SIR,

LETTER CXXIX.

Dr. CLARKE to Dr. CHARLETT.

Magdalen New Building.-Dr. Radcliffe.

London, 5 March, 1719.

I PERUSED and forwarded the two letters which came in your's of last Wednesday: the Bishop of Winchester has not yet sent me a copy of the good Bishop of Bristol's, and therefore I could neither add to, nor diminish what you enclosed to your friends. I cannot but be glad to hear that his Grace of Canterbury has sent his injunctions to our College, tho' I cannot say that I wish them exactly as they are: however, in the great points they are undoubtedly right; and if the authority of the College is supported in the execution of them, will tend to the restoring of some sort of discipline, and put an end to many unwarrantable evils. I hear of Magdalen College's talking of a New Building* by the river side, with great pleasure, because they seem to want it; I wish before they begin, that they would settle a scheme for a whole College, that they may not begin something new,

* The building, however, was not begun till 1733, fourteen years after the date of the above letter.

which may happen to stand in the way of some noble design, and be pulled down again upon better consideration.

The V. Chancellor sends me word that he intends to set out for Oxford on Tuesday. I can have the satisfaction to assure him, that the report about Brazenose ground, and all things relating to Dr. Radcliffe's benefaction, except the Linton estate, is finished, and will be forthwith given into court: what relates to that estate will be in a report by itself, when your College and the Trustees are agreed. Mr. Singleton told me this day that the Master in Chancery seems to be of opinion, that the Court of Chancery will order the buying of an advowson for the Mastership of your College, upon the deposition that Mr. Bishop has made, of Dr. Radcliffe's intentions. My humble service to our friends. I am,

Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

GEO. CLARKE.

LETTER CXXX.

Mr. BEDFORD to Dr. CHARLETT.

On the Foundation of a Syriac Professorship.

REVEREND SIR,

Newton St. Loe, Dec. 11, 1719.

I INTENDED to have given you some account of the nature and usefulness of the Chaldee and Syriack Languages; but since all that I can say, and more than can be comprehended in a letter, is contained in Mr. Ockley's Introduction to the Oriental Languages, in the Appendix to the Polyglott Bible, and in the Appendix to Bishop Beveridge's Syriack Grammar, I must desire to be excused and refer you thither.

I cannot but highly approve of the design of founding a Professorship in Oxford for the Syriack language; and have reason to hope, what I heartily wish, that the pious and charitable Benefactor, who promotes the study of that language, which our Blessed Saviour spoke, when he was on earth, will hear him say, "Come, ye blessed," at his return from Heaven.

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The manner how such a design may be made most useful can be better concerted among those who are skilled in those studies, in so famous an University as Oxford is. But since you were pleased to desire an account thereof from me, I

shall with submission to their judgment, give you my thoughts thereof.

I believe that it would be better to settle a Professor of the Chaldee and Syriack languages, than of the Syriack alone.

For first; the Chaldee and Syriack differ very little more than the Ionick and Dorick Dialects among the Greeks; may easily be carried on by the same Professor; and he who is master of the one, may also in a month's time be master of the other.

Secondly, There being but very few books extant in the Syriack language, except the Version of the Bible, I cannot suppose, that there would be employment enough for a Professor in that single study.

Thirdly, I find a Canon in the Council of Vienna under Pope Clement the Fifth, which requires, that there should be Professors of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabick in the University of Oxford, and should this be settled in such a manner, it answers exactly to the design of that Council, and if the Syriack language is added to it, then the four most useful of the Oriental languages will be promoted by Professors for that purpose.

Fourthly, The Chaldee is absolutely necessary, not only for the understanding of the Paraphrase on the Bible, but also of the Jewish Commentators, the Masorites and the Talmud; so that without it, a student cannot make a much greater

proficiency in the Jewish learning, than what is contained in the Hebrew Bible.

Fifthly, A Chaldee Lecture will in my opinion, encourage the Oriental Studies [more] than the Syriack alone. The natural method is to begin first with the Hebrew Bible. Now the Bible cannot be read without some understanding of the Chaldee; because a great part of Daniel and Ezra, and a verse in Jeremiah is written in that language. This done, a student will be capable of profiting by such a lecture. The affinity of these two languages will be an encouragement to proceed to the third. And every one who reads the Chaldee in the Hebrew Bible, will be in hopes of such a Professorship, which may be a greater encouragement to future industry.

Lastly, The encouragement of the Chaldee language may be the best means for the conversion of the Jews. The Jews are all skilled in the Hebrew and Chaldee, but they know nothing of the Syriack: and the best arguments against them may be taken from the Chaldee Paraphrase, for which they have a great esteem. Thus may our Divines be trained up to confute them from their own authors, and baffle them with their own weapons. We think it plain from Scripture, that a time will come, when the Jews shall be all converted to the Christian Faith; and I hope the time is near. Now the same God, who ordains the end, directs also the means, and proba