390 
language is most apparent, form a cyclus of 
composition which mutually explain each 
other, and for the interpretation of which 
the Targums (Chaldee paraphrases), and 
sometimes the contemporaneous Apocry- 
pha, oirginally translated from the Chaldaic, 
haye not been employed as much as they 
might. These are Esther, Ecclesiastes, the 
Chronicles, Daniel, Jonah, and some of the 
Psalms. A purer language is found in 
Ezra, Nehemiah, Zachariah, Malachi, and 
the Song of Solomon, to which we may add 
Job. But the books of Daniel and Ezra 
contain whole pieces in Chaldaic. 
“ In this later diction alluded to, we 
may distinguish the proper Chaldaisms 
from the other peculiarities of the mo- 
dernized Hebrew. ‘The former, which are 
also the most numerous, are two-fold. 
Either the Chaldaic word has been received 
without any alteration of either its form or 
sense, which is mostly the case, or the 
writer merely imitated the Chaldaic, in its 
turns, signification, &c., preserving the He- 
brew form. For instance, What? in old 
Hebrew i!2> Chaldaized WIM »5}Ko, 
TWN Ww (quidam, quidam), is an imitation 
of fhe \aiditaie pia? the pleonasm 
WR DIP!» at the place where; for 
where is the Syriac 5 3273 WR mwa 
(Eccl. viii. 17), is the Aramaic “7 oy 75- 
The later modernizations, which cannot 
befound in Chaldaic, aie particularly ap- 
parent, when, for the same idea, a different , 
expression prevailed in the older authors. 
For instance, NIWOT OM, shew- 
bread, for O°25i7 on). 
** As the language of the Talmud and 
the Rabbis is closely connected with this 
later form of diction, much of it has re- 
mained usual with them, and may be pro- 
fitably explained from them.” Y. Z. 
{We should observe that this correspondent has, in 
the text, used the identical word idiotism, relative to 
which we are in controversy with another corre- 
spondent; and we must confess that we are not quite 
aware of the sense in which it is here applied. It 
would seem to be used as indicating some species of 
contradistinction from the general term idiom ;—as 
a more minutely specific discrimination of idiomatic 
style in phrase and composition. For our idea of 
the only sense in which the word ought to be re- 
tained, see hereafter our reply to M.Duvard.—Edit.] 
Ea - 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
T is worthy of observation, that the 
Parliamentary Reformers, one hun- 
dred and fifty years ago, as is evident 
from the following remarkable epitaph, 
were not better treated than their re- 
nd 
Remarkable Epitaph. 
[Dec. 1, 
cent successors inthe same cause. But 
if sufferance be the lot of reformers in 
all ages, they have the consolation to 
know that their honest exertions are 
not ultimately altogether fruitless. It 
_was a favourite maxim of the late wor- 
thy. Dr. John Jebb, that “no effort is 
lost ;?? and, even since his time, there 
is abundant proof of its truth. The ef- 
forts that were made, about thirty years 
ago, for the diffusion of information 
among the people, whatever calumny 
and persecution they might bring on 
individuals, was, undoubtedly, the great 
spring of that vast increase of know- 
ledge which has since diffused itself with 
unexampled rapidity among all classes 
of society. It was truly asserted by 
the great Bacon, that “ knowledge is 
power.” Knowledge diffused * among 
the people is, therefore, the pledge of 
ultimate freedom and reform. 
The following is the epitaph I al- 
luded to at the beginning of my letter. 
REMARKABLE EPITAPH 
On a Stone in Bunhill-fields Burying-ground. 
MR. FRANCIS SMITH, 
Late of London, bookseller, 
(Whose grateful memory 
May this stone perpetuate.) 
During the reign of Tyranny, and 
Oppression, in the 17th century, for 
Urging the Frequency of Parliaments, 
And publishing the sentiments 
OF FREEMEN, 
Suffered much by 
Fines, corporal punishments, 
And Forty-one imprisonments. 
Unremitted severity 
Necessarily much impaired 
His constitution : 
Yet this spot did not receive him 
Till Heaven, by the hand of the 
Glorious King WILLIAM, 
Had restored to his 
Almost-ruined country 
The Rights of MEN, 
Of CHRISTIANS, and 
Of BRITONS. 
He died Keeper of the Custom-House 
To that Great Prince, 
_ 22d Deer. 1691. 
This Tomb was restored by his descendant 
THOMAS COX, L 
Citizen of London, in 1761); 
Who hopesto restwith nisfamily inthe same place. 
It is very desirable that a more ex- 
tended memoir should be given of 
Francis Smith, than what we have in the 
epitaph, to shew the present generation 
whether his extraordinary and. aceu- 
mulated sufferings were inflicted by 
mere forms of law in a summary way, 
or by sheer despotism, Was it the 
fashion 
