in this edition of Tacitus a text unquestionably far better than that in any one of the earlier editions, and indeed one which possesses almost every where the utmost purity. In a hundred places where Walther by a pedantic carefulness or a certain singularity of critical taste, sought to maintain some manifest corruption in the manuscripts, or himself first to propose groundless conjectures, Ritter, by an anxious use of the late collation of the Florentine Mss., has silently restored the true reading. As he intended the edition principally to satisfy the wants of schools of a lower, as well as of a higher rank, he has not accompanied the text with a commentary. In some passages, he has given an account of the grounds on which his decisions were made. The external appearance and the low price do honor to the publisher.

II. RECENT AMERICAN CLASSICAL AND BIBLICAL WORKS.

1.—A Grammar of the Latin Language, for the use of Schools and Colleges. By E. A. Andrews, and S. Stoddard. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1836.

We hope to be able, ere long, to present to our readers, a full and faithful criticism of the aids furnished by native talent, of which students in this country can avail themselves, for acquiring a mastery of the Latin language, and a thorough and discriminating acquaintance with Latin literature. In our opinion, there have been great deficiencies, which, perhaps, the scholar of mature experience and wide knowledge may not feel, but from which the younger students must suffer, and which the brief period of his course will not usually allow him to remedy. These we would be glad to state, whether they are deficiencies of materials or erroneous principles of interpretation and instruction; and indicate the means and sources of relief. We have however now barely room to express our high satisfaction with the new Latin Grammar before us. This work bears evident marks of great care and skill, and ripe and accurate scholarship in the authors. It is not a mere revised edition of a bad book long used, which sort of thing usually perpetuates about as many errors as it corrects, but a new and entirely independent production, and presents the fruits of severe discipline and long

experience on the subject, aided and enriched by the best thoughts of the acutest minds which have devoted themselves to this department of investigation. We have some acquaintance with the views of many classical instructors among us, and are persuaded that the necessity of a work like this has been long and deeply felt by the most intelligent and judicious of their number. The translation of Zumpt, published some years ago, it was hoped would do something to cure the evil. But its abstract and too systematic form have excluded it from initiatory instruction, and the generality and vagueness of its statements, (owing somewhat we believe to the inadequacy of the translation,) and the want of the necessary limitations and detail, while they make its authority questionable or at least to be received with caution, give the student but a part of the information he needs. This book has not therefore, and we think will not come into general use. The grammar in common use in New England, Gould's edition of Adam, is in many important particulars utterly deficient, and in many grossly inaccurate, and calculated by loose phraseology to mislead the learner; in its method often ill digested, and in the syntax especially entering little into principles, and entirely inadequate to lead the pupil to the true structure of the language. What pupil, for instance, could learn from Adam's grammar, the rules which regulate the formation and derivation of words and the power of different derivational endings? Who would be led by it to suspect that there were any peculiarities in the use of the subjunctive mood? Or that the connection of the tenses is determined by a uniform and significant law? Or what advance does he make to a knowledge of the spirit and principles of the language, who is informed merely that "the infinitive mood has an accusative before it?" We make these remarks not for the sake of depreciating that work, but because of our conviction that the cause of classical literature has suffered from such insufficient helps, and that the evil has been endured, only because no better scheme has till now been offered.

On some minor points, of arrangement, etc., we should hesitate to express an opinion, without the test of an experiment, but in the general clearness and propriety of its method, as well as in the minute and accurate filling up, the work before us deserves high commendation. The principles which constitute what may be called the grammatical theory of the language, are set forth with all needful perspicuity and fulness, while the

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specification of cases, exceptions, etc. are extensive enough to solve most of the difficulties, that will occur in a wide course of classical reading. It thus excels most grammars, in this particular, that while by its plainness it is suited to the necessities of most beginners, by its fulness and detail it will satisfy the inquiries of the advanced scholar, and will be a suitable companion at all stages of his progress. We are particularly pleased with one feature of the work, that the authors seem not to have bestowed all their attention on any single department of their labor. The successive portions are equally elaborated, no one is neglected. Every principle appears to have been examined by itself in all its important relations, and the result is such as might be expected.

We are glad to notice that much matter, the list of nouns subjoined to each declension for instance, which has encumbered other graminars to no profit, has been excluded from this. Among the improvements upon Adam, is the subject of orthoepy which is of considerable importance, and is more fully and accurately treated. The rules for the genitive and gender of nouns of the third declension are more distinct, and so arranged as to be more easily remembered; though we somewhat doubt the expediency of separating these two matters entirely. The whole subject of the derivation and composition of nouns, with the interpretation of the various forms of combination and termination is a most valuable addition. The same remark will apply with equal force to adjectives, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, etc. The pronouns are presented under a more distinct and well ordered classification. The theory of the formation of the tenses of verbs is new, and will be found, we think, to have material advantages over the one hitherto commonly used, as being less artificial and more easily applied. The confused system of verbs of the third conjugation, which has always deterred pupils from learning and teachers from inflicting it, has been reduced to order and clearness, by introducing a few simple rules for the changes of consonants in combination, and all the lists of verbs are so constructed as to show at a glance what forms and flexions of particular verbs are in use, and in what they are defective, a circumstance of the highest convenience and importance for acquiring a knowledge of the actual condition and structure of the language. The most noticeable changes are in the syntax. In this department changes

were most needed, for there has prevailed here an exceedingly ill regulated and chaotic system, made worse by indefinite language covering sometimes an absolute want of meaning. The arrangement of the syntax, as well as the materials, is in many respects novel, and will be found we think on trial decidedly preferable to the old one; for we have not seldom known pupils constrained by the tendency of their own minds to simplicity and principles, to form for themselves from the mass of rules presented to them, a scheme of arrangement analogous to the one adopted in this grammar. This scheme strikes us therefore as natural and convenient for ready recollection and easy and intelligent application. We give a specimen which may serve for the whole, in the course taken with the constructions of the genitive. These are all considered as so many limitations of whatever part of speech they are connected with, by the noun in that case, as appended to other words for the purpose of modifying their meaning. And this case is treated of in its relation to the various words it may thus limit, seriatim, so that all the cases of the genitive are brought under one leading principle, and presented at one view. We have first the genitive after nouns, in this proposition, "A noun which limits the meaning of another noun, denoting a different person or thing, is put in the genitive." Then we have the genitive after partitives. 66 Nouns, adjective pronouns, and adverbs, denoting a part, are followed by a genitive denoting the whole." Then in order, the genitive after adjectives, after verbs, the genitive of place, and after particles. In connection with these rules we have a full statement of the various relations indicated by this case, and under each rule, minute and abundant specifications of particular cases, idioms, exceptions, etc.

The subject of prosody, which has been much less attended to than it deserves, because, our grammars have been guilty of much erroneous and defective information concerning it, has been thoroughly revised; and these results of careful and exact inquiry will do much we doubt not towards reviving this neglected but highly interesting and useful branch of study.

We have said enough to show that we entertain a very favorable opinion of this work. We cordially commend it to the student and the teacher.

2-The Poems of Catullus, selected and prepared with Notes, for the

mus.

use of Schools and Colleges.

of a Classical School in Boston.
1836.

By F. M. Hubbard, Teacher

Boston: Perkins & Marvin,

Caius Valerius Catullus was born at Verona, in the consulship of Cinna and Octavius A. U. 667 according to HieronyHis father was a respectable citizen of that place, of sufficient respectability and consequence to receive occasional and probably frequent visits, as we are informed by Suetonius, from Julius Cæsar. The circumstances and events of the poet's life are not of particular interest except as illustrating his writings, from which indeed they are mainly to be gathered.

Early in life he removed to Rome, and plunged deeply into the profligacy and debaucheries of that then voluptuous city. Here he formed a connexion with the infamous Clodia, the sister of Clodius, whom he celebrated under the name of Lesbia; as he did later at Verona, with Hypsithilla and Aufilena. Among his friends at Rome were many men of genius and literary pursuits, in whom he found congenial tastes, and from whom he received approval and encouragement in his poetical career. In this number were Corn. Nepos, Licinius Calvus the orator, Manlius Torquatus a nobleman of high character, Asinius Pollio, and in some degree of intimacy Cicero, Varus the jurisconsult, and many others of less note. Yet while he enjoyed the society and cultivated the intimacy of such men as these, in his unrestrained and looser hours, or perhaps in his poverty he descended to familiarity with men whose highest recommendation was a coarse wit and an unscrupulous licentiousness. The excess of his dissipations so impaired his health, or his fortunes, that he was induced to accompany the Praetor Memmius to Bithynia, where he seems to have found little enjoyment, and whence he returned with something of chagrin and disappointment. He probably inherited a respectable estate from his father, as we find him (Carm. XXXI. we quote from a complete edition) in possession of a beautiful villa on the lake di Garda; but his intimacy with Aurelius and Furius, (Carm. XI. XXI. XXIII.) as well as his own confession (X. XII.) will not permit us to doubt that at some period of his life he was embarrassed and poor.

Of the personal character of Catullus, except the voluptuous