H. C. K.
—— Rectory, Hereford.
Book of Jasher (Vol. v., p. 415.).
—You might have added to your list of editions of this work, one printed at New York in 1840, a number of copies of which have been recently sent to this country. The title is The Book of Jasher, referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel, faithfully translated from the Original Hebrew, 8vo. pp. 267. It was published with the recommendations of many learned men in America, one of which by Prof. Noah, who appears to be the translator, I think worth extracting as giving some idea of the character of the book:—
"Without giving it to the world as a work of divine inspiration, or assuming the responsibility to say that it is not an inspired book, I have no hesitation in pronouncing it a work of great antiquity and interest, and a work that is entitled, even regarding it as a literary curiosity, to a great circulation among those who take pleasure in studying the Scriptures."
WM. BROWN, Jun., Bibliop.
Old Street.
I have read this book formerly. It is the jeu d'esprit of an unbeliever. The drift of it is, to present a cotemporary naturalist account of the Mosaic and Josuetic histories, in opposition to the supernatural histories in the Bible. But I remember seeing announced among the intended publications of the Oriental Translation Fund, the "Book of Jasher." That proves a work, so entitled, to exist in some oriental language. What has become of that manuscript; and why was the translation of it never printed, as promised? I have long wished to learn.
A. N.