly selected for their know-
ledge of ,the Oriental Languages, dividing the
Bible among, them into separate portions, and
afterwards carefully examining each portion as
translated, and comparing it with the original,
and employing in this labour nearly three years ;
and can we suppose that one person, is able to
do itA, this properly • even if we allow this,
there is as yet no reason to suppose that Mr. B.
is that person. Even setting aside the masterly
and able criticism in The Quarterly Review , 1 can
see no intrinsic marks either of learning or ofjudg-
went in what he has written ; but on the con-
trary much presumption, plod) bold and unprov-
ed assertion. He has ventured for instance to
assert, that our present authorized Version is
translated from the Vulgate. Let him prove this
to be the fact, or give up all pretensions to lite-
rery knowledge, judgment, and candour. .\ No
Biblical Student can have often compared our
translation with the Vulgate, withont perceiving
that one could not be taken from the other. Dr.
Kennicott, Diss. Gen Sec. 10S, mentions about
20 places in which our Translators had added
words, not to be found in the Hebrew Text, in
order to make the sense complete. If Mr. B. is
right, these additions must have been taken from
the Vulgate, and are to be found there. Bat the
contrary is the fact ; fur in no less than 15 of
those places, there are no such additions in the
Vulgate. Let Mr. B. therefore first prove this
fact, which he ailed es as sliming the necessity
06 a new Translation ; and then strew his own
competency to he the Translator.
I am, sir, &c.

BIBLIOPHILUS.

THE AT It CA f. REG 1s I'E R.
Perfortted onStithrday Night.
THPATRE Rnvm., URY-LANR.—(9O liine), MAINS
Chi; 3liniuq. 'Mr. Kean; Tarquinia, Mrs. W. West. Attur
which, Is He Alive?
THEATRZ rtnYAL, COVENT-GARDN,NI.—The Castle !:pectic.
Ogrnontl, Mr. Young; Angela, Miss O'Neill. After which,
Rose D'Aruour. To which was added, Paul and Virginia.