THE most valuable of all books is the Bible. It is to be regretted, however, that this book, during nearly a thousand years previous to the Reformation, was a sealed record to the great bulk of people, both on the Continent and in this country. Towards the close of the middle, or dark ages, an increased interest was manifested in Biblical literature. The earliest translation of the Bible into English extant was, it is believed, executed about the close of the thirteenth century, but the translator's name is lost. In about a century afterwards, John de Trevisa executed a translation of the Old and New Testaments into the English tongue. It has been questioned, however, whether the work of Trevisa was a complete version, or only a translation of a few texts, scattered over the author's works, which are still extant in a manuscript state. Wicliff was the contemporary of Trevisa, and is celebrated as having finished a translation from the Vulgate into English about the year 1378. But this translation was so costly, that none but the rich could purchase it. It has

been estimated that the price at which it sold, would be equal to 40%. sterling, at the present day. A bill was soon brought into the House of Lords to suppress Wicliff's work, on which occasion the duke of Lancaster-a statesman in advance of his age, said—“ We will not be the dregs of all; seeing other nations have the law of God, which is the law of our faith, written in their own language." And he added with great solemnity, that "he would maintain our having this law in our own tongue against those who brought in the bill, no matter who they were. The duke succeeded in opposing the bill, and this success led to Wicliff's publishing another and more correct translation of the Bible. This translation, however, was the signal for a bitter and general persecution of such as read the Word of God. The next translation appeared in 1526, and was made by the celebrated John Tyndale. Wicliff's version had been rendered from the Latin, but Tyndale's was from the Greek, and it was the first translation of the New Testament out of the Greek into the mother tongue. Tyndale accomplished his work at Antwerp, from whence the translation was sent by some four or five merchants, hidden among bales of goods, to the shores of this country. But when it was known that many copies had found their way hither, the reading of them was denounced by the ecclesiastics of the day, and Tonstall, bishop of London, purchased all the copies that he could collect from all quarters, and committed them to the flames at St. Paul's Cross. While this was going on in England, new impressions were being sent forth from the printing-presses in Holland, so that in four years no fewer than four editions were published. The bishop of London's method of disposing of Tyndale's version met with approval in high quarters. Sir Thomas More was among those who approved his policy, until one day, in his Court, he questioned a heretic as to what persons in London enabled Tyndale to subsist abroad, and send forth his copies of the Scriptures? And was no little surprised to receive for answer, that "It was the bishop of London who maintained him, by sending a sum of money to buy up the edition of his Testament." It is

recorded that Sir T. More used to punish all parties concerned in circulating the Scriptures, by obliging them to ride with their heads towards the tails of their horses, and the New Testament, and other books which they had dispersed, hung about their cloaks; and at the Standard in Cheapside, to throw them into a fire prepared for that

purpose.

Sir

But the power of the law was not sufficient. Thomas, with the licence of the bishop of London, prepared a dialogue, in which he represented Tyndale as mistranslating three words of very great moment, viz., priests, church, and charity, which the worthy translator had rendered, "seniors, congregation, and love." Tyndale shrunk not from replying to the Lord Chancellor, but his efforts in the great cause of Bible circulation were ill requited by the political authorities of these times. After more than a year and a half's imprisonment, he was strangled, and his body committed to the flames. His last prayer was in behalf of the blind ruler who then wielded the royal sceptre of this country. "Lord, open the king of England's eyes!"

During the next seventy years a variety of translations were undertaken, with more or less success. But the great effort which resulted in the production of the Authorised Version, was made in the reign of James I. This translation was prescribed by royal mandate. James appointed fiftyfour learned men to perform the work, but before it was began, seven of the persons named were either dead or had declined the task. The list given by Fuller consists only of forty-seven names. Ten of the number translated from the beginning of the Scriptures to the end of the second book of Kings. The next eight finished the other historical books, and the Hagiographa. Seven more were to translate the four greater prophets, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and the minor prophets, twelve in number. Another party of eight had assigned them the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Apocalypse. To seven more the king assigned the translation of the Apostolic Epistles. And finally, to the remaining seven, the

Apocryphal books, including the Prayer of Manasseh. Each party scrutinized the work of all the rest; and to this, in a great measure, is owing the extraordinary accuracy of the authorized version of the Sacred Scriptures. The work was commenced in 1607; the translators were three years in completing it. This translation was published in the year 1611: and all parties admit it to be a work of great merit. Seldom has any individual appeared who was more capable of appreciating such a work than the learned Selden. Now this distinguished man says, "The English translation of the Bible is the best translation in the world, and renders the sense of the original best, taking in for the English translation the Bishops' Bible as well as King James's. The Bible is rather translated into English words than into English phrase. The Hebraisms are kept, and the phrase of that language is kept."

LETTERS TO THE YOUN G.-No. 18.

THE POETRY OF COWPER.

My dear young Friends---Allow me once more, very sincerely, to wish you a happy New-Year." It is a long time since my last letter appeared in this Magazine. Some of you may have inquired, as a person did some months ago, in writing to me, if Uncle Joseph is dead. Others, who have not entirely forgotten him, may say, as a friend did in a letter that I saw yesterday, "I am looking every month for Uncle Joseph's long-promised letter on The Poetry of Cowper." It is many months since I wrote a letter on the subject for you, but various causes have operated to prevent me from copying and sending it to the Editor. Perhaps, however, the remark holds true in this, as well as other matters, "Better late than never."

You will, I dare say, remember that several of my former letters were on the Poetry of Milton. I have reason to know that those letters were read with interest by many of the subscribers to the "Juvenile Companion,"