428 Drama-Mr. Mackinnon on the New Testament. the drama. I have no doubt, from the I am, Sir, &c. T. Q. VINDICATION of the CONSISTENCY and HAVING lately heard it urged by several that the writings of the New Testament, and the accounts contained therein, which are intended to relate the same circumstances, not only differ from Oue reason for which is, that many newspaper editors are allowed free admissions to the theatres; no doubt as a bribe 10 silence their disapprobation of men and measures, as well as to increase puffing. Dec. 1, each other, but also that the language in many places is found to be inconsistent with those rules, and that elegance which at all times hath excited our admiration for the classic authors: it inay not be a subject unworthy of inquiry if we should investigate these assertions, and endeavour to prove that this censure on the writers and style of the New Tes tament arises either from the neglect of due consideration, or from ignorance. There are, indeed, many whose whole time is devoted to the selecting detached parts of scripture, and comparing them with others which relate the same cir cumstance; and it these, on being examined, are not found to agree perfectly with each other, they then imagine that a discovery is made which tends to take away the veracity of the account given; as for instance, if we should take that which is given of the two thieves crucified on each side of our Saviour, the one according to St. Matthew, the other according to St. Luke:-“ Oi de wagenr ρευόμενοι ἐβλασφημουν αυτόν, κινῶντες, τὰς κέρα λὰς αὑτῶν. Τὸ δ' αυτὸ καὶ οἱ ληςαὶ οἱ συςαυρα aur, vidio aur." St. Matt. xxvi. 39, 44— Εις δὲ τῶν κρεμασθέντων κακέργων ἐβλασφήμει αὐτὸν λέγων· Ει σὺ εἰ ὁ Χριστὸς σώσει σεαυτὸν καὶ ἡμας. Αποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ετερος ἐπετίμα αὐτῷ, λέγων, ἐδὲ φοβῆ σὺ τὸν Θεὸν ὅτι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ κρίματι εἰ; Καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν δικαίως· αξία χάρισε ἐπράξαμεν ἀπολαμβάνομεν· ετος δε ὐδὲν άτοπον "enga." St. Luke, xxiii. 39, &c. From these two portions such reasoners infer, that, as St. Matthew's account is so dif ferent from that of St. Luke, it may be difficult to discover which of these is the true one. Now he who considers this an inconsistency (if inconsistency i may be called) evidently shews his ig norance, for there are many passages in the sacred writings where a simalar mode of expression is adopted, as the plural being frequently used for the sis gular number; for example, γας οι ζητώντες την ψυχὴν τα παιδιά,” St. Matt. ii. 20" They are dead who seek the young child's life." This, though the plural, is an expression which can only be applied to a singular meaning; fur by the they is signified "Herod," he being the person who wished to take away the life of Christ."ag di d μαθηταὶ αὐτῶ, ἐγανάκτησαν, λέγοντες· εἰς τό amblea d'urn, St. Matt. xxvi, 8. Though pores, we can prove from a parallel passage, that only one person spoke, in St. John, xii. 4, &c. “Ayu by six tie μαθητῶν αὐτά, Ιάδας Σίμωνος Ισκαριώτης, μετα λων αὐτόν παραδίδοναι· Διατί τῦτο τὸ μύρον ἐπι επράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχες. Let us take one example from the 1814.] Mr. Mackinnon on the N. Testament-Garden Crocus. 429 A similar mode of expression is found in a classic writer, who was a Beotian, writings of St. Paul, where the plural can only be applied to a singular means ing, as in his epistle to the Hebrews, reste napanual," Hesiod. Theog. 321. Chap. 11, ver. 37,“ engineav" relating If repetition is objected to as "waa àváæn to the death of Isaiah, executed by Ma- ipari peñññov uœì pižññov,” Philip. Chap. nasses, who ordered him to be sawn 1, verse 9. The same sort of repetiasunder with a wooden saw. tion may be found in Xenoph. Ox Thai Thev eregge." Cyrop. 7th. The neuter gender being put for the mascu line ov lava St. Math. 12, 41. Herodotus and Thucidydes have the same; Ta λοιπα συνδείχειρίζον”. Her. G. 9, 547, lib. 31, σε ολίγον δεν το πιστευον Εςμοκρατεί καὶ φοβεμένοι το μέλλον.” Thucid, 6, 370. From the earliest ages to the present day the sacred writings have stood the test of the severest criticism; they indeed err who attack the propriety and purity of the Greek Testament, and presumptuously charge the amanuenses of the divine spirit with breaches of the reason and analogy of grammar. "Facessant illi, qui stylum novi Testamenti non satis Græcum esse (etiam qui sibi aliisque maximè vigilare videbantur) quasi somniabant." Pusor. Græc. Gram. Sac. p. 659. Sacred truths have stood unaltered, though examined with minutest accuracy. Let those, that censure consider their inportance, and not lightly condemn them; for upon more mature deliberation, they might form juster not ons respecting them; and, considering the soundness of their morals, the majesty and purity of the gospel mysteries, they might be raised by the consideration of the near concern and interest they themselves have in their most important and awful contents, and exult in the joyful prospect of that infinite happiness, which is so faithfully promised, so clearly demonstrated, and described with such sublimity and grandeur in that incomparable book. I am, &c. Let us now consider the accuracy of the statement of facts. In many parts of sacred scripture there are circumstances which are not exactly related in the same manner by all the evangelists, as in the account that is given by them of the appearance of the an gel at the sepulchre, seen after the resurrection of our Saviour. St. Matthew and St. Mark say, ""ayyehog yag Kugle" St. Matb. Chap. 28, ver. 2. "dov veavisnov madhuevos en Tos do" St. Mark, Chap. 16, ver. 5. In these two passages only one is mentioned, while in the gospels according to St. Luke and St. John, "xat dubadges" St. Luke, Chap. 24, ver. 4, "nal Dewget dui ayyines" St. John, Chap. 20, ver. 12. two are spoken of. If authenticity is objected on account of the discrepancies between the several gospels, "I know not," says a writer on the evidences of the Christian religion, "a more rash or unphilosophical conduct of the understanding than to reject the substance of a story by reason of some diversity in the circumstances with which it is related. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety." Though in this case variations present themselves, yet these are in no wise absolute or final contradictions, nor can they be deemed sufficient in any manner to shake the credibility of the main fact. "There are many particulars, and some of them not of small importance, mentioned by Josephus in his Antiquities, which, as we should have supposed, ought to have been put down by him in their place in the Jewish wars, Lardner, Part I. vol. II. p. 735." Suetonius, Tacitus, Dio Cassius, have each of them written of the reign of Tiberius. Each has mentioned many things omitted by the rest, and the same things in a different manner, yet no objection is thence taken to the respective credit of their histories. Now that the language of the New Testament is deficient of that elegance which we find in those writings esteemed as specimens of perfection is altogether an assertion which requires proof, and which we shall endeavour to refute. "Kai την Ιωσιφ, και η μητης αὐτῇ θαυμάζοντες." Luke, Chap. 2, ver. 33; here is put for av by a syncope of the Beotians. NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 11. J. MACKINNON. Bloxholme, Nov. 1, 1814. The GARDEN CROCUS. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magasine. CAN any of your readers inform me whether the root of the common garden crocus is capable of being applied to any useful purpose? Having the other day observed that mice are very fond of them, I ventured to taste one, and found it very like the Spanish chesnut in flvour; but I thought superior, as it was dryer. The middle, which had shot out a little, left a flavour in the mouth like a ripe French bean, but the outside was excellent. Bushels might easily be raised in every garden. I am, &c. Nov. 1814. SL A GARDENER. ROYAL ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PRIVATE HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS. NUMBER IX. Variis locis dispersa, in unum fasciculum redegi. DR. BEATTIE. THIS worthy and ingenious writer, in his diary, as published by Sir William Forbes, gives the following account of his introduction to their majesties:"Tuesday, 24th August, 1773, set out for Dr. Majendie's, at Kew Green. The doctor told me, that he had not seen the king yesterday, but had left a note in writing, to intimate that I was to be at his house to-day; and that one of the king's pages had come to him this morning to say, that his majesty would see me a little after twelve. At twelve the doctor and I went to the king's house at Kew. We had been only a few minutes in the hall when the king and queen came in from an airing; and as they passed through the hall, the king called me by name, and asked how long it was since I came from town. I answered him, about an hour. I shall see you,' says he, in a little while.' The doctor and I waited a considerable time, for the king was busy, and then we were called into a large room, furnished as a library, where the king was walking about, and the queen sitting in a chair. We were received in the most gracious manner possible by both their majesties. I had the honour of a conversation with them, nobody else being present but Dr. Majendie, for upwards of an hour, on a great variety of topics, in which both the king and queen joined, with a degree of cheerfulness, affability, and ease, that was to me surprising, and soon dissipated the embarrassment which I felt at the beginning of the conference. They both complimented me in the highest terins on my essay, which they said was a book they always kept by them; and the king said he had one copy of it at Kew, and another in town, and immediately went and took it down from a shelf. I found it was the second edition. I never stole a book but one,' said his majesty, and that was yours,' (speaking to me:) I stole it from the queen, to give it to Lord Hertford to read. He had heard that the sale of Hume's Essays had failed since my book was published; and I told him what Mr. Strahan had told me in regard to that matter. He had even heard of my being at Edinburgh last summer, and how Mr. Hume was offended on the score of my book. He asked many questions about the second part of the Essay, and when it would be ready for the press. I gave him, in a short speech, an account of the plan of it; and said, my health was so precarious, I could not tell when it might be ready, as I had many books to consult before I could finish it; but that, if my health was good, I thought I might bring it to a conclusion in two or three years. He asked how long I had been in com posing my Essay; praised the caution with which it was written; and said that he did not wonder that it had employed me five or six years. He asked about my poems. I said, there was only one poem of my own, on which I set any value, (meaning the Minstrel,) and that it was first published about the same time as the Essay. My other poems, I said, were incorrect, being but juvenile pieces, and of little consequence eren in my own opinion.-We had much conversation on moral subjects; from which both their majesties let it appear that they were warm friends to Christianity; and so little inclined to Infidelity, that they could hardly believe that any think ing man could really be an atheist, unless he could bring himself to believe that he had made himself;-a thought which pleased the king exceedingly, and be repeated it several times to the He asked whether any thing had been queen. written against me. I spoke of the late pamphlet, of which I gave an account; telling him that I had never met with any man that had read it, except one quaker. This brought on some discourse about the quakers, whose moderation and mild behaviour the king and queen commended. I was asked many ques tions about the Scots universities, the revenues of the Scots clergy, their mode of praying and preaching, the medical college of Edinburgh, Dr. Gregory and Dr. Cullen; the length of our vacation at Aberdeen, and the closeness of our attendance during the winter; the num 1814.] Dr. Beattie's Interview with the King. ber of students that attend my lectures, my mode of lecturing, whether from notes or completely written lectures; about Mr. Hume, and Dr. Robertson, and Lord Kinnoul, and the Archbishop of York, &c.-His majesty asked, what I thought of my new acquaintance Lord Dartmouth? I said, there was something in his air and manner, which I thought not only agreeable, but enchanting, and that he seemed to me to be one of the best of men; a sentiment in which both their majesties heartily joined. They say that Lord Dartmouth is an enthusiast,' said the king; but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion, but what every Christian may and ought to say?" He asked, whether I did not think the English language on the decline at present? I answered in the affirmative; and the king agreed, and named the Spectator as one of the best standards of the language. When I told him that the Scots clergy sometimes prayed a quarter, or even half an hour at a time, he asked, whether that did not lead them into repetitions? I said it often did. "That,' said he, I don't like in prayers; and excellent as our liturgy is, I think it somewhat faulty in that respect.' 'Your majesty knows,' said I, that three services are joined in one, in the ordinary church service, which is one cause of these repetitions.' 'True,' he replied, and that circumstance also makes the service too long.' From this he took occasion to speak of the composition of the church liturgy; on which he very justly bestowed the highest commendation. Observe,' his majesty said, 'how flat those occasional prayers are, that are now composed, in comparison with the old ones.' When I mentioned the smallness of the church livings in Scotland, he said, 'He wondered how men of liberal education would choose to become clergymen there:' and asked, whether, in the remote parts of the country, the clergy in general were not very ignorant? I answered, No; for that education was cheap in Scotland, 'and that the clergy in general were men of good sense, and competent learning.' He asked whether we had any good preachers in Aberdeen? I said, Yes; and named Campbell and Gerard; with whose names, however, I did not find that he was acquainted. Dr. Majendie mentioned Dr. Oswald's Appeal with commendation; I praised it too; and the queen took down the name with a view to send for it. I was asked, whe 431 ther I knew Dr. Oswald? I answered, I did not; and said, that my book was published before I read his; that Dr. Oswald was well known to Lord Kinnoul, who had often proposed to make us acquainted. We discussed a great many other topics; for the conversation lasted upwards of an hour. The queen bore a large share in it. Both the king and her majesty shewed a great deal of good sense, acuteness, and knowledge, as well as of good-nature and affability. At last the king took out his watch, (for it was now almost three o'clock, his hour of dinner,) which Dr. Majendie and I took as a signal to withdraw: we accordingly bowed to their majesties, and I addressed the king in these words: I hope, Sir, your majesty will pardon me, if I take this opportunity to return you my humble and most grateful acknowledgements for the honour you have been pleased to confer upon me.' He immediately answered, 'I think I could do no less for a man who has done so much service for the cause of Christianity: I shall always be glad of an opportunity to show the good opinion I have of you.' The queen sat all the while, and the king stood, sometimes walking about a little. Her majesty speaks the English language with surprising elegance, and little or nothing of a foreign manner; so that if she were only of the rank of a private gentlewoman one could not help taking notice of her, as one of the most agreeable women in the world. Her face is much more pleasing than any of her pictures; and in the expression of her eyes, and in her smile, there is something peculiarly engaging." SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. It This great artist had a small villa on Richmond-hill, of which Sir William Chambers was the architect In the summer season it was the frequent cus tom of Sir Joshua to dine at this place with select parties of his friends." happened some little time before he was to be elected mayor of Plympton, that one day, after dining at the house, he and his party took an evening walk in Richmoud gardens, when very unexpectedly, at a turning of one of the avenues, they suddenly met the king, accompanied by a part of the royal family; and as his majesty saw him, it was impossible for him to withdraw without being noticed. The king called to him, and immediately entered into conversation, and told him that he had been informed of the office that he was soon 432 Sir J. Reynolds-Garrick-Georgium Sidus. to be invested with, that of being made the mayor of his native town of Plympton. Sir Joshua was astonished that so minute and inconsiderable a circumstance, which was of importance only to bimself, should have come so quickly to the knowledge of the king; he assured his majesty of its truth, saying that it was an honour which gave him more pleasure than any other he had ever received in his life, and then luckily recollecting himself, added, “ except that which your majesty was graciously pleased to bestow upon me;" alluding to his knighthood. GAERICK, In the summer of 1778, their majesties made an excursion through the encampments which were then formed on the western coast. This drew a number of visitors to Winchester, and among the rest the English Roscius, to whom a whimsical accident occurred at one of the reviews, and which Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was then at that place, afterwards recounted with great humour. At one of those field days in the vicinity, Garrick found it necessary to dismount, when his horse escaped from his hold and ran off; throwing himself immediately into his professional attitude, he cried out, as if on Bosworth field, "A horse! a borse! my kingdom for a horse!" This exclamation, and the accompanying attitude, excited great amazement amongst the surrounding spectators, who knew him not; but it could not escape his majesty's quick apprehension, for it being within his hearing, he immediately said, "Those must be the tones of Garrick! see if he is not on the ground." The theatrical and disImounted monarch was immediately brought to his majesty, who not only condoled with him most good humouredly on his misfortune, but flatteringly added," that his delivery of Shakspeare could never pass undiscovered." ASTRONOMY. In a letter from the late celebrated astronomer, M. de la Lande, to the editor of the Journal des Sçavans, written in 1788, is the following anecdote. "M. ile schel having discovered a new star on the 13th of March, 1781, and having after some time convinced himself that it was a planet, he gave it the name of the King of England, Georgium Sidus. Pat prince, indeed, well deserves the esteem of all astronomers, by the large sums he has expended for the promotion of the science of astronomy. This year, when being in Eng [Dec. 1, laud, I thanked him for the ardour he has shewn in so laudable a pursuit, he made use of this instructive, this me morable, answer; Is it not far better than spending money for the purpose of setting men to murder each other?" THE GEORGIAN PLANET. Though Dr. Herschel bad the best right to give a name to his own discovery, foreign as.ronomers were so ungenerous as to change the appellation, and M. Bode, of Berlin, presumed to call the new planet Uranus, in which we are sorry to observe, that he has been followed by some of our countrymen. La Lande, however, has very properly animadverted on this conduct, and considered it as an act of injustice both to the discoverer and his illustrious patron. "The giving the name of Uranus to the planet of M. Herschel," says this inge nious man, "is an act of ingratitude to the author of that noble discovery, and an affront to that august and munificent patron of astronomy, the king of Great Britain; whose name ought to be preferred to every other, if that of the author had not à still more forcible claim on our acknowledgments. Besides, the name Uranus is an impropriety, even ac cording to the mythological system. Sanchoniathon and Diodorus, it is true, say that Saturn was the son of Uranus; but this is now allowed to be purely allegorical. The gods were the children of heaven and earth; that is of the universe they were its first productions, and Uranus was never a real personage, as they must have the simplicity to sup pose who gave that name to the new planet." COOKERY, One day in July, 1779, his majesty, riding trom Windsor, was overtaken by a violent storm of rain, and being sepa rated from his company, he made towards a farm-house, or rather cage, belonging to a man named Stiles, neat Stoke. Here he alighted, and going into the house, found a girl turming a goose which was hanging before the fire by a string. The king desired the girl to put his horse into the shed, which she' consented to, at the same time request ing him to mind the goose. While sha was gone the farmer eutered, and great was is surprise to see the king, whom he knew, so employed. He, however, had presence of niind to relieve his ma jesty without appearing embarrassed, and on the return of his daughter he went to rub down the horse. His ma jesty, with his wonted good-nature, conversed on this mode of cookery, and the |