The following are some of these manuscripts:—
The Old Testament in five volumes, which do not contain the Psalms, but have a copy of Ludolph’s Æthiopic Psalter.
This was transcribed for Mr. Bruce at Gondar, by scribes of the country, upon vellum. The character is clear and beautiful, and there are marginal variations. Many of the books begin and end with a prayer, and as there was never before in Europe a perfect copy of the Æthiopic Scriptures, means should be taken to supply the Christian Church in Africa with a complete copy of the Bible.
The fourth volume contains the book of Enoch. There is moreover the New Testament in Æthiopic, in two volumes, also upon vellum.
The first volume contains a preliminary discourse upon the Gospels, and a Masoretic analysis of the verses and paragraphs.
The Apostolic writings are also found in two volumes, upon vellum. These four volumes, in all probability, compose the only perfect copy of the New Testament in Europe, written in the language of Abyssinia.
Another volume contains the constitutions of the Apostles. Another has the title of Synaxar, and is an history of the Saints venerated in Abyssinia.
The Arabic manuscripts are numerous and valuable.
The travels published by Bruce were greatly in favour with the Sexagenarian, who has left various annotations upon different passages, which they contain. Though very partial, on the whole, to this most extraordinary man, he was by no means blind to his errors, or insensible of his inaccuracies. His confidence in him was very materially diminished latterly, from having discovered, that Bruce, in all probability, never was at the battle of Sebraxos, which he nevertheless describes with circumstantial minuteness, and of which he has introduced plans, drawn up with the precision of one well versed in military tactics. There was also something remarkably mysterious and suspicious, as our friend seemed to think, in the circumstance and character of Luigi Balugani, who accompanied Bruce as a draughtsman. He owed more to his talents than he was willing to acknowledge, and the story of his death is glossed over in a very unsatisfactory manner.