Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-31

THE WORKS
CORNELIUS TACITUS.
IN ESSAY on his Life and Genius; Notes,
Supplements, &c.
BY ARTHUR MURPHY, ESQ.
The first american, from the last London
Edition.
With the Authors last corrections.
AS a brief recommendation OF the above
worss to those to wkon they may not be al
ready known, the following notice OF them
IL copied from tie London Review OF the
fine when they were first published.
6 Though" says this Review, 1t be
with tho translation of Tacitus that we have
now 10 do, not with the character OF that ORR
einsi aud great historian himself, 1t would De
difficult, perhaps unnatural and ihdecofeus'
TO pass by the present opportunity OF recos.
nisipy the merit of that sublime genius, ana
ioininy in the general voice OF applause and
admiration. Cornelius Tscitus, ey rare
felicity of circunatances, united IN hsnseiI
all those relations, Qualities, ana accomplish
ments, that are requisite TO form great ms
torian: He was OF senatorial rank, ana In
that order highly Distinguished. lie ENJOY
ed the favor Of the princes and severeigns Oh
the civilized world, and held civil offices OF
the highest dignity aud importance, He pos
sessed nssivc probity * elevation OF mind
asd these noble qualities were heightened
and confirmed by an hahftusl coaversancy
with tie history of the Roman republic and
an education ia the principles OF tie suoi'm-
est philosophy. The profoundEess OF his re-
hectioDs, the precision OF h1s utc'lon ms
elegant and energetic hrevity and something
remark ABLY picturesque and dramatic IN ms
manner, coaspire, with the dignity and I'M
portance OF his subjects, to clothe has works
with never falling bloom, and render his
fame immortal. he records the actions, the
couusefs, the secret motives or the great &C
tors in the greatest political drama that vas
ever exhibited on the world; and the ttis,o-
rv Of Tacitus, as is well observed by his &C.
conplished translator and critic, is :" fhiio-
Sophy teaching by example.
The contents Of these volumes seem natu"
rally to admit of The following division -
/. A dedication to the right honorable Ed
mund Burke an Essay on the lie and genl-
ms of Tacitus; the annals Of Taci,us, with
supplements and an appendix; geneaiegi-
cal table, with an index OF the Caesars -
notes ON the annals ana appendix, and maps
of the ancient world as known to the no
mans. and of Asia. Q. The history OF iacl"
FMS. with an appendix, and notes to the his
tory and appendix /; and maps OF the city OF
Jerusalem, and OF Italy 3. The celebrated
and valuable Treatise on the manners OF the
Germans. with notes and map OF ancient
Germany; and the life OF Agricoia, with
notes. and geographical table OF the places,
rivers, Sc mentioned in these volumes -
TIC these Authentic works OF Taciius is added
g the dialogue concerning Oratory, OF which
as Mr.. Murphy in aote has Justly remark
al. The co nrnentstors arcmuch divided IN
tasir opinions about the real author- ms
work, they all agrees Is masterpiece IN me
kind written with taste ard Judgment; en-
pertaining, profound and elegant. But whe'
,har i, !. TO beascribedto Tacitus, QulnctIian,
,r any other person whom they cannot name,
:. !, one,tion upon which they have exhausted
s,,rs of learnine.' Mr. Murphy, after CIV
Inv AN account Of the principal arguments
t,.o and con, saws in conclusion, although he
,ss.-s,s 20 lean to the opinion that 1t Is the
rro,,nc,;on of Tacitus: The dispute is ofno
importance for, as Lipsias says, whether
we give the dialogue to Qunctllaa or 70 Ia
e;,ns. mo-. inconvenience can arise. Whoever
WAS the author, it Is performance OF un-
COMMON beauty.
. MFR. Murphy has given the sense OF his
author in pleasing aud proper style. even
ca,ched not little of his manner IN order
- 5o which, in SO long work, 1t was neces-
s,ry 10 be master of the whole compass the
Tuslish language. dis notes and supple.
meets shew that he is intimately conversant
with Roman antiquity, and with literature IN
general he views the objects that paas oe-
Re hin, with the eye of critic, moralist,
a,,l j Eo.:t:cisn; and in particular he makes
;,.,eresting comparisons between the silna-
,;an< and characters of different ancient and
,uodern tribes and nations
80 :, CONDITIONS.