GEDDES, ALEXANDER, was born in the parish of Ruthven, Banffshire, Scotland, 1737. He was first educated in a private family at Aberdeen, and next at the Roman Catholic seminary of Scalan. At the Scotch College at Paris he studied six years (1758-1764) ; and returning to his native land be came a priest at Dundee, and afterwards in Banffshire. Being suspended by Bishop Hey for liberality, he left Scotland in disgust, and went to London, 1779. The University of Aberdeen, to its honour, con ferred on him the title of LL.D. In London he found a generous and kind patron in Lord Petre. He died the 26th February 1802, aged sixty-five.
Geddes published a translation of the O. T. in two volumes 4to, 1792, 1797, containing the books from Genesis to Ruth. In 1800 appeared the first volume of Critical Remarks on the Hebrew Scrip tures. Death prevented him from finishing what he had begun. His version of the Psalms, printed as far as Psalm cxviii. at his death, was not pub lished till 18°7.
The Bible, as edited by Geddes, contains a new translation, with a corrected text of the original, various readings, explanatory notes, and critical observations. The work itself was preceded by a Prospectus, 151 pages 4to, 1786 ; by a supplement to the prospectus in the form of a letter to the Lord Bishop of London, 87 pages, 4to, 1787 ; by a general answer to the queries, counsels, etc., which had been offered to him, etc., 179o. An address
to the public, 25 pages 4to, was issued in 1793, in consequence of the severe remarks made upon his work. and himself. In 1794 he published a reply to the pastoral letter of the vicars apostolic who had condemned his translation, in the forrn of a letter to Bishop Douglas, 55 pages 4to. It is necessary to read these pamphlets in order to form ajust estimate of the man, and the way in which he was treated.
The work by which he is known shews great learning, taste, and ingenuity. Besides being an excellent Greek and Latin scholar, as numerous publications attest, Geddes was familiar with the Italian, French, German, and Spanish languages. He was well versed in Hebrew, knew the princi ples of Biblical criticism, and was able to apply them. His character was that of a warm-hearted, independent, honest man, who followed truth, as far as he thought he saw it, with a fearless mind. It is matter of regret that he should have in dulged here and there in remarks which betray a levity and scepticism calculated to wound the feel ings of others. His own church persecuted him as a heretic. Protcstants looked upon him in the same light and stood aloof ; or they attacked a man far their superior in attainments. His life was written by Mason Good, 1803, 8vo.—S. D.