GEDDES, ALEXANDER, LL.D., a biblical critic, translator, and miscellaneous writer, was b. at Arradowl, in the parish of Rutliven, Banffshire, in 1737.* His parents were Roman Catholics, and young Geddes was educated for a priest, first at &Alan, a monas tic seminary in the Highlands, and subsequently at the Scots college, Paris, where he acquired a knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Low Dutch.• In 1764, he returned to Scotland, and, having taken orders, he was appointed officiating priest to the Roman Catholics of Angus, but after a short time went to reside with the earl of Traquair. In 1769, he undertook the charge of a Roman Catholic congregation at Auchinhalrig, in Banffshire, where he remained for ten years, making himself during that period honorably conspicuous by his charities and extraor dinary liberality of sentiment. He was at length deposed from all his ecclesiastical functions, on account of his occasional attendance at the parish church of Cullen, between the minister of which and himself there existed an intimate acquaintance. Geddes now resolved to betake himself to literature, and proceeded to London in 1780. He had long planned a translation of the Bible into English for the use of Roman Catho lics, and he was now, through the Munificence of lord Petre, enabled to devote him self to the work. After various preliminary publications intended to pave the way for an impartial or favorable consideration of his magnum opus, there appeared in 1792 The First Volume of the Holy Bible, or the Books accounted Sacred by Jews and Christians, other wise called the Books of the Old and New Covenants, faithfully translated from Corrected Texts of the Originals, with Various Readings, Erplanatory Notes, and Critical Remarks. In 1793, the second volume was published, carrying the translation as far as the end of the historical books; and in 1800, a third volume was issued, containing his Critical Remarks on the _Hebrew Scriptures. The opinions enunciated in these volumes, especially
in the last, are startlingly heretical, more especially when the training of their author is considered, and were calculated, at the time of their appearance, to offend both Catho lics and Protestants. They exhibit as thoroughgoing rationalism as is to be found in Eichhorn or Paulus. Moses is said to be inspired in the same sense as other good men; and in regard to his purpose, it is affirmed that "lie only did what all other ancient legislators had done—required a greater or less degree of implicit obedience to their respective laws, and for that purpose feigned.an intercourse with the Deity, to make that obedience more palatable to the credulous multitude." Miracles are explained away; and the account of the creation in Genesis is described as "a most beautiful mythos or philosophical fi4tion, contrived with great wisdom, and dressed up in the garb of real history." These opinions neurally enough exposed him to the charge of infidelity, and his criticisms were described as "less scurrilous, perhaps, but not less impious than those of Thomas Paine." All sorts of ecclesiastics united in their con demnation, and the undoubted effect of their hostility was to crush whatever hopes of literary fame Geddes may have entertained. He died at London, Feb. 26, 1802. It is now generally admitted, even by those who have no sympathy with his views, that Geddes translation is in the main excellent, and that his remarks are often valuable. His labors have unquestionably advanced the science of biblical criticism. Among his other productions may be mentioned a poem on the Confessional; the Battle pf or the Church's Triumph, a poem in nine cantos; and Bardomachia, or the Battle of the Bards. See Life of Geddes by Good (180A),