Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-03
CURIOUS Avn uy,our =,

CURIOUS AND UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT.
! The literati are likely to be highly interested
with an original, ancient & complete manuscrip,
or the Fentateuch, now in the possession of Mr.
Joseph Sans, OF DaF1inetoh, Durham
This original copy is of leather il is in two
volumes, about two feet wide, and measures I6o
feet long 1t is supposed of goat-akin leather,
ana Is most exceilently dressed. so as to have an
exquisite sotmess 20 the touch. Each sheet q,
SKIN IS divided into pages, FIVE inches and hall
"idth Inc letters are very large, and not only
most excellenty written, but ornamen; ed win
number OF 1asIn or COrsnac, which is a thing
peculiar TO the most ancient manuscripts Each
Siee' OF leather IS stitched very neatly to the o.
Tiers with kind of substance, in appearancenot
unlike cat,gut.
The antiquity of this manGscripr NAV be infer.
req by Its BENG written on leather a circnm-
stance winch would hardly have taken place ST o.
the invention of yellum was made Ia was re
Gently procured from the continent under the
most interesting circumstances. tits believed 10
be from ID to $500 Years old and in any case Is
the Oldest copy of the law extant There * req.
son 70 neiieye IT has BEEN above 800 years in one
family, on the continent. 1t is well known 10
what degree the Jews venerate their sae,sI
books, and with what care they preserve them ].
I WILL therefore, be believed, that nothing bur
me most affiicting and imperious circumstances
could induce family. loving Their law, N mart
WIN treasure so precious. Daring the calan,.
ties which followed the train of Bonsparfe, ware
a. jewish family, Of opulence, was reduced to mr..
Ter rum and compelled to CRATE. They came
20 holland IN Their exile, and were there so re-.
duced as TO be obliged to pledge as heir last re-
manning resource, this manuscrint of tbe,r los,
under Limitation of a considerable time for rs
redemption. The time expired, the pledge was
not redeemed, and the property was sold m tIol.
Ialu ny the person who lent his money ON IT.
1 MS most valuable and antique performance is
now lkely to become public benefit.
~ has been preserved with the greatest care.
IN rich cove, fringed with a fine silk and lin.
cd The rollers, on which the manuscript runs.
are beautiful mahogany or iron wood n 'bos
been seen by anumber Of Hebrew scholars and
jews the former always possessing Gterarv
enthusiasm, and the latter treating L with the
most solemn reverence. Il has been collated bv
avery learned man, and its reaelirRs preferred N
the most ancient copies wehave; so that This NAV
justly be thought 10 be unique, as well as The
most ancient copy of the five books of Moses in
existence. "
These facts naturally give birth TO few re-
nSctlohs' Is not such manuscript national
ought II not TO be purchased for the
brush Museum, or the Universities of Oxford
or Cambridge There are many noblemen and
iterati would not seruplea most generous price
Nho Tor generous price only its present posses.
sor ought to be induced to part with Il. The
writer OF this article having seen IL, thinks If he
may hazard an opinion, that It's least Value must
De 2OOO guineas. Surely, such anational object
ought not 10 be allowed to be in any private hands
whatever but either the universities, or some O.
.neF public body, should purchase and place il,
wmere, under regular superintendent, il may be
occasionally open to the learned, and 10 those
VINO are curious for the accurate knowledve ~
All that pertains to the records of that wonderful
people, the ancient lssrelites.
.fiu1ches sr ErcIayoe U.,.,yy