250 Oriental Literature. [Chap. XIY, 



graminars, 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 M'ere 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 ditBculty 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, ]\Ir. Bate ; since 

 which time the same means for rendering Hebrew 

 literature more accessible have been adopted by 

 professor Wilson, professor Fitzgerald, and several 

 othei-s. 



Those who studied the Hebrew language in the 

 eighteenth century derived an advantage from the 

 circumstance of the other oriental dialects, the 

 Syriac, Chaldaic, 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 Hebrew by the 

 knowledge of these dialects will be readily un- 

 derstood and appreciated by those who have any 

 knowledge of the subject. The labours of Re- 

 land and Schultens, in Holland ; of lleineccius, 

 the Michaclises* (especially the last of tha|< 



* In ir0'.2 that illustrious orientalist, John David Michaelis^ 



