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1805.] Errors in Traw/flations from ihe French.—Brnifing Malt. 319 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
I THINK it may be fomewhat ufeful, 
through the medium of your Maga- 
zine, to notice the falfe interpretation that 
is almoft always given by Englith tranfla- 
tors to the French word aimable, which 
does not fignify amiable, as we find it ren- 
dered in moft tranflations from the French.” 
The word aimable relates to the qualities 
of the mind, not to thofe of the heart, 
and may be rendered as—agreeadle, 
charming, fafcinating, amufing,; where- 
as, by an viable, we mean, kind, benevo- 
lent, gentle, danietie it is a word, in 
fa&, for which there is no fynonime in 
the French language. This falfe inter- 
pretation of aimable, not only fails to 
convey the direct meaning of the original, 
but entirely mutilates the fenfe of many 
paflages, as will be feen in the following, 
aes the Englifh tranflation of M. Se- 
gur’s Efflay on Women. “ The German 
women are in ceneral poffefled of lefs feel- 
ing than thofe of Frauce, and, with 
ftronger paffions, are lefs amiable. Their 
fagacity in difcovering the qualities of 
the heart is greater than their addrefs in 
difcerning thofe of the intellectual facul- 
ties.” The comtre-fags is here obvious, for 
we never fuppofe ae lefs amiable (in 
the true fenfe of the word) who are more 
interefted in the qualities of the heart than 
of the underitanding. Having quoted the 
above work, I may be allo al here to 
name one or two other very principal inac- 
curacies which it contains. In {peaking of 
the reign of Louis XVI: 
feemed to confpire to ftrip the throne of 
its dignities. Sr. Germain deftroyed the 
manfion of the King, and by that means 
fucceeded in drawing from the Court a 
neceflary degree of pomp.” We are led, 
from this, to think, that M. St. Germain 
had demolifhed either Verfailles or the © 
Thuilieries; but-even had an individual, 
befides the King, ever poffefled fuch au- 
thority in France, every one Knows that 
thot palaces ftill ftand ere&. But we 
fhall fee, that da maifon du Roi, which 
ftands in the original, dhould be tranflated, 
“fthe houfhold troops,’’* and not ‘* the 
* Thefe were the King’s guards, who, in 
time of peace, attended on him at Vertlailles, 
and were obliged to follow him when he 
went to battle. They muttered fifteex thoa- 
fand men originally, and were formed mofily 
of the young nodleffe. After the reform of 
M. St. Germain, the body-guards were alone 
‘ preferved along with the regiments of French 
and Swifs guards. 
<< Every thing , 
manfion of. the King,” and that then the 
fentence will be perfeét. In another place, - 
Pimpot du timbre, which means a ‘ flamp- 
act,” is rendered ** an impo upon. time 
ber.” Tt is almoft furprifing, thar, in a 
tranflation, the language of which is in 
general better than that of moft others, 
fuch blunders as the foregoing are to be 
found. It mayalfo be obie erved, that, im 
more places than one, plus is tranflated 
more where it means 29 more; plus d’ef- 
peir, Pedro (‘‘no more hope, Pedro), we 
find put, ** more hope, Pedro. 
It is not now my defign to advert ithe 
numerous errors that are to be found in 
almoft every tranflation from the French ; 
I merely wifh to recommend to notice the 
abufe of the word azmable, as it fo fre- 
quently occurs in the French language, and 
is fo generally nsifinterpreted, 
Tam, Sir, eA. My 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
APPREHEND your correfpondent 
S. H. in your laft month’s Magazine, 
is mifaken, when che refufes to Gallini 
the appellation of Sir John ; for though 
he be enly an Italian Khicht, if Lam not 
greatly mifiaken, he had the King’s au- 
thority for callise himlelf Sir John, the 
fame as Sir Ree Bourgeois, who is a 
- Polith knight, 1 knowhas. 
I have further to notice, that when 4 
title of Duke or Prince was addreffed to in 
France, he was always ftyled ** Mon/ezg- . 
neur,”* and not ‘* Monjieur le Duc, ou 
Prince.’ 
in relating the account of the opening 
of the London Docks, page 179, the 
name of Daniel mina. the. furveyor 
to the Company, fhould have been fub- 
tituted for that of Mr. Rennie, the engi- 
neer, who had nothing to do with the 
warehoufes and buildings. You mutt 
plainly jee the diftinction. They are both 
able men: I doubt if the latter has his 
equai in abilities inthis kingdem. 
I am, &c. sag Pr. 
March 18, 1805. ; 
EE 
To the Editor of the Mouthly Magazine. 
SIR, : 
N the fubjelt of bruifieg malt, allow 
/ome to reque ‘ that fome of your 
obliging readers will kindly favor me with 
a few lines of infermation. 
That bruijing, it well performed, is 
preferable to grinding, I shave not a - 
doubt ; 
