Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-25

THE WORKS
CORNELIUS TACITUS
I'm ESSAY on his Life and Genius; Notes.
SUPPLEMENTS, &c.
ny ARTHUR MURPHY, ESQ.
The first .4nneriean, from, the last London
Ediiion.
With the Authors last corrections.
AS brief recommendation of the above
works 70 those to waom they may not be al
ready known, the following notice OF them
!. con;ed from London Review OF the
time when they were first published.
{. Though" says this RevIes, II De
with the translation of lacitus that we have
now tn do. not with the character OF that OIL
oinsI and great historian himself 1t "ou!d DC
S;fScult. perhaps unnatural and lHdecorous,
TO pass by the present opportunity Oh 'eeos
nising the merit OF th@t sublime genius' an
i,iaing in the general voice OF applause anu
admira,ioa. Cornelius Iacitus, ~ r're
felicity of circumstances, united III hhilhei
all those relations, quaiities and accomplish
menss, that are requisite to form gree" "is-
tori.n /. He was of senatorial rank, and In
that order hishly Distinguished. re ENJOY
ed the favor of the princes All soycreighs OF
The civilized world, and held civil othces oil
the highest dignity and importance he pos
sessed a native probity * elevation OF NINA
aad these noble qualities we're heightened
and confrnled by an haoitual coaVeisahsy
with tae history of the Roman republic ana
IN education in the pincipies OF suo''ih-
est philosophy. The prof5u"dne>A OF his re-
Bcctions. the pretision OF his dicuon ms
elegant and energetic brevity, and something
remark ably pic, uresq1e and dramatic IN MS
manner, conspire, with the rIgniy 'hu mn
portance of his subjects, to cio'he his WORKS
with never filling bloom, and ren"ef ms
fame immortal He records the atuohs' 'he
counseIs, the secret motives OF the great ac'
tors in the creates, political drama that Was
ever exhibited on the world and the fiisto-
Nv of Tscitus as is well observed by his &C
complisne,l translator anl critic, IS " PhIio-
.soohy teaching by example,
The content, OF these volumes seem natu"
rally to Admit Of the following division -
4. \ dc dicaiion II the lIght Memorable Ea-
u.und Burke; an Essay on the lie and geni-
ma IF Tacilus; the annals OF ylacluS, with
sup,iements and an app .ndix; gene'logi-
cal table, with an index OF the Cssns -
no.es on tie annals and appendix, and maps
&C ,h. ancient world Us known 20 the 10
80. and of Asia. 3 The history oil Iaci-
tug. with an appendix, and notes to the hts
,ory and sppendix and maps, OF the city OF
T.r,sa,ers. and OF Italy 8. he celebrated
81
Cermans, with notes and map OF ancient
Germany and the life OF AsricoiS, with
notes. and a geographical table CT the Piaccs,
rivers. sc mentioned In these volumes -
To these authentic works or aciius Is sddea
~ss the dialogue concerning Orator}, oil whlcs
sc MIR. Murphy in a note has justly remark
al The co nmenss ,ors are much divided IN
th.ir oainions about the real author MS
work. tney all agree, is masterpiece IN the
lind written with taste ard judgment; en-
pertaining, profoaad and elegant. but whe'
.har II il to beascriocdto faci'u QunctliIan,
or anv other person wbom they cannot name,
i Question upon which they have exhausted
sire ofIearniny' MIR. Murphy, alter giS-
;ng an account of the principal arguments
bro and con, says il. conclusion, although he
seems to lean to the opinioa that 1t is-tne
nroJuctioa ofracisus: The dispute is OF no
Importance for, as Lipsias says, whether
we yive the dialogue to Quinctihan or TO IA
.c;tus, no inconvenience can arise Whoever
was the author, il is performance OF un-
common beauty -.
Mr.. Murphy has given the sense OF his
author in pleasing and proper style. 4 even
ca,ched not little of has manner IN order
TO do which, in so long work, it was neces-
sary to be master of the whole compass OF the
English language. his notes and supple.
mepts shew that he is intimately conversant
with Roman antiquity, md with literature IN
general He views the objects that pass be-
fore him with the eye OF critic, a moraiist'
and politician; anf! in particular he makes
interesting comparisons between the si'ua,
tons and characters OF different ancient ano
,rodern tribes and nations .
: CnNniT!ONC