conscientiously believe, that had it pleased God to have spared her life, few, even of her dearest friends, would ever have known the beauties of the composition. If I have no hesitation in saying, that, as a translation, it fears no comparison, I would also expressly state, that (except with the context of the venerable book from which it was formed) it calls for none. It is not a trial of skill, but the document of an humble and disciplined understanding; an effort of intellect, that must always command the admiration of the learned; and the transcript of a mind, that will ever interest the affections of the good. Such a mind, and employed in such a manner, without a duty neglected, or a necessary óccupation postponed, may prove a blessing to the world. It may contribute to heighten the standard of female excellence, not by stripping it of any accomplishment, but by combining the strongest mental habits, with the fairest external captivations: and the example set by Miss SMITH, if it should not serve to awaken the trifling and the gay from their dream of yanity, may serve to lift the serious and the thoughtful into a higher order of distinction; may carry them into a career, in which they will suffer no disappoint

ment, will experience no mortification, will have to dread no rivalship, and in which they will be sure to triumph.

The task of editing this last specimen of Miss. SMITH'S talents, that is intended for publication, has devolved upon me; and let me be allowed to say, that in the prosecution of it, great has been my reward. More happy, or more instructive hours have I never passed than those in which I was occupied in following the steps of my dear departed friend along the paths of Hebrew literature; and so many, and so new, were the beauties which daily unfolded themselves, that I felt like a careless traveller, taken back to scenes he had visited before, and led by the hand of taste to different points of view, the better to observe and admire the rich variety of prospect.

From knowing little of the progress Miss SMITH had made in the study of the Hebrew language, nothing could exceed my astonishment, when the following translation was first submitted to my perusal. Not having time, perhaps I might more justly say, not

deeming myself competent to decide critically upon its merits, I sent it to a friend, upon whose judgment I could rely, before I ventured to hazard any opinion of my own.* That judgment has been pronounced, and under the sanction of it, I am authorised to produce this version of the Book of Job, not as a work that claims indulgence, from the youth or sex of the author; or which might plead the disadvantages under which it was prosecuted, in extenuation of its faults and errors; but as a work of intrinsic and superior excellence, and "conveying," as my friend expresses himself, "more "of the true character and meaning of the Hebrew, "with fewer departures from the idiom of the English, "than other translation whatever that we possess." any As such, I do produce it; and so far as a diligent and accurate comparison of this translation, partially or wholly, with almost every other extant, (at least with all I could procure, or read,) may entitle me to make the assertion, I scruple not to pronounce it to be, upon

* Vide Dr. MAGEE's letter to me on the subject, in the 1st vol. of Fragments. A subsequent and most honourable testimony which he has borne to it, may be found also in his new edition of the Doctrine of Atonement, vol. ii. p. 393.

the whole, more clear and satisfactory, more grammatically accurate, more closely expressive of the literal meaning, and, though preserving a native lustre of its own, more distinctly reflecting the brightness of its glorious original, than any which have fallen under my observation,

It may, and must ever, be deeply regretted, that Miss SMITH did not live to render her work more perfect, by such judicious alterations, as a more enlarged enquiry, and maturer deliberation, might have inclined her to make; and that on a few dubious and difficult passages she had not had the opportunity of consulting the opinions of some of our most learned and able commentators. But if she had no other helps than those which are common to, and lie within the reach of, every Hebrew student, must it not afford matter of triumph as well as of encouragement to him, to find what a proficiency may be made in the sacred language, with the bare assistance of a Grammar and Lexicon? and that, by the same helps and guidance, if he will take the pains to search the Hebrew Scriptures, he may hope, and without the aid of Rabbinical in

terpretations, or even the acquirement of other branches. of oriental learning, to search them with the greatest profit to himself, if not to unlock their hidden stores for the edification of others.

I do not mean by this to depreciate the value of these attainments; and perhaps a previous insight into the formation and structure of the Arabic and Persian languages may have given to Miss SMITH a greater degree of facility and precision in her Hebrew researches. But ornamental as a general acquaintance with oriental learning must ever be to the biblical scholar, and occasionally useful as it may be found in supplying, or in strengthening conjectural emendation, I would be cautious of annexing to it a greater importance than it deserves. If none of the Rabbinical writings (properly so called) are of a more antient* date than the tenth century, when there was almost an universal decay of the knowledge of the Hebrew tongue, and when also,

*Of course I rank only under this description those which were commenced by Rabbi Saadias A. D. 927, and which were continued by the Rabbinical commentators, Juda, Jona, David Kimchi, Aben Ezra, &c. &c,