"Our work is sacred, and we dare not slight it." This, also, looks somewhat like hinting, that the English editors do not consider their work to be sacred, and that they, probably, intend to slight it. We doubt whether it be very po. litick, to throw out such insinuations as these, for those, that set themselves up to be better than their neighbours, are generally suspected, by other people, not to be quite so fair and good as they ought to

be.

"Those, who sympathize with hereticks and infidels, will, in vain, endeavour to turn us from our purpose." That is to say, these literati have "all wisdom and all knowledge," and are infallible judges of the meaning of the scriptures, and those who differ from them in opinion, are either hereticks, or infidels, and must expect to be treated accordingly or as Lord Peter did

poor Martin and Jack, who had not senses enough to discern, that a crust of bread was a shoulder of mutton; "Look you, gentlemen," cries Peter, in a rage, "to convince you what a couple of blind, positive, ignorant, wilful puppies you are, I will use but this plain argument with you. By G- it is true, good, natural mutton, as any in Leadenhall market; and G confound you both eternally, if you offer to believe otherwise."

"We believe with Young, that with the talents of an Angel a man may be a fool." This seems to us very much like believing without evidence, for we are confident that these gentlemen themselves, will not pretend, that there ever was a man, who had the talents of an Angel, (in their sense of this word) or,

that there is any sort of evidence, what the character of such a being would be. If they meant, here, to give it as their opinion, that the Angels themselves might behave like fools, we think they might have cited higher authority to support it, for Job declares, "his Angels he [God] charged with folly !" Chap. iv. 18.

"It will be matter of little importance to us, in what class of living literary merit, or in what niche of the temple of fame the statue may be found of him, who has touched irreverently the hallowed depository of God's revealed will. In the best manner we can, we will withstand his audacity, expose his impiety, and invest him with his proper character." We are disposed highly to commend this resolution, and we would hint to these "literati," that they had better commence their chastisement, where charity is usually said to begin, that is, at home; for we are of opinion, that they have themselves, "touched irreverently the hallowed depository of God's revealed will," by asserting that if Heb. i. 7, is to be understood in a sense, different from that in which they understand it, "the sacred penman will appear to have written the grossest nonsense."

"We shall endeavour not to transgress the prescriptions of decorum, the laws of candour, nor the demands of christian meekness."

These gentlemen have shown a competent degree of prudence and we commend them for it; for we think that persons, who possess such a bigotted temper, as has been manifested in this article, should never promise absolutely not to transgress the prescriptions of decorum, A promise to “endeavour” not to

do it, is as much, as can reasonably be expected under such circum

stances.

"In its execution, we believe we can promise diligence and vigilance.

We believe we can do the same, and also that these American "literati”

will give us quite as much occasion for their exercise, as the English editors have given them. For, besides charging the English editors, under this article, with having given a new translation of the 4th verse of the 104th Psalm, which (unless they are grossly ignorant of biblical literature) they must have known to be absolutely false; they have, under the article America, which we shall review hereafter, advanced sentiments, respecting the original inhabitants of America, which have a tendency to discredit the scripture declaration, that " God made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell upon the face of all the earth."

"We are sensible that this is an arduous, an important, and a delicate duty. We have approached it, not without undissembled diffidence in our ability to dicharge it worthily."

Considering the positive and confident manner, in which these literati have stated their opinions, and the contempt and derision, which they have manifested toward those who differ from them in sentiment, we suspect there is an errour of the press in the last sentence, and that it ought to be read "we have approached it [viz. this duty] without diffidence in our ability to discharge it worthily."

"We have here avowed the principles, which will govern us in examining and remarking upon the moral and theological opinions which it [Rees' Cyclopædia] contains."

The professed principles of these literati, as we have before remarked, "we consider to be truly excellent, but the manner in which this article is compiled evidently shows, that they themselves do not regard them; for although they have professed, in their examinations of the scriptures, to be governed by the originals, yet they always have recourse to the English translation of them; and instead of "not bringing to the study of the scriptures, a system already formed in their own mind, and fortified by prejudices" and "of going in the first instance, and without prejudice to learn, what is the system, which" ought to be received, they have taken a method directly contrary, and endeavoured to make the scriptures conform to their prejudices, as we have stated, when noticing the passage cited from 1st Timothy, iv. i. We have attributed their conduct in this instance to the influence of prejudice, because we know no other cause for it, except it be a total ignorance of the original; and, we think, considering the professions of these gentlemen, that it would be altogether unwarrantable to suppose them, not to understand the originals of the scriptures, and

"So much for this subject in general, which it seemed necessary a little to discuss, and for which this appeared as proper a place as any."

ARTICLE 2.

The Rudiments of Latin Prosody, with a Dissertation on Letters, and the Principles of Harmony, in Poetick and Prosaick Composition, collected from some of the best writers. Bosfrom some of the best writers. Boston, printed and sold by Benjamin Mecom, at the new printing-office,

near the town house. 1760. 12mo. pp. 72.

THOUGH knowledge, at the present day, may be more widely diffused, yet it is, at the same time, more superficial than at former periods; and, notwithstanding the late improvements in our Univerity, it is questionable, whether it can at present boast of any scholars, equal to those, who flourised half a century since.

The neglect of prosody has been so shameful among us, that scarcely a collegian can read a passage of Latin poetry, without some gross violation of quantity; and the scholars of Connecticut are still more defective, in this respect, than those of Massachusetts. This is a subject well worthy the attention of instructors, as it is impossible to relish the beauties of poetry, or even to discover the harmony of prose, without an accurate knowledge of prosody. Scanning is learnt with much greater facility than parsing, and if boys were habituated, as in the English schools, to make Latin verses, they would acquire a knowledge in this art, which would never forsake them. Those, who have conquered the first difficulties, take great delight in this elegant exercise, and

verses have sometimes been produced at a school, which would not have

disgraced the Augustan age.

This treatise, to which we are desirous of attracting the publick notice, is from the pen of the late James Otis, Esq. a gentlemen, highly distinguished by genius, eloquence, and learning.

Mr. Otis, on leaving the University, devoted three years to the attainment of general information, before he entered on the study of the law. During that period, he read the most celebrated writers in the modern languages, and made himself a complete master of classical literature, by perusing those authors in Greek and Latin, with whom he was not previously acquainted. Application and genius united could not fail of success; and America has produced perhaps no man, who possessed more extensive information than this gentleman.

Julius Cæsar, amidst his ambitious projects, wrote a treatise on Rhetorick; and James Otis, in the intervals of forensick occupation, composed this work on prosody.

We have read it with considerable attention, and will venture to pronounce it the most clear, and masterly treatise, which we have ever met with on the subject, and earnestly recommend its immediate republication. We shall quote from this very useful work, that part, which treats of the various kinds of

verse.

1. "The Hexameter, or Heroick verse, regularly a Dactyl, the sixth a Spondee ; consists of six feet, of which the fifth is

the rest Dactyls, or Spondees, as best suits the fancy of the poet, or his subject.

A Spondee is sometimes found in the fifth place.

A Dactyl is also (though very rarely) to be found, in the sixth place as, At tuba terribilem procul excitat borrĭdă.

IL The Pentameter, or Elegiack verse consists of five feet, Dactyls, or Spondees, making two Penthemims, each containing true feet, and a long syllable: The second Penthemim must have two Dactyls, and a long syllable.

The Hexameter, with this, alternately, makes the Elegy, and this, alone, is commonly called the Elegiack.

III. The Asclepiade, or Choriambick verse, of which there are several species; as, 1. The Asclepiade, Choriambick, Tetram. Acatalectick, consisting of a Spondee, two Choriamb. and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick. But the common and easier way of measuring, is, after two feet, to make a Cosura, preceded by a Sponder, and a Dactyl, and followed by two Dactyls.

2. The Choriambick, Glyconick, Tetram. Acat. This hath a Spondee, rarely a Trochee, for the first foot, a Choriamb, for the second, and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick, for

the last.

3. The Alcaick, Choriambick, Pentam. Acat. consisting of a Spondee, three Choriambicks, and a Pyrrick, or an Iambick.

IV. The Sapphick, Pentam. Acat. this has a Trocbee, a Spondee, and a Dactyl, then two Trochees, or sometimes a Spon

dee for the last.

After three of these may be added an Adonick; of which structure, are many beautiful odes in Horace.

V. The Phaleucian, Hendecasyll. Acat. consisting of a Sponder, a Dastyl, and three

Trochees.

ently for the four first feet, but only Trochees for the three last.

4. The Dactylick, Archiloch. Dimet. Hypercat. of two Dactyls, and a syllable.

5. The Dactylick, Alcaick, Acat. This has an Iambick Pentbemim, and two Dactyls; the first foot may be a Spondee or an Tamb. the second only an Iamb. then a long syllable followed by two Dactyls.

6. The Dactylick, Alcaick, Acat. or Pindarick, of this the two first feet are Dac tyls, the two last Troches.

VII. Pherecratian, Heroick Trim. Acat. consists of a Spondee, a Dactyl, and Sponder.

VIII. The Aristophanick, Choriamb. Dim. Acat. consists of a Choriambick, for the first foot, and a Bacchick, or an Amphibacchick, for the second.

IX. The Alcaick, Choriamb. Tetram. Acat. is composed of the second Epitrite, two Choriambicks, and a Bacch. or an Amphibacch.

X. Iambick Verse, and its species.

1. The Iambick, Trim. Acat. This is a pure lambick.

2. The Iamb. Archiloch. Trimet. Acat. The only difference between this and the former, is, that this admits a Spondee in the odd places, and sometimes other feet.

3. The Iambick Archiloch. Dimet. Acat. This consists of four Iambicks, or Spondees in the odd places.

cat.

4. The Iambick Archiloch. Dimet. HyperThis has four feet; the first and third may be Spondees, the second and fourth regularly Iambicks, to which is added a long syllable.

5. The Iambick, Archiloch. Trimet. Cata. having five Iambicks and a long syllable, but will receive Spondees in the odd places.

The Iambick verse originally consisted of pure lambicks; and the several species of mixed Iambicks, now consist chiefly of Iambicks; though they admit, in the odd places, a Spondee, and sometimes other feet. A Tribrach is sometimes found in the even places, excepting the last; which ought ever to be an lambick or Pyrrhick. The like exceptions may be found from some other of the definitions, which, to avoid prolixity, are omitted.

XI. The Trochaick, Euripidick, Dimet. Catal. The general difference between. the Trochait, and Iambick, is, that in the former the Trochee takes the place of the Iambick. According to this way of mea