Bohn's Translations.

A writer to the Nation, in the course of a recent communication, takes occasion to make a vigorous attack on the "Bohns," which have, through long use, become such inseparable companions of the students of the two continents. Says this iconoclastic writer: "Professor Good win's letter in the Nation of January 29, on a misrepresentation of Plato's 'Republic' is of value, not only in showing up the immediate mistake, but in adding weight to the disesteem deserved in general by the translations in Bohn's library. So many persons unable to read the originals read these translations believing them to be faithful, at least to the author's meaning, that it is much to be desired that proof after proof should be given that this is not the case. Long ago Mr. Matthew Arnold exclaimed: "Think of the difference between the translations of the classics turned out from Mr. Bohn's library and those turned out from Mr. Nisard's collection!" using it as an illustration of the lack of literary training among the men who do such work in England. And though since then better scholars have occasionally done excellent translations which have appeared in Mr. Bohn's various series, yet much the larger number of "Bohn's" translations are comparatively worthless; and it is astonishing that readers with any literary training themselves can fail to see this-to feel it, even when they do not know the originals; just as one can tell whether a portrait is a likeness or not without seeing the person."