[Two editions of this work have been published: the first appeared
in 1751, and the other in 1829; both in 4to. The title-page of the
latter edition informs us that it was "translated into English
from the Hebrew, by Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus of Britain, Abbot of
Canterbury, who went a pilgrimage into the Holy Land and Persia,
where he discovered this volume, in the city of Gazna." But it
appears that this Alcuin of Britain was no other than Jacob Ilive;
and, according to Rowe Mores, the whole of it is a palpable
forgery. He states, that "the account given of the translation is
full of glaring absurdities. Mr. Ilive, in the night-time, had
constantly an Hebrew Bible before him, and cases in his closet. He
produced the _Book of Jasher_; and it was composed in private, and
the same worked off in the night-time in a private
press-room."--Rowe Mores' _Diss. on Founders_, p. 64. See also
Nichols' _Literary Anecdotes_, vol. i. p. 309.]
Minor Queries.
_Old China._--It was gratifying to see some inquiries respecting Dutch
china, which it is to be hoped will lead to a further pursuit of such
subjects. Some connoisseur would confer a benefit upon the community if
he would be kind enough to give a concise description of the various
styles and to point out the distinguishing marks of old china generally,
by which its beauties might be appreciated and its value estimated:
there is great difficulty in acquiring such information.