ment of Jofephus with either, has occafioned much confufion in the chronology of thofe early times, and has been employed as a kind of artillery to destroy the veracity of the SS and confequently to invalidate the evidence in favour of christianity. To reconcile thefe accounts is the profeffed intention of our author, which he attempts in the following manner. He contends, contrary to the opinion of many well received writers on the fame fubject, that this difagreement is not occafioned by accident, negligence, or defign; and produces feveral ftrong and unimpeachable evidences in fupport of the fubfequent affertions.-ift, That, according to Jofephus, the Jews were poffeffed of historical memoirs relative to themfelves exclufive of the Hebrew fcripture, or the Greek verfion, called the feptuagint.-2d, That in the books employed by Jofephus in compiling his antiquities, the ages of the patriarchs were not described in the fame manner as in the Hebrew text or in the Greek verfion.-3d, That Jofephus in his antiquities has not defcribed the ages of the patriarchs agreeably to the Hebrew or Greek text, but has adhered folely to the books given him by Titus Cæfar after the deftruction of the fecond temple.-4th, That the books made use of by Jofephus began from the creation, and contained the history of 5000 years.-5th, That the hiftorical memoirs employed by Jofephus, were in the cuftody of the priests when the feventy tranflated the Hebrew into Greek.--6th, That the greater credit is due to Jofephus from his fteady adherence to the original materials with which he was furnished.-7th, That the Jews, till the deftruction of the fecond temple, had two methods of computing time; one myftical or prophetical, the other natural and biftorical.8th, That the myftical or prophetical computation was made ufe of only by Mofes and the prophets, nor was it permitted to communicate it to the vulgar, or employ it in any fecular purpofes.-9th, That the natural and hiftorical reckoning began from the creation, and according to Jofephus, comprehended the fpace of 5,000 years, to the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus.-10th, That, whereas the ages of the patriarchs are calculated in Jofephus according to the natural computation, and taken from the antient writings that came accidentally to his hands; it may be concluded that the ages of the patriarchs in the feptuagint verfion (which for the moft part agree with Jofephus) were determined from the hiftorical memoirs of the priefts extant in the library of the temple built by Nehemiah.-11th, That the difagreement between Jofephus and the feptuagint, principally may have proceeded from the former's having made ufe of lefs correct materials than the latter, and that it is not improbable that the more correct copies might have perifhed or been loft before the deftruc deftruction of the fecond temple.-12th, That the difference between the Hebrew text and Greek verfion does not arife from the corruption of either one or the other, but only from Mofes's having ufed the myftical and prophetical numbers, and the Greek tranflators the natural and hiftorical numbers; as more agreeable to the custom of other nations.* Such is our author's folution of this chronological difficulty, whether it will be deemed fatisfactory we fhall not take upon ourselves to determine. If an apparent honeft intention, an uncommon portion of learning, and the ftrongest proofs of affiduous application to the fubject are not fufficient recommendations, any thing we might think proper to add in favour of this undertaking must be useless. -Some apology however is due to the author and the public for the delay of this article; and to confefs the truth, the best we can make is a bad one it was committed to the care of a gentleman whofe avocations from the bufinefs of reviewing are many, and whofe indolence is but too frequently prevalent.A word more to our author before we take leave: it is recommended to him to revife his figures: the fubdivifion of the fecond period, page 96 is calculated to comprehend the fpace of 1147, but which upon examination makes 109 years more. From the flood to the defection of Nimrod is calculated at From the defection of Nimrod to the difperfion years. 493 40 714 1247 We do not undertake to rectify the error, but that there is one is very evident, and as this is the basis, should it be unfound, the fuperftructure must fall. This fpecimen is followed by a view of the whole work, comprizing a copious and accurate table of contents; but as an abridgement of this would be an abfurdity, and as the whole is by far too long for our infertion, we muft refer the curious to the original. We have not given a literal tranflation of our author, as it would have extended the article to a greater length than our limits could afford. N. B. The Foreign Books are deferred untill next month. MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOGUE. For JULY, 1759. MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 1. The Rife and Fall of Pot-Afb in America, addreffed to the Right Honourable the Earl of Hallifax. 4to. Is. Cabe. I 'N our Review, Vol. XIII. p. 155, we mentioned Mr. Stephens's Process for making Pot-afh, published in confequence of a parliamentary reward for his divulging the fecret, and as an encouragement for him to proceed in his endeavours to ellablish this valuable manufacture in our American Colonies. We were at that time in great hopes of feeing this important undertaking eftablished on a permanent footing; but now, as friends to the trade and commerce of our country, we have the mortification to find, by Mr. Stephens's prefent narrative, that this public-fpirited scheme has been fuffered to fall to the ground, for want of that farther fupport which the undertaker had reason to expect; and that both the projector and his project have been ruined, through the oppofition he has met with, from people whofe intereft, or particular views, happened not to agree with the profperity of an undertaking which had received the highest countenance, and been justly confidered as fo valuable a branch of our commerce, that it might, if fuccefsfully purfued, have been attended with a national faving of One Hundred Thousand Pounds ter annum.-One would almost conclude, from the general fate of even our most fuccessful projectors, that Providence has not allotted them à compenfation in this world. Thus Middleton, to whom the city of London is fo much obliged for the New River, and Lombe, who established our Silk-mills, were, by the generous Public, left to feek their reward in heaven, where neither moth nor ruft doth corrupt, and where thieves break not through and fieal. Art. 2. The Caftle-Builders; or, the Hiftory of William Stephens, of the Isle of Wight, Efq; lately deceafed. A political Novel, never before published in any language. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Cabe. Inftead of a political novel, as its Author, perhaps, for political reafons, has entitled it, this feems to be the true hiftory of that family, of which Mr. Thomas Stephens (mentioned in the foregoing article, relating to pot-afh) is one of the branches. He has, probably, publifhed the Caftle-Builders, to fhew, that himself is not the only one of the family who has fuffered by engaging in fchemes of a public nature though, at the fame time, we muti obferve, that Mr. Stephens, whom we guefs to be the Author of this hiftory, evidently does not mean to call the leaft reflection on the memory of his wor thy father, mentioned in the title; for that gentleman's character is here placed in the most amiable light: and the ftory of his misfor tunes is fuch as cannot fail to excite the Reader's compaffion. And alfo to evince the truth of this maxim, which he every where labours to ablish, That PARTY is a contrivance, only to ferve PRIVATE INTEREST. REV. July, 1759. G Art. Art. 3. The British Negociator; or, Foreign Exchanges made per fectly cafy. Containing tables for all the various courfes of Exchange from, and the feveral Coins equated of, Holland, Hamburgh, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Venice, Leghorn, Genoa, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Ruffia, Ireland. Together with tables, and rules of Exchanges, from Afia, Africa, and America, or the Weft-Indies, and the Exchanges of the principal foreign nations with one another. Alfo Arbitrations of Exchanges, in a new and concife method applicable to bufinefs. Likewife the weights and measures of foreign nations. To which are annexed, feveral mercantile tables, equally useful to foreign traders and factors, and to inland merchants and dealers: And an effay on the nature and bufinefs of Excharging in general is prefixed, by way of introduction. By S. Thomas, Merchant. 3S. Richardfon. This book, which appears pretty full, requires no farther account of it than what the title gives. Experience alone must eftablish its character with the merchant; who will attain the fureft knowlege of its value, by making trial of its utility. Art. 4. An Flour's Amufement for the Belles and Beaux, prefent or abfent from St. James's Park, on Sunday the 24th of June, 1759. 8vo. Is. Mariner. The late extraordinary manner in which a celebrated lady of quality was attended, in her walk in St. James's Park, has furnished a wretched foribbler with an opportunity of trying to ale contributions on the public but he would do well to betake himself to fome honefter way of living, as he is totally unqualified to earn his bread by pampaletteering. Art. 5. Jemima and Louifa. In which is contained, feveral remarkable incidents relating to two ladies of diftinguished families and fortunes. In a ferics of Letters. By a Lady. 12mo. 3s. : Owen. A faint imitation of Mr. Richardfon's writings. We shall fay no more, as it is a lady's production. Art. 6. The Mollaneous Works, in verfe and profe, of Mrs. Mary Latter, of Reading, Berks. 8vo. 3s. fewed. Wilkie. The fex and the circumftances of the Author, muft naturally exempt her works from the feverity of criticilin. As a woman who wanted it, we hope fhe has Lad a good subicription; but as a candidate for fame, (if the has any view of that fort) it is really unfortunate for Mrs. Latter, that Mifs Jones and Mifs Carter appeared before her. Art. 7. T Trial at large of Jln Stevenfon, late of Bickerton, in the county of Chter, dife-factor. Tho was tried at Chef ter ter-affizes, April 27, 1759; before Mr. Justice Swinnerton, and Mr. Juftice White, upon an indictment for the murder of Mr. Francis Elcock, late of Nantwich, in the faid county, attorney at law. With the arguments of the counfel on behalf of the crown, and for the prifoner; the obfervations of the judges thereon; and the facts fpecially found by the jury. Taken by Mr. Ralph Carter, of Nantwich, in Chefbire. Middlewich printed by James Schofield, and fold by Wilkie, in London. 8vo. I S. Art. 8. A popular Lecture on the Aftronomy and Philofophy of Comets. In which the opinions of the antients, and the difcoveries of Sir Ifaac Newton, relative to thofe bodies, are introduced and explained. By Samuel Dunn, Master of an Academy at Chelfea. Read to fome of the Author's pupils, unacquainted with the more intricate parts of fpeculative mathematics. 8vo. 6 d. Owen. A pamphlet much too brief, to make good the affertion in the title; which informas us, that the fubjects of it are introduced and explained. This lecture introduces a number of detached heads or propofitions, to each of which an explanation is neceffary; efpecially for pupils unacquainted with the more intricate parts of fpeculative mathematics. Art. 9. Candid, or all for the beft. Tranflated from the French of M. de Voltaire. 12mo. Is. 6d. Nourfe. To those who are not very deeply read in the volume of the human heart, and yet have fometimes indulged fpeculation on the follies and foibles of mankind, it may appear ftrange, that men of wit and genius fhould fo feverely feel neglect, or disapprobation, from fuch as they affect to hold in the utmoit derifion and contempt. A Writer of fuperior merit will make very little fcruple to avow, that the greater part of mankind are unequal to the task of comprehending his works, or relishing their beauties: he defpifes them for it, in the highest degree, and yet is, frequently, in the fame degree, angry with them, that they refufe to do juftice to that merit, of which he confeffes they are incompetent judges. What fubjects for jeft and abuse have illiterate patrons been, in all ages! men of genius and literature would, neverthelets, have all the nobility to be patrons and yet, fhould any of them happen to encourage an art, in which they are themfelves notoriously ignorant, how would their liberality expofe them to ridicule? It is a mark of prudence, therefore, in thote to whom fortune hath given the means of patronage, to encourage no art or fcience but fuch as they themfelves, in fome measure, understand. Yet men of genius da ¡y fligmatize this prudence, as arifing from avarice, meannefs, or extrava gance. Nay, what is fill more abfurd, the greater merit a Writer is poffeffed of, the more fublime or profound are his ideas, the greater G 2 claim |