Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-22

sented to the nation by George II, when 1t
entered Its present home. 1t was probably
written in the first half of the fifth CEN
fury.
The Codex Vaticanus contains the whole
Bible, written In the fourth century. and
is at once the oldest and probably the best
extant copy of the Septtuagint. The great
Vatican library at Rome has been its
home since about the year 1850. There is,
therefore. no story to tell Of the discovery
of this MS; the interest which attaches
to its history Is of a different kind, and
relates to the early struggle that was nee
essary before its contents were made ac-
cessible to scholars. For some reason the
authorities of the Vatican library put con-
tinual obstacles In the way of all VINO
wished to study 1t in detail. In 1869 a col
lation Cor statement of its various read
ings) was made by Bartolicci, but 1t was
never published, and remained unknown
until 1919. Other Imperfect colations were
made about ITO and 1880 Napoleon carried
the manuscript off as a prize of victory to
Paris, where 1t remained until 1915, when
the many treasures of which he had es-
poiled the Libraries of the continent were
returned to their respective owners.
While at Paris 1t was studied by Hug,
and its great age and supreme importance
were first fully made known; but after its
return to Rome n period of seclusion set in.
In 1913. Tischendorf, after waiting for sew
eral months, was allowed to see 1t for six
hours Next year De Muralt was permit
ted to study it for nine hours. In 1876 the
great English scholar, Tregellas, was al
lowed indeed to see it. but not to copy a
word His pockets were searched before
he might open 1t, and all writing mater
ials were taken away. Two clerics stood
beside him while he examined it. In 1857
an edition by Cardinal Nal was published,
which, however, was so inaccurate as to
be almost useless.
In 1866 Tischendorf once more applied
for leave to edit the MS. but with DIFF
fculty obtained leave to examine it tor
the purpose of collating difficult passages.
Unfortunately the great scholar so far for
got himself as to copy 20 pages in full
contrary to the conditions under which
he had been allowed access to the MS, ana
his permission was naturally withdrawn
Renewed entreaty procured him six days
longer study, making In all IA days of three
hours each; and by making the very most
of his time Tisohendorf was able in 1907 to
publish the most perfect edition Of the
manuscript which had yet appeared. An
improved Roman edition appeared in 1888
81; but the final and decisive publication
was reserved for the years 1SS9-90 when
a complete Photographic fac-simile of the
whole MS. made Its contents once and for
all the common property of all scholars
In August. 1883, the world was startled
by the announcement of the discovery of
fragments of manuscript of the Old Tes-
lament purporting to have been written
about 500 years before Christ. which their
owner. Jew of the name of Shapiro,
stated that he had obtained from some
Arabs about five years before. The mate
rial was old leather. and the writing WAS
similar to that Of the Moabite Stone Tile
contents were striking enough. They pur-
ported to be portions Of the book of Deu-
teronomy, but with many remarkable var
iations. To the Ten Commandments was
added an 18th, and the language of the
others was altered and amplifed In these
strips of leather there was enough to cast
doubt upon the whole of the received text
of the Old Testament and to discredit the
whole science of textual criticism The
sensation. however. only lasted a few
days. Evidences of forgery soon began to
pour in, and the final blow was given wien
1t was shown that the strips of leather on
which the characters were written had
been cut from the margins of an ordinary
synagogue roll