248 Oriental Literature, [Chap. XIV. 



lowed in this laudable and instructive inquiry by 

 Herder, a learned, ingenious, and eloquent writer 

 of Germany, who is said to have pursued the sub- 

 ject still further, and to have thrown additional 

 light on the spirit of Hel^rew poetry. 



The publication of the works of the celebrated 

 John Hutchinson, in Great Britain, at an early 

 period of the century, doubtless contributed some- 

 thing to promote the study of Hebrew in that 

 country. It was before remarked that this philo- 

 sopher and his followers laid great stress on the in- 

 tegrity of the common Hebrew text, and drew 

 from a fanciful interpretation of Hebrew words 

 many theological and philosophical principles, in 

 their view of the utmost importance. This cir- 

 cumstance, of course, prompted all who applied 

 themselves to the study of Hutchinson's writings, 

 and especially those who studied them carefully and 

 deeply, to acquire as much Hebrew learning as 

 they were able. Those who have attended to the 

 progress of knowledge in Great Britain during the 

 last age, have probably been able to trace very di- 

 stinctly the influence of this visionary philosophy 

 in producing the effect which has been stated. 



Of the great number of Hebrew grammars which 

 have been published since the revival of letters, 

 that of.Buxtorf, till near the close of the seven- 

 teenth century, had received by far the largest 

 share of public approbation. And though it was 

 dry, complicated, tedious, and of course difficult 

 to be acquired ; yet as it was on the whole well 

 constructed, and contained an excellent body of 

 niasoretical rules, it continued lon^* to be the rei":n- 

 ing favourite among the teachers of this language, 



