expressed in English, by any of the foregoing methods. The reason is, that a very great proportion of the various readings do not affect the sense, and cannot possibly affect the English translation; as will be seen abundantly in the prosecution of my plan. In such cases I must be indulged with the privilege of describing each particular varia 1 tion. Many of the various readings will appear trivial; and some persons will be of opinion that they need not have been mentioned; but it is my intention to give, so far as I proceed, a just account to the English reader of every alter ation of our common text proposed by Griesbach, whether it be great or small. Perhaps it ought to be stated, that although Griesbach is sometimes quite confident enough in his decisions, he generally exhibits a very becoming modesty. His Conspectus, or Abstract of critical observations, which is inserted in this manual edition, is calculated to impress the reader's mind very favorably with respect to the author. Nor is the following declaration in his short preface, or advertisement, of a different character. "Wherever," says he, "I have made any alteration in the common text, which is that of the Elzevir edition first published in 1624, I have noted the common reading in the lower margin, so that every person may have the liberty of using it, according to his own judgment and inclination; for I am not so vain as to be desirous of obtruding my opinion upon any man." p.viii. Griesbach appears, also, to differ, so far as I can judge, from many biblical critics of the pres ent day, in this most important particular; viz. that he does not permit himself to be actuated by a blind devotion to a party. Many of his rules of judging are designed to guard against the danger of altering the Scriptures to support a system. In this respect, his practice and the prac tice of the editors of the Improved Version, as it is called, exhibit a perfect contrast with each other. Their work is as evidently and as entirely a party publication, as any newspaper in this country, or in Great Britain; and, therefore, it will never gain extensive or durable credit. By persons of liberal education it would be preferred, that the various readings should be quoted in Greek; but as my wish is to present them to the plain English reader, nothing but English will be used. The Greek student can easily turn to his Greek Testament, which every such student, especially every minister of the Gospel, ought to keep at his elbow. Should I continue this course in future numbers, it will be necessary that the reader should keep in view the marks above described, and the numerical division of Griesbach's various readings. After these preliminary remarks, I take the first chapter in the New Testament. MATTHEW I. Various Readings. Verse 1. Griesbach spells the word David differently from the Elzevir edition, though in exact conformity to our English ver sion. This alteration is of the 10th class, that is, an alteration with respect to which the text can be defended by some arguments of the more specious sort. V 6. The word Solomon is differently declined from what it is in the text. This alteration is of the 1st class; but it cannot affect even the spelling of the wise man's name in English. V. 18. For 1. s. birth read generation. In the same verse 1. p. Jesus. V. 2. The Greek article, which precedes the word rendered Lord, is marked as a less probable omission, that is, as a correction of the 4th class. If omitted, however, neither the sense, nor our English translation, could be affected by the ⚫mission. Doctrines. We are taught, in this chapter, that Joseph, the reputed father of our Savior, was a lineal descendant of Abraham and David, and that our Savior himself, apparently, and legally, sustained this relation, in consequence of his supposed descent from Joseph; v. 1—16; that he was miraculously conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Ghost, and thus became truly man; 18-20; that he was called Jesus because he was to save his people from their sins; v. 21; that this was done in fulfilment of a divine prediction, that a virgin should conceive and bear a son whose name should be GoD WITH US; v. 23, 24; and that these wonderful events were revealed, by a messenger of God, to Joseph in a dream, who gave heed to V. the Divine monition, and acted accordingly; v. 20-25. These things we are taught directly. It is, moreover, implied in v. 21, that mankind are in a state of sin and ruin, and are unable to save themselves; that Christ is able to save them by his own power; and that those who are saved are his property; of course, that he is the independent Lord of the universe; and in v. 23, that his name was intended to describe him, as God dwelling among men. Miscellaneous Remarks. It will not be pretended, that any doctrine is affected by the alterations proposed by Griesbach in this chapter. The word which I have translated generaation in the 18th verse, might be translated birth, though it is the same word which is translated generation in the 1st verse. This, and the word of the text which is translated birth, sprung from the same root, and are written much alike, which is probably the reason of the variation. It is worthy of observation, that the word rendered Lord, in v. 20, 22, and 24, undoubtedly means the true God, the Lord of the universe. It is the same word which is used throughout the Septuagint for Jehovah, and which is applied throughout the New Testament to Christ. It is applied, also, to men, in several instances; but it does not, on this account, become ambiguous, It may in this respect be considered as in a good degree parallel with the word Lord in English, which is daily applied to the Supreme Being, and to different descriptions of men, particularly to members of the upper house of Parliament: yet no man is at a loss to know when God is addressed, and when a fellow creature is intended. So, in my opinion, a careful examination of the passages in which the word translated Lord is applied to Christ in the Scriptures, will evince that he is addressed by this appellation as the sovereign Disposer of all beings and events. PHILALETHES. MISCELLANEOUS. DUELLING. Letter to the Editor of the Panoplist. DEAR SIR, In compliance with your request, I send you a copy of our law against duelling, with great pleasure. I have not made an abstract of it because I think you will find it worthy of being inserted at full length in your useful and interesting miscellany. If you find it too long, however, you can easily abridge it to suit your purpose. The first section, you will observe, is but a repetition of the Common Law upon the subject, with one or two alterations; and you will note with pleasure, that it still annexes the just old punishment of death to the offence. The chief novelty, and power too, of the Act, are found in the second section, which declares all persons giving or accepting a challenge incapable of holding or being elected to any post of profit, trust, or emolument, civil or military, under the government of this Commonwealth. The third section,which requires all persons about to qualify to any office or place, to take a public oath that they neither have been since the passing of the Act, nor will be at any time thereafter, engaged in a duel, seems well calculated to aid the second. The remaining sections contain several useful provisions either to prevent the crime, or to bring it to punishment when committed. But will this law be able to produce the intended effect of abolishing the practice of duelling? I may perhaps be a little too sanguine, but I really cannot help flattering myself that it will. At least I am quite sure, that the law will now operate as strongly against this, as against any other kind of murder, and this is a great point gained for humanity. The principle of the second section is certainly very happily chosen to secure this object. It appeals directly to all our ambitious candidates for office, who form no inconsiderable portion of the community with us, and who are precisely the very persons whose example would be most likely to give the charm of fashion to the crime. But besides these, the words of the law "post of profit, trust, or emolument" are very comprehensive, and address themselves to many persons of humbler second rate ambition. All these persons again, by their conversation, example, and influ. ence, must produce no trifling effect upon others. Add to this, the solemn charges delivered from the Bench; and in many instances with great force and eloquence, can hardly fail to make some impression upon the people at large. Indeed so great is the influence of laws upon our moral sentiments, that I shall not despair of seeing a total revolution in our views and feelings upon the subject of this crime. I observe with great pleasure, that our judges and attornies for the Commonwealth, (as far as I can see or hear,) enter with very laudable spirit into the discharge of the new duties imposed upon them by this law; and I cannot doubt, that the executive would be equally ready to discharge his, if an occasion should unhappily occur. I may mention too, that I have heard of but two duels in this state since the passage of this act two years ago. One of these was between an officer of the navy and the mate of a ship; and the other between persons who were not inhabitants of the state. Compare this fact with the former frequency of duels, and you will see some reason to hope with me, that the time is coming, when this crime, so long the disgrace and scourge of our state, will be as rare as it is execrable. I will only add, that our neighbor North Carolina has passed a similar law, and, as I learn, with the same effect. God grant that the good example we have set may be remembered to the praise of old Virginia, and be followed by every state in the union, where the crime prevails! Yours, &c. P. B. -Virginia, Dec. 24, 1812. AN ACT TO SUPPRESS DUEL LING. Passed January 26, 1810. WHEREAS experience has evinced, that the existing remedy for the suppression of the barbarous custom of duelling is inadequate to the purpose, and the progress and consequences of the evil have become so destructive as to require an effort on the part of the legislature to arrest a vice the result of ignorance and barbarism, justified neither by the precepts of morality nor by the dictates of reason for remedy whereof: Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That any person who shall hereafter wilfully and maliciously, or by previous agreement fight a duel or single combat with any engine, instrument or weapon, the probable consequence of which might be the death of either party, and in so doing shall kill his antagonist, or any other person or persons, or inflict such wound as that the person injured shall dic thereof within three months thereafter, such offender, his aiders, abettors, and counsellors, being thereof duly convicted, shall be guilty of Murder, and suffer death by being hanged by the neck; any law, custom or usage of this commonwealth to the contrary notwithstanding. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any person whosoever shall challenge another to fight a duel with any weapon or in any manner, whatsoover, the proba ble issue of which may or might result in the death of the challenger or challenged, or if any person shall accept a challenge or fight a duel with any weapon, or in any way whatsoever, the probable issue of which may or might terminate in the death of the challenger or challenged, such person shall be incapable of holding or being elected to, any post of profit, trust, or emolument, civil, or military, under the government of this commonwealth. or 3. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, every person who shall be appointed to any office or place, civil or military, under this commonwealth, shall, in addition to the Oath now prescribed by law, take the following Oath: I do solemnly swear affirm (as the case may be) that I have not been engaged in a duel by sending or accepting a challenge to fight a duel, or by fighting a duel, or in any other manner in violation of the Act entitled, "An act to suppress duelling," since the passage of that act, nor will I be so concerned, directly or indirectly, in such duel during my continuance in office: So help me God. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Judges of the circuit courts, and the county courts, at their quarterly sessions, to give in charge expressly to the jury all the laws in force to suppress duelling; also to charge the jury to present all persons concerned in carrying, sending or accepting a challenge; and if any person shall be presented in such courts, the said courts shall, if they have jurisdiction of said offences, proceed to trial of the same in the ordinary way; and if not, that the presentment shall be either certified by the order of the Court, to such court as has ju risdiction, or shall be considered in law a sufficient authority, for a Magistrate to issue his wartant against the accused where an examining court is necessary. 5. And be it further enacted, That when any Judge or Magistrate of this Commonwealth has good cause to suspect any per son or persons are about to be engaged in a duel, he may issue his warrant to bring the parties before him; and if he shall think proper to take of them a recognizance to keep the peace, he shall insert in the condition, that the party or parties shall not during the time for which they were bound, directly or indirectly, be concerned in a duel, either with the person suspected, or any other person, within the time limited by the recognizance. 6. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall, for the purpose of eluding the operation of the provisions of this law, leave the state; the person or persons so offending shall be deemed as guilty, and be subject to the like penalties as if the offence had been committed within this commonwealth. If any person shall leave this state with the intention of giving or receiving a challenge to fight a duel, or of aiding or abetting in giving or receiving such challenge, and a duel shall actually be fought, whereby the death of any person shall happen, and the person so leaving the state shall remain thercout so as to prevent his apprehension for the purpose of a trial; or if any person shall fight a duel in this state, or aid, orabet therein, whereby any person shall be killed, and then flee into another state to avoid his |