Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-23

Ill w On1Ao
CORNELIUS TACITUS
IN Essay on his Life aud Genius; Notes,
SUPPLEMENTS, &c.
nv ARTHUR MURPHY, ESQ.
Tae frs: american, from the last London
Edition.
With the Authors last corrections.
AS brief Recommendation of the ABOVE
WORKS 10 those TO whom they may not Dc 81
ready known. the following notite OF them
:. coaiea from tse London Review OF the
time when trey we're first published;
s. Thouyh," SAYS this REEVES, 1t &c
wish me translation of racitus that We have
now to do, not with the character Of tia, OH
g;n.i and great historian himself, it would be
difficult, perhaps unnatural and indecorous'
20 pass BY the present opportunity OF recog.
nisiny the merit of thot sublime genius, ana
i,iaiae In The general voice OF applause and
admiration. Cornelius Tacitus, by rare
felicity of circumstances, united III himself
al; ,hose relations, Qualities. and accomplish
mcn,s, that are requisite To form great his
toriao He was of senatorial rank, and III
tl,at order hi hly distinguished. he enjoy
ei the iavor f the princes and seyefelgns OF
the civilized world, and held civil otlces OF
the hirhes; dignity and importance re pos
sessed native probity * elevation OF mind
ard these nooie qualities were heightened
and confirmed by an ms itual conversancy
with the history of .ke Roman republic, and
an education lii the principles OF tie suolim-
est philosophy. The profoundnesi OF his re-
Bect;ons the preei,ion of his diction his
elegant ard energetic brev,ty, and something
remarkably picturesque and dramatic IN MS
-p,unner. coospire, With the dignity and am
portsnce oe ri. subjects, to ciothe his works
with . never filling eioom, and render his
f,,ae immortal He records the actions, the
connse9s, .hs s.crei motives OF The great &C
Tors in the presies; political drsnna that was
= ever exhibiyed on the void (; and the Hisso-
rv &c cactus. as is well observed by MS &C.
cop,plishe n anslstoI and critic, IS Ph'lo-
sophy tcachiag by example.
.rbe conlant. Of these volumes seem Datu-
rally 10 S,nit OF the following division -
Il /. dedication to the right honorable Ed
nnnd pnrks :; an Essay on the lie and Senl-
ns of Tacitus the annals OF Iacitus, with
supDfements and AN appendix; genes'eg'-
c,t .able. with an index OF the Cssats -
notes OF, the annals and appendix, and maps
of the ancient world as known to tao no.
nm. ard Of Asia. 2. The history of Tsei-
tus. with ain appendix, and notes to the his
tow and appendix and maps OF the city OF
J.rns,lers, and of Itaie 8. The celebrated
and valuable Treatise on the manners OF tse
Cermsns, with notes and a map OF ancient
C,erma1y: and the life of kgricoia, With
notes. ard geographical table of the places,
r;vers. SC mentioned in these volumes -
; To these authentic worNs OF laci'us Is ADDED
6 the dialogue concerning Orstory, OF Whlch
as MIR Murphy in note has justly remark
ed The CO nmenators are much divided IN
tbeir opinions about the resi- author his
work, they all agree, Is masterpiece IN the
l;na written with taste ard Judgment; en-
tsr,ain;ny. profound and elegant. But whe.
thor 4, i to beascribe dto Tacnus, Qsainctliian,
or a,v other persen whom they cannot name,
;sa onestionupon which they have exhausted
s.,re of learning Mr. Murphy, after Civ
;ng an account of the principal arguments
no and con, saws IN conclusion, although ss
saarns 70 lean 10 the opinion tina, 1t Is the
,,rodnct;o, of TaeisaA Ehe dispute is otno
;ronortance for, as Lipsias says, whether
we piye the dialogue to Quinctillan or to Ia
.citus, NO inconvenience can arise Whoever
was the author, it is performance OF UNI
common beauty. -.
Mr.. Murphy has given the sense OF ms
author in pleasing aud proper style, < even
cached not lutte OF has manner: IN ofder
TO do which, in SO long work, it was neces-
cav 70 be master of the whole compass ofthe
English languags. His notes and supple
merits shsw that he is intimately conversant
with Roman antiquity, and with literature IN
Fore him with the eye OF critic, moraiist'
and politician; and in particular he makes
/;,,eres,ine comparisons between the situa.
lions aud characters of different ancient and
,,,,derp trioes and nations !"
'"O's CONDITIONS.
-,he works of fscitus shall be put to
ION ,,s a sufficient number of sub.
:.,:,,s Oh III he obta ned 20 justify It.