THE

JOURNAL

OF

SACRED LITERATURE

AND

BIBLICAL RECORD.

No. XXVII.-OCTOBER, 1861.

INTRODUCTORY ARTICLE.

On the Domain and Principles of this Journal.

OUR readers will observe that a change has taken place in the Editorship of this Journal, and as it might be supposed this involved a change in the principles upon which it was started, and has hitherto been conducted, it seems desirable to lay before them the following statement. In that statement we embody some account of the origin of this serial, an exposition of its principles and our own, and an outline of the plan which it is intended to carry out. This seems due both to our constituents

and to ourselves.

The first number of this Journal appeared in January, 1848, under the editorship of its honoured founder, the late Dr. JoHN KITTO. The design was one which he had long cherished, but untoward events retarded its execution. In this case, however, as in many others, the delay was probably conducive to the maturity of the plan, which, when it was propounded, exhibited all the peculiar features of Dr. Kitto's mind. He had clearly perceived the want of some such organ in this country as a worthy representative of the state and movements of Biblical science and Christian literature generally. He saw that the demand for such a publication must be limited, and that it could not, or would not, be adequately sustained by any existing

VOL. XIV.-NO. XXVII.

B

religious denomination. He was convinced that its basis, if orthodox, must be unsectarian, and if well defined, must be broad and liberal. He had a decided feeling that British scholarship did not take the position which it might and ought to occupy in the republic of letters. He believed that such a journal would in many ways subserve the cause of truth and sacred learning, and especially become an aid and a stimulus to many who were studiously inclined. He expected the co-operation of men of all parties who could agree to unite on common ground for common objects. And it may suffice to shew, what he regarded as common ground, to enumerate the heads of his plan:

1. Original Essays on Biblical History, Geography, Natural History, Antiquities, &c.

2. Biography, including men of all ages, countries, and opinions, who have rendered services in any branch of Biblical literature.

3. Biblical Bibliography, comprehending-

a. Reviews of New Books, English, American, and continental.

b. Reviews of Valuable Works little known, whether English or foreign.

c. Accounts of Unpublished Manuscripts bearing on Biblical literature. d. Critical Notices of Works on special branches of Biblical enquiry. e. Quarterly Lists of British and Foreign Works in sacred literature, and general annual classified lists, with characteristic notes. 4. Expositions of Passages of Scripture.

5. Philological Essays.

6. Ecclesiastical History.

7. Translations and Reprints.

8. Oriental Literature.

9. Correspondence, including

a. Letters on Biblical subjects.
b. Questions and replies.

10. Biblical Intelligence, &c., &c.

It is evident that Dr. Kitto thought his scheme would be generally approved, and no one can for a moment doubt its comprehensiveness. But it is equally evident that a journal of such a character, dependent upon voluntary contributors, would encounter many difficulties. However, relying upon the excellence of his project and the soundness of his principles, he went to work; and it is a fact worth noticing, that notwithstanding his known "evangelical" preferences, one of the contributors to the first number was the late Baden Powell. admission of that article (Free Inquiry in Theology the Basis of Truth and Liberality), shews that the editor was quite willing to allow considerable latitude to individual writers. It is quite certain that he was no enemy to free discussion in a right

The