Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-11-25
PloUS LITERARY FRAUD.
FROM THE Ro- ton DAILY ADVERTISER.

In Tho last two numbers ofthe American eclectic
niri-monIhly journal. which attempts to present an
abstract of ELISHA BURRITT, of Worcester. (the
gentleman who has acquired such reputation tor
ms acquisitions ia the languages made At the same
Tune that lac was engaged in working in a back
smiihs shop) nn the history ond literature of Inc
SamarIians Tins article contains n succncl nc.
c"ah' 81 curious literary fraud, which WILL we
beheHe, 20 new 10 most of our readers
The S1m1riIans have n version Of the Pcntatencb
made IN Their own language from the original. ai
very carly day, some centuries before our era In
inc seventeenth century great Hxrrons were made
~ Europe 10 procure copies of this version which
was 81 course vcry valuable 10 critics and Iheolp
ans ~ ihor studies on the different points of ,r,
ilc"rew text Robert Huntington an English min.
i-icF, who visited Sirhcm or Nj GcriziH The son,
nl lhe remnant of the Samaritan nation, in IG7l
hHd'ng them very curious about the English
IsfneIIies' succeeded ia naking Them believe thai
"efc were large body Of men. holding the same
bcNcl Win themselves, resident in England anJ
Uai II would he highly acceptable if they woulJ
send ont copy OF their law and somc other com5nu
hicli'on They eagerly seized at the proposal and
~ a lew days furnished him with n copy Of the
law and n letter, both ia the Samaritan ch1racter
and dialect the latter giving full aud curious nc
count "i ihcir cusicms.
Huntington al once despatched iheso documents
10 Ohord. where meeting OF the college faculty
Was al once held. 10 consider these valuable prize
WIN zeal for learning worthy rs any faculty
meeting ever displayed. they determined to disre.
gard any squeamlsh conscieniionsncss; and in order
70 Keep mp the deception as long as practicable.
they nirlslod 10 Robert Marshall their rector the
TASK oi replying 10 the letter lie acquitted him
sell wonderfully we'll The letter which lac wrote
WINS IN Hebrew, written without plinis and gives
the most admirable imitation Of oriental style We
have ever seen. lie showed a knnwlpdge of the
lsraelliish scriptures equal any Rabbits and usos
VPcaI lorms AMI expressions in tho most successful
manner. la answer TO the sOmew hat inconveuient
questions about the high priest Of the English Sa
narilnns' he makes most ing NOUS rerly exnl,in
ing That their high priest is Of the order Of eIcbiz
edec and making some vague illusions 10 The liz.
and resurrection Of Christ, which must have sadly
puzzled his correspondents, who, however. do mai
appear by their answer 10 have had onv susn;c,o,s
Of me truth from this part Of The letter
they we're not perfectly satisfied with his letter.
however lie had neglected 10 pay sYficicn, reye.
renee 10 MI Gcrlzim, the test Of their faith Isee
John ~ 20 and they ask some further qrpIop,.
lions. Mr.. Burrit has not given my n,re of lie
EngIish leiiers which we regret as their inrennitv
makes Them quite rs curious as The simpcitv Of tho
others The correspondence Tins skilfully nnd lear
nedly begun was continued for upwards of fiiv
years
small remnant of the Samariians vet remains
Dr. Robinson, IN his recently publishcd ,vork
gives curious account Of an inieryioyy no Ia
with ihcm.