Sect. I.] Hebreo) Literature, 259 



had a slender support afforded to it, by an annual 

 allowance from the legislature of New York, for 

 five years; but at the end of this time, the allow- 

 ance being withdrawn, the department of oriental 

 iuitruction was discontinued. This is one amonsr 

 tlie several instances of disrcputalde literary retro- 

 cession, by which the United States were distin- 

 guished at the close of the eighteenth century. 



Some small publications for promoting Hebrew 

 literature appeared in America during the cen- 

 tury under review. Among these a Hebrew 

 grammar, by Judah Monis, many years ago a 

 teacher of this language in the university of Cam- 

 bridge, in Massachusetts ; a grammar, by Stephen 

 Sewall, also some time since a Hebrew instructor 

 in the same institution ; and a work of a similar 

 nature by Dr. Johnson, formerly president of 

 King's college, in the city of New York, may be 

 reckoned the most considerable *. They are only 

 mentioned in this place as evidences that there 

 has been some taste for Hebrew literature in Ame- 



Columbia college, entered on the duties of his office with an en- 

 lightened and ardent zeal. That he might be more extensiveljr 

 useful, he took the earliest opportunity of sending to Europe for a 

 number of curious and voluminous works in oriental literature; 

 and resolved by this meins not only to furnish himself with tlie 

 best publications for teaching the Hebrew language in the most 

 profitable manner, but also for initiating his pupils into the know- 

 ledge of the Arabic and Syriac dialects, for which he is abundantly 

 qualified. But all his exertions were rendered abortive by the 

 Unreasonable and misplaced economy of our legislators, who have 

 not infrequently acted as if they considered the interests of litera- 

 ture among the most unimportant objects of their attention. 



* Professor Kunze also composed a Hebrew grammar on an 

 improved plan, for the use of his pupils, which he designs to pub- 

 lish as soon as a prospect of sufficient encouragement appears. 



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