Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-30
PROPOSALS
BY EDW.ARD ERIE,
FOR PUBLISHING BY SUBSCRIPTION,
THE WORKS
OF
CORNELIUS TACITUS

COkNELlUO 4 AOll 70
.da Essay on his Life and Genius ; Notes
SUPPLEMENTS, &c.
BY ARTHUR MURPHY, ESQ.
The first american, from the last London
se= Edition.
With the Authors last corrections.
AS brief Recommendation of the above
works to those to whom they may not be al.
! ready known, the foioaing notice OF them
is copied from tie london Review OF the
time when they were first published.
Though says this Review, 1t be
with tho translation of racitus that we have
now to do, not with the character OF that orr
sinal and great historian himself, 1T would be
difficult, perhaps unnatural and inticcorous,
10 pass by the present opportunity OF recoS.
nising the merit of TINT sublime genius, and
Joining in the general voice OF applause and
admiration. Corne!iu, Tlcitus, by rare
felicity of circumstances, united in himself
all those relations, qualities, and accomplish
men;s, that are requisite TO form great his
torian He was of senatorial rank, and In
that order highly Distinguished He enjoy
ed the favor Of the princes and ssverelgns OF
the civilized world, and held civil Offices OF
the highest dignity and importance He pos
sessed native probity * elevation OF mind
and i;sse NOBLE qualities were heightened
and y Grned b. an haitual coaversancy
with the history of the Roman republic aud
an education in the principles of re sublim-
est philosophy. The profsuEdness OF has re-
eections the precision OF his dic,ion his
elegant and energetic breyity and aomethng
remarkably picturesque and dramatic IN his
manner, conspire, with the dignity and I'M
nortance Of his subjects, to clothe his works
with never filling bloom, uad render his
fame immortal. He records the actions the
counscis, tbs sccret motives OF the great ac'
tors in the greatest political drama that vas
over exhibited on the world; and the fiisto-
rv of T.cirus, as is well observed by his &C.
demolished translate, AMI critic, Is fh'io-
.ophy teaching by eXamplc.
81 srhe contents Of these volumes seem natu-
rally to ADMIT the following dlvision:-
dedication to the right honorable Ed
mund Burke an Essay or the lie and genl-
ms of Tacitus; the annals of faci,us, with
supple ments and an appendix; geneaiogi-
cal table, with an indcx of t'e C&sa's -
notes on the annals and appendix, and maps
of the ancient world ., known to the ko-
,,.n.. and of Asia. g. The history OF Taci-
.ns. with an appendix, and notes to the his
torv and appendix and msps OF the city OF
Jerusalem, and OF Italy s. Re celebrated
and valuable Treatise on the manners OF tae
Germans, with notes and map OF ancient
Cerm,nr. and the life of Agrieois, With
notes. aud geogr aphicsl table OF the places,
r;yArs. &c mentioned in these volumes -
r. tbese autheltic WORKS of Iacitus is added
w ,bo dialogue concerning Orstore, OF which
&C Mr. Murphy in note has justly remark
al. The co umt nt.tors are much divided IN
THAR opinions about the real author his
work, they all agree, is MASTERPIECES IN the
st;,d. written with taste ard Judgment; en-
ter,aininl,. profound and elegant. But whe'
49,. il i to bcasyrioeito Tacitus, Quincti.ian,
or snv other person whom they cannot name,
= = ,nsstion upon which they have exhausted
s.Gcs, oelearnin4.' Mr.. Murphy, after CIV
-, an account Of the principal arguments
49, and con, says in conclusion, although he
,sssros - lean to the opinion that 1t is the
ssod,,c,;oa Of racilus: : The dispute is ONO
importance for as Lipslas says, whether
we piye the dialogue TO Qaincui'an or TO 1 de
r,tns, no Inconvenience can arse, whoever
WAS The author, it is performance OF un-
common beauty. ..
MIR. Murphy has given the sense OF his
on,b5r in pleasing and proper style' even
cached not a little of his manner: IN order
~ do which, in so long a-work,lt was ncees-
.s.,. 70 he master of the whole compass OF tie
o. Sas,;sh language. lis notes and supple.
n,ssts shew that he is intimately converssnt
,s;.h Roman antiquity, and with literature IN
's.as,nI He views the objects that pass be-
o-s him viii the eye OF critic, moralist'.
and politician; and in particular nc makes ;.s
,;a. 800 comparisons between the slua-
!. ".,a obarac,ers of different ancient and
,..,,ssrr,, tribes and nations
'"o1e.' CONDITIONS.
The works OF Tacitus shall be put to
y soon as sufficient number of sub
pse sgss shall be obsa ned'o Justify it.
- rsS.o,>ar ,aa,e for the purpose,