Oriental Literature. $ I 



Wilson, and Fitzgerald, are entitled to parti- 

 cular distinction/ 



In the eighteenth century, for the first time, 

 grammars, dictionaries, and other books, for teach- 

 ing the elements of the Hebrew language, were 

 presented to the public in English. Before this 

 period, all such works were in the Latin language, 

 and of course the acquisition of this language, at 

 least, was necessary before any thing could be 

 done towards acquiring the Hebrew. In the last 

 age this difficulty was removed. Those who are 

 acquainted with no other than their native tongue 

 are now furnished with books, by means of which 

 they may be conveniently initiated into the know- 

 ledge of Hebrew literature, so far as is necessary 

 for enabling them to peruse the sacred scriptures. 

 Mr. Parkhurst, it is believed, first obliged the 

 public with a work of this nature. His example 

 was followed by his countryman, Mr. Bate; since 

 which time the same means for rendering Hebrew 

 literature more accessible, have been adopted by 

 Professor Wilson, Professor Fitzgerald, and se- 

 veral others. 



Those who studied the Hebrew language in the 

 eighteenth century derived an advantage from the 

 circumstance of the other oriental dialects, the 

 Syriac, Chaldeac, Arabic, and even the Coptic 

 and iEthiopic, being more and better cultivated 

 during this time than in any former period. The 

 aid furnished to the student of Flebrew by the 

 knowledge of these dialects, will be readiiy un- 



/ In the formation of some of these grammars the Points and Accents are 

 employed ; in others they are rejected ; while, in a third class, a middle 

 course is pursued between a total rejection and an unlimited admission of 

 them. The last is particularly the case with the grammar of Dr. Fitz- 

 cjerald, Professor of Hebrew in the University of Dublin, published in 

 1799. He retains the vowel points, and such of the accents as are most 

 distinguishable and useful. All the other accents, of which the number is 

 considerable, he has discarded. 



