Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-03
MIS GEL A NY.
10 the citizens OF the United States.

Having completed the studies which
have occupied a great portion of my life,
and published the results, / take the liber.
ty TO invite your attention to certain facts
which my researches have brought to
light
During my education, was accustom-
ed, like other young men, to con6de in the
correctness of the books used, and was
instructed in The common errors of elemen-
tarv books. The effect was, that after l
came to examine for myself the truth or
error Of principles, l had to combat not
only the mistakes of others, but my own
carly opinions and habits o! thinking
Many of the errors l had learned in youth,
found their way into my first publications,
and 20 correct them has cost me no little
trouble. This however has been done, to
degree tolerably satisfactory although
] make no pretentions to exemption from
mistakes. My researches have resulted
in a full conviction that there is no pro-
found and accurate scholarship in the phi
lology of the English language, either in
British Universities or ia American Col
leges. The elementary books, British
and American, now generally used are,
defective or in correct; and the best writ
ings in the language are sometimes dis
figured by palpable errors. My observa-
tons convince me that the multitude of
books for teaching he language, written
by incompetent men, is great evil to
truth and to literature. The evil has
generally been begun in England, but has
been doubled and trebled in this country,
and is increasing every year."
But my particular object in this address,
il, to call your attention to the language
of the common version of the Scriptures.
The body Of this language was introduced
by Tyndale, at least three hundred and
twenty years ago. Atthat time the gram.
mar Of the language was not well settled,
and words and phrases now esteemed i'm
proper to be used in company. were moi
then too offensive to be familiarity uttered
The general character of the style is ex
celenl, and we'll adapted TO express the
sense of the original. But in the long
period Of three Centuries, some words
have become obsolete; the Specification o
others, in ordinary use, has been changed
and these do not now carry 10 a common
reader the true sense of the original the
grammatical errors in the version are
more numerous than in any other book
now generally read;. few passages are
enormously translated, and the corrections
of them are found only in commentaries
which most people never see; many
words and phrases cannot now be uttered
in company; and some words are uset
which peruert the sense. For example
the word disannuaL is used in six passag
es, aud unioose in three: These word
are nonsense. In the Scriptures, they
must be understood TO mean annual an,
loose, sense directly contrary to thei
meaning, or the passages will be rendere,
false or unmeaning. How can Christ
ian community be justified in sufferia!
the Scriptures, for more than three hun
dred years, to be disfgured by such obvi
Gus inproprietes of language?t
With the advice of several eminent cler
gvmen, / have undertaken TO amend tn
language of this version; and the phrase
ology is so far altered. without impairin
the senae, that it is believed the whole b
bic may be read in families and in the pu
pit.
This edition has received the approbs
ton ofmany cIergymen and pious laymeI
who use il in their families. and recommen
it to others. ". WEBSTER.
~ The publishers Of Newspapers al
requestedto give circulation tothls address
10 all paets OF the u. Statas.
conine my remarks to English Philology al
exclude IRON them ell differences Of spelling, a
ihorized BY respectable usage, which do not obscu
etymoogy or p-rvert the sense Of words; and e
cIude also oil matters Of taste and fashion; conf
ing my remarks TO points which involve establishs
rules and principles.
The admission Of these WORKS into The first ed
lions Of my books, y among my mistakes. and
deeply regretted. They are rejected from the Ia
sliiiops, With oihsTs of like character