Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-21
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE U. STATES.

10 The ClIIZENS VI HE U. SlAlES.
Having completed the studies which
have occupied a great portion Of my life,
and published the results, take the lib
erty TO invite your attention TO certain
facts which my researches have brought
to light.
During my education, | was occustom-
ed, like other young men, TO confide IN
the correctness of the books used, and
was instructed in the common errors oil
elementary books. The effect was, tha,
after came to examine for myself the
truth or error ofprinciples, had to COM
bat, not only the mistakes OF others, but
my own early opinions and habits Of Think
ing. Many Of the errors ! had learned
in youth, found their way into my first
publications and to correct them has
cost me no little trouble. This, however,
has been done TO degree tolerably salts
factory although make no pretenslon
to exemption from mistakes. My re-
searches have resulted in full conviction
that there is no profound and accurate
scholarship in the philology IF the En-
glsh language, either in British Univer-
sites or American Colleges The ele-
mentary books, British and American,
now generally used, are defective or in.
correct; and the best writings in the Ian.
guage are sometimes disfgured by palpa-
Bile errors. My observations convince
me that the multitude of books for teach
ing the language, written by incompetent
men, is n great evil to truth and TO lltera.
ture. 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
is 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. AT that time the
grammar OF the language YVES not well
settled, and words and phrases now esteem
ed improper to be used in company, were
not then too offensive to be famlliarly ut
tered. The general character of the style
is excellent, and well adapted TO express
the sense of the original. But in the long
period Of three centuries, some words have
become obsolete; the Specification of 9TH
ers 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 er-
roneously 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 com.
pany and some words are used which
pervert the sense. For example, the word
diSannul is used in SIX passages, and the
word unlooSe in three. These words are
nonsense. In the Scriptures, they mus
be understood to mean annul and loose, 4
sense directly contrary to their meaning
or the passages will be rendered false oil
unmeaning. How can Christian com
munity be justified in suffering the Scrip
lures, for more than three hundred years
to be disfgured by such oblvious impro
prieties OF language II
With tho advice of several eminent cier
gymen, have undertaken to amend tn,
language Of this version, and the phrase
ology is so far altered without impairinl
the sense, that it is believed the whole Bi
BILE may be read in families and the pull
pit.
This edition has received the approba
ton of many clergymen and pious laymen
who use it in their families, and recon
mend to others.
n. WEBSTER.
i eonhne my remarks to English Philology, en-
exclude from them all differences of spelling a,
,horred by respectable usage, which do not ob.eur
etymology or pervcrt the sense o. w"rds and e'
cluae also all matters Of taste and fashion; confn
ing my remarks to points which involve establishe
rules and principles.
1.-THE admission Of these words into the fret edi
lions of my books is among my mistakes. and
deeply regretted. They are rejected from the sl