Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-12
The Shaplra Manuscript.

u AMWELL STREET, +. c.. LONDON.
August 29.-Since | wrote to YOU
fortnight ago the question of the genu-
ineness of the Shapiro manuscript
of Deuteronomy has been rapidly
receiving its summary settlement. The
interest in the invaluable treasure. as it
was thought to be, was increasing day by
day, and many were wondering what the
effect would be upon our accepted text of
the fifth book of tue Pentateuch. when
eminent authorities on Oriental questions
began to make themselves heard. pro-
nOuncing with no uncertain sounds that
the grand discovery was Il gross decep-
tiOn, and the precious ''find' a piOus forge
ry. The severest as well as the first public
attack was made by NJ. Clermont Gan
neau, who was sent over by the Minister
OF Public instruction in France. He
came to London on Wednesday week. and
though cOurteOusly received by the chief
officials at the British Museum, he soon
learned that he would not be allowed bv
NJ. shapiro to examine the manuscripts.
But before this refusal was made known
the distinguished Frenchman had handled
two or three pieces for a few minutes. and
had looked closely at two strips exposed
i'm a glass case. From this hasty inspec-
tiOn he has concluded that 1.-The frag-
meuts are the work of a modern fOrger"
NJ. ClermOnt Ganneau frankly aVOws
that he had preiudged the case, for ten
years since he discovered and demon
strated the apOcryphal character of the
spurious MOabite pottery which Mr.. Sha-
pira had sold to the Germans for 5000
thalers. But though thus prejudiced and
confirmed i'm his doubt by the refusal to
examine the documents, he proceeded
from the hriefest observation not only to
.Tsw. IL Il. 1 IL
tOrger went to work. He says, in his let
ter to the Times of the DIST instant. the
forger took one of those large synagogue
rolls of leather containing the Pentateuch
written in the square Hebrew character,
and perhaps dating back two or three
centuries; rolls which Mr.. Shapiro must
be well acquainted with, for he
several Of the public libraries Of
England sundry copies of them obtained
from the existing synagOgues of Judea
and of Yemen. The fOrger then cut off
the lower edge of this rOll-that which
offered him the widest surface. He OBJ
tanned in this way some narrow strips of
leather with an appearance OfcOmparative
antiquity. which was still further height
ened by the use of the proper chemical
agents. On these strips of leather he
wrote with ink, making use of the alpha
bet Of the MOablte stone, and introducing
such various readings as fancy dictated,
the passages from Deuteronomy, which
have been deciphered and translated
by NJ. Ginsburg, with patience and
learning worthy OF a better employ
ment." Capt. Claude X. COnder. r. f..
oft Palestine Exploration Survey, has
also examined the fragments, and says
that after comparing them with other
manuscripts, true and forged, which he
has seen in the East. he has mo hesita-
tiOn in concluding that the supposed frag-
ments of Deuteronomy were deliberate
fOrgeTies." He also writes. Il do not
think any arch9OlOgist Will suppose that
leather, as limp and supple as that on
which this manuscript is written, could
exist for such length of time in the damp
atmosphere of country which has a rain
fall OF 20 inches.7 Besides this, the tat
tered fragments of our oldest Hebrew
manuscript are not older than the seventh
century, \. d.. and the letters are of
faded color: while on Mr.. Shapira's leaves.
supposed TO be 1,400 years older
the ink is distinctly black AnOth-
er critic, Mr.. sayce, considers 1t unreasOn-
able that any Sheepskin could exist for
nearly 5000 years in such damp climate
as that of Palestine, even though ''abun-
dainty salted with asphalt from the vale
OF Siddm." And DR.. Neubauer is ''cOn-
ylnced from the text itself that the whole
is a forgery" But the decision which has
been awaited with most interest is that
of DR.. Christian ID. Ginsburg, with whom
the manuscript was deposited for translit-
Grafton into Hebrew. and translation into
English. He has now finished his work,
the final portion of the text and the trans
lation appearing in last weeks
-ItbeHUuH. His opinion of the
genuineness of the fragments is
declared in the Times OF Monday last,
the 9th inst. He writes: 1.-The manu-
script. Of Deuteronomy which Mr.. ShapIra
submitted 10 us for examination is a
forgery The reasans which he assigns
for his conclusion, based upon external
and internal evidence, are extremely
cogent. and viii no doubt carry cOnYic-
tiOn 10 every readers mind. In fact, the
matter Is regarded as settled, and Mr.
shapiro, who would have become famous
and Opulent, if his slips of leather had
been genuine, has lost credit as an an
tiquarv. and will hardly repav himself
Tor the expenditure of the few shiIlinVs at
which ridiculous price he procured the
supposed treasure. He is said To be so
disappointed that he threatened to COM
nit suicide. If, instead of this, he can
return TO Jerusalem and trace the fraud
to its origin, his account OF the affair will
be welcomed with an interest that Will
largely compensate his veXatiOn, dlscredit
and loss. But if after the keen interest
and excitement which he has awakened,
he can afford the public no elucidatlOn,
he will have obtained a nOtOriety which
no one will envy. and have aroused sus-
picions which no lapse of time will allay.
TIMOTHY HARLEY.