New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-19
ANc1ENr N1ANrscRIpTs OF TIE BInLR.

The Rev Dr. II. J. Conant on Tuesday even
ing before the Long Island Historical Society at tho
Packer Institute continued the reading Of his paper upon
the Manuscripts OF the Old and New Testamouts
The former portion Of the paper considered the general
nature OF these ancient manuscripts thei authenly;
and OF preserving them 10 the general
good Of mankind; the paper OF last evening gave more
detailed description OF several OF the Oldest ana mos
valued OF these writings. The nrst TO be considered
said the lecturer not being the eldest m point Of ime
but the hrst Inch became generally known ia hto.
crn Europe. is tho 80 called Alexandra manuscript
About commencement Of the seventeenth century.
Cyril, Primate OF Aexandrla Afterwards IatT9lcn oi
COnstan nOpc discovered In the AlcXandflah Library
manuscript written In the Greek characters Oi the ioulh
century, containing the entire Scriptures OF the Ola hud
New Iestaments with several other semi sacred Wrgs
About the year 1913, being Influenced by the services
which had been rendered TO INN by the the Ehgsh ln
bassadO he proposed To send this manuscript, when no
England but the execution OF this design delayed by
the intestine troubles which disturbed Cyrl's
reached Engandras alpresent the then reignmg
arch Charles Being AT first placed IN the King private
in the year 1853 it deposited IN the Library OF the
British Museum, where IT now remains IL Is believed
tie manuscript aud from internal evidence which Itself
bears TO have been the work of pious Greek woman
IS believed TO have been executed about the
middle Of the Fifth Century. IL Is written upon
Of the characters remarkably delicate aud beautiful
The manuscript has suffered by the action Of time and
previous OF in its preservation Several OF IT'S
leaves are gone and others mutiated The ink with
which written has faded until IN many places II IA
so that IL is difficult 10 handle 1t without IN
iury The library OF the Vatican at Rome con
tas manuscript OF the Old and NewTestaments, which
has from the foundation OF the library and
II known from whence 1t came or by whom II was
executed II written very fine vellum In the Greek
character and the original writing where II Is st VS.
bile 10 exceedingly fine aud graceful but the wiring mas
been ret0uched since IT was first placed III Tue library
and the original penmanshp Is only VlslDlo i'll u Few
Instances. 10 is regarded as the Oldest
and most authentic version OF the original scriptures IN
existence. Formerly scholars and others were allowed
IT, but attery II has been guarded Win jealous
care and but persons obtain even sRht OF H.
The sinatic manuscript discovered by ffOf Ilsc-
oudOrf at "A monastery Mt. Carmel while engaged Ia
searching for ancient manuscript lie nrst
Glanced a. ,n some fragments OF IL In lSiS Dut
could not then discover the remainder. IN
M he returned 20 the search but still was UNSUCCESSFUL
and moi until I- did he succeed In obtaining the remain
der II Is similar in character 10 the two previously de-
tcrlbcd hut has suffered considerable mutatiOn. by
Prof Tchendofs persuasi he monks In whose posses
sion A WAS were induced l. -e6ent the manuscflpt 10
the Gar Nicholas Of Russia, and IL Is
now preserved with great care IN tho
ROYAL library at 81 Petersburg Dr. Ccnant spoke OF the
incalculabo value Of these different manuscripts ~ en-
abng u 10 obtain correct understanding OF the hOy
Scriptures and urged that means should De taken 10
sceurf possible their preservation from Iurhef uecay
nd