e most learned
divines of the day; one of whom was master of Latin, Greek, Hebrew,
Chaldee, Syriac and fifteen modern languages.

Among other rare and highly-coveted editions of the Bible is one
printed in England in the seventeenth century, in which the important
word _not_ was omitted in the seventh commandment, from which
circumstance it has ever since been known as "The Adulterer's Bible."
Another edition, known as the Pearl Bible, appeared about the same
time, filled with errata, a single specimen of which will suffice:
"Know ye not the ungodly _shall inherit_ the kingdom of God?" Bibles
were once printed which affirmed that "all Scripture was profitable
for _de_struction;" while still another edition of the sacred volume
is known as the "Vinegar Bible," from the erratum in the title to the
twentieth chapter of St. Luke, in which "Parable of the Vineyard" is
printed "Parable of the Vinegar."

J.G.W.

LITERATURE OF THE DAY.

Life and Labours of Mr. Brassey, 1805-1870. By Sir Arthur Helps,
K.C.B. Boston: Roberts Brothers.

The "captains of industry," who constitute in our day so distinct and
notable a class of worthies, are doubtless as well entitled to have
their achievements recorded and their fame sounded throughout the
lands as were the doughty men of war who of old were deemed the only
fitting heroes of chronicle and epic. Few of them, however, can
hope to have their deeds commemorated by a "veray parfit, gentle
knight"--of the quill, not of the sword, albeit the letters which
he writes after his name would once have indicated the possession of
military rank and distinction. Sir Arthur Helps is not a man of few
words or of a very stern or passionate temperament. It is the graces
of chivalry, not its fiery ardor, that he cultivates and reflects,
and though "arms and the man" have often been his theme, the soft and
delicate strain was ever more suggestive of the pastoral pipe than
of the bardic lyre. Essayist, historian, biographer, novelist, he is
always intent to smooth away the asperities of his subject, and, like
some stately grandame enthroned in high-backed chair, he remembers
that his simple auditors are to be not merely entertained by the
matter of his discourse, but impressed by the suave tones and
high-bred prolixity of the speaker. With a dignified courtesy unknown
in these latter times--when biographers and historians do not scruple
to take liberties with their heroes to the extent even