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"the leading men among them, both of the clergy and laity, "were men of sense and learning. To many of them, the "historians, orators, poets, and philosophers of Greece and "Rome were familiar; and some of them have left libra. "ries, that are still in being, consisting chiefly of volumes, " in which the wisdom of the most enlightened ages and na"tions is deposited, written however in languages, which "their great grandsons, though educated in European uni❝versities, can scarcely read."* This humiliating state of literature, it is hoped, is gradually amending, and we indulge a pleasing expectation, that the fame of our ALMA Mater will yet be retrieved.

Improvement in printing has also progressed with improvement in literary taste. The specimens of our typography, which of late have been exhibited, particularly of English and Latin works from presses in Philadelphia and New York, and of Greek from the University Press in Cambridge may now be compared with European workmanship. This acknowledgement is made with deference and caution, and with the most earnest hope, that accuracy, inviolable accuracy will be the first, second, and third virtue of our printers.

But we must not expect as yet a Robert or Henry Stephen, an Elzevir, a Barbou, Foulis, Baskerville, or Bowyer to appear in these western regions.

The editors of the edition of Sallust, printed at Salem, deserve the most liberal commendation for their judicious labors. The preface itself is truly classical, and, although brief, evinces an habitual acquaintance with the best Roman writers.

With regard to the text, quem, ni fallimur," say they, "emendatissimum habes," we are informed, that "ex tribus "illis editionibus, Havercampiand, Hunterianâ, et Parisiana "stereotypá (ut loquuntur) constitutus est; non omissa au"tem Maittairiana ceterarumque editionum meliorum fre66 quentissimâ et diligentissimâ collatione." We have thus not a servile copy of any particular edition, but the emendations of the most accurate critics.

* Essay on the Canon and Feudal law.

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The notes, it seems, have been generally selected from the "Delphini" edition, " pars autem non parva istius molis præcisa, ut doctissimorum virorum, Gruteri, Gronovii, Sanctii, "Perizonii aliorumque multorum annotationes locum habe66 rent. In hac parte, quæ fortè copiosior quàm quod doc"tis placeat, juvenum utilitati consulere præcipuè voluimus. "Sallustii brevitas et abruptum sermonis genus,' locutionum "etiam antiquarum frequentia, pueris nostris, qui in Cicero"nis scriptis maximè versantur, insolentiora (ita saltem puta"vimus) hoc postulârunt." We must readily assent to the latter observation, and grant the necessity of explaining to youth many parts of the histories of the "sententious Sallust." Havercamp's edition in two volumes quarto contains a copious variety of notes, and is undoubtedly the best, but of difficult access. The "variorum editiones” are rare, and generally retain much learned trifling. The Paris stereotype exhibits only the text; and the " Delphini" editions may be improved. Hence a selection of notes becomes necessary, and we believe in this case it has been done with judgment.

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But this is not all; for the editors proceed to say, "Nec "fructus ex Grammaticorum veterum scriptis percipiendus nos effugit. Igitur ex Prisciani, Probi ceterorumque libris 66 (APUD NOSTRATES PROH PUDOR! RARISSIMIS) hinc inde "sententiolam aliquam parvulam decerpsimus, ut apud juve56 nes linguæ Romanæ studiosos incitamentum esset ad eorum "scripta perlegenda; quæ ut diligentissimè pervolvant, hor16 tamur, rogamus." We are unable not to feel the force of the exclamation, inserted in capitals. No man among us, who has attempted to gain a knowledge of ancient literature, can avoid lamenting the low ebb, at which it has rested in this country. The scarcity of proper books, and the trouble, expense, and loss of time, incurred in importing them from Europe, deter many from making a progress. We must however hope, that at some period we shall be able to exhibit our PARRS, our WAKEFIELDS, and our BRYANTS, and that Boston herself will ere long contain more, than " three Lat" in scholars."*

See Anthology for June.

The benefit of the youthful tiro, it seems, has not solely guided the editors of this work. "Ut apud doctiores," say they," nostra editio aliquantulum pretii haberet VARIAS LEC"TIONES maximè notabiles inter Notas hinc inde sparsimus; non equidem è Codicibus MSS. (quorum apud nos non ex"tat aliquis) sed ex editione Sallustii splendidâ Havercampi"anâ excerptas."

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That the reader of this article may obtain a just idea of the Salem edition of Sallust, we shall copy the last paragraph of this well written preface.

"Quod ad orthographiam attinet, non constans inveniecc tur. Nam inutile non videbatur pueros, vel suo marte, vel præceptore duce, in hâc varietate versari; optimus igitur 6c æquè, ac optumus, quod magis ad antiquum, dicimus. Tamen omnis in casu quarto, et similia, (ita autem voluimus) cc constanter legimus. Et maximâ ex parte, antiquæ recen"tiorem orthographiam pofthaberi curavimus. Denique exemplorum prelo subjectorum castigatione multum sudavi<< mus; ob hasce omnes causas editio nostra, ni fallimur, "multo emendatior, multo magis æstimanda prodit."

What remains, but that we address to the youth of our country the language of Cicero, " quamobrem pergite, ado"lescentes, atque in studia incumbite, ut et vobis honori, et ❝amicis utilitati, et reipublicæ emolumento esse possitis.".

POETRY.

It was

WE insert with pleasure the following short, yet beautiful and plaintive monody on the death of the late, beloved PRESIDENT WILLARD. written at the time by a young gentleman, then a student of the University in Cambridge.

MONODY ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. JOSEPH WILLARD LL. D. S. T. D. PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

FAR

IN CAMBRIDGE.

AR hence let folly's train retire;
For man should mourn below ;
With sober hand attune the lyre,
And thrill the chords of wo.
Stop, mortal, stop thy mad career,
Death's neverbating charioteer
Relentless drives his rapid way,

And mournful millions bow submissive to his sway.

Alas, what numerous ills await

Our short existence here !

The wise, the virtuous, and the great

How soon they disappear!

Go, mortal of reflective soul,

Behold the ocean billows roll

In sad succession to the shore;

They rise, and break, and foam, and then are heard no

more;

Thus hourly shortlived mortals go

To crowd the darkened strand;

Alike the mighty and the low,

A melancholy band.

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We trembling view the storm loudthundering through the sky.

Remembrance sorrowing loves to tread

In holy, pensive gloom

The awful mansions of the dead,

And weep o'er virtue's tomb ;
Call back to life the slumbering clay,
Their forms with pleasing dread survey;

Or, if religion lift the veil,

We view their spirits, where nor cares, nor woes assail.

Thus now in fancy's tearful eye

Lo, WILLARD'S form appears
Among the whiterobed bands on high,
Crowned for immortal years.

Why then unkindly wish him here?
Alas, 'tis nature prompts the tear.
Memory still hovers o'er his grave,

As evening sunbeams love to linger on the wave.

Those classic bowers, that nursed his youth,

Shall long repeat his name ;

And history with the pen of truth
Perpetuate his fame.

To him the sacred task was given

To lead our youthful souls to Heaven;

His purest footsteps then we'll tread;

By following them alone we " truly mourn the dead.”

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