HALES, NVm., A.M., and afterwards D.D., of Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was also sometime Fellow, as well as Professor of Oriental Languages in the University, was born about the middle of the last century, and died A.D. 1331, at his Rectory of Killesandra, in the county of Cavan, and diocese of Kilmore, Ireland. He was an ac complished scholar of very various learning. His earlier publications related almost entirely to ma thematical science and were written in Latin ; among them occur, 'Sol/arum doctrina ex New ton? script's,' and 'De motibzes planetarzem secunclum /Myriam Newtonianam Dissertatio.' Besides these he vwts the author of sundry works connected more or less with religious politics, such as a Treatise On the Political Influence of the Pope's Suprenzacy. In the year 18o7, he issued his Prospectus of an analysis of Ancient Chronology, the harbinger of a work which he had been some time preparing, and for the reputation of which he deserves a place in this Biblical Cyclopxdia. In the interim, how ever, between the is-suing of this prospectus and the appearance of the work itself, Dr. Hales, in the year 13(38, published his Dissertations on the principal Prophecies respecting the divine and hunzan character of our Lord yesus Christ. The next year appeared the first instalment, in a 4to volume, of his New Analysis of Chronology ; vols. ii., iii., and iv., completing the work, were published respec tively in the years 181 r, 1312, and 1314. A re vised and corrected edition of this elaborate treatise was published in the year i83o, in four volumes 8vo. Dr. Hales' system is a revision of the longer Bib. heal chronology, based upon the Septuagint, in opposition to the usually received system of Arch bishop Ussher, which was founded upon the Maso retic text. In accomplishing his scheme the author relied with greater confidence than is deemed safe, on the aid of Josephus, many of whose leading dates, adulterated as he thought by early editors, in order to make them correspond with the Jewish system, he corrected and modified. On the precarious
ground of this part of Dr. Hales' labours the reader will find more information in vol. i. pp. 5o8, 5o9, of the present work. Extravagant commenda tion has been bestowed on Hales' Analysis (see Dr. A. Clark's Commentary LIntrod.] ; Horne's Introduction Led. 9] vol. v. p. 465; Watt's Biblio theca Britan. i. 457o). Inherent defects, however, arising from the author's system, as well as the changes which subsequent discoveries have occa sioned in chronological literature, have consider ably modified critical opinions respecting the great work of Dr. Hales. Its title in full runs thus—`..4 new Analysis of Chronoloo, and Geography, History and Prophecy, in which their elements are attempted to be explained, harmonized, and vindicated upon scriptural and scientific principles ; tending to re move the imperfection and discordance of preced ing systems, and to obviate the cavils of sceptics, Jews, and infidels.' It is in the evolution of this ambitious comp/exity of purpose, that the author's work is most valuable to the general student ; for using all the resources of his undoubtedly great learning he has thrown much light upon many parts of Holy Scripture. Thus, as in the case of many other useful writers, Dr. Hales has produced a work which will be more valued for its collateral subjects than for the success with which it has ac complished its direct purpose. The Geographica/ portion of the work was designed by the author to remedy the imperfection or incorrectness of the explanations of sacred geography as given by \Veils, Cellarius, Reland, etc., in several material points ;' and it must be admitted that Ile accom plished his object not only with leamin,g and great resources of illustration but with an agreeable luminousness of style, wbich will long secure for his elaborate treatise the favourable attention and respect of the Biblical student.—P. H.