, a pious and learned translator of the Hebrew Scriptures, and commentator
, a pious and learned
translator of the Hebrew Scriptures, and commentator on
them, was born at Paris in 168t>. In 1702 he became a
priest of the congregation named the Oratory; and being-,
by deafness, deprived of the chief comforts of society, addicted himself the more earnestly to books, in which he
found his constant consolation. Of a disposition naturally
benevolent, with great firmness of soul, goodness of temper, and politeness of manners, he was held in very general estimation, and received honours and rewards from the
pope (Bened. XIV.) and from his countrymen, which he
had never thought of soliciting. Though his income was’
but small, he dedicated a part of it to found a school near
Chantilly; and the purity of his judgment, joined to the
strength of his memory, enabled him to carry on his literary labours to a very advanced age. Even when his faculties had declined, and were further injured by the accident of a fall, the very sight of a book, that well-known
gonsoler of all his cares, restored him to peace and rationality. He died Oct. 3 I, 1783, at the advanced age of ninetyeight. His works, for which he was no less esteemed in
foreign countries than in his own, were chiefly these: 1.
An edition of the Hebrew Bible, with a Latin version and
notes, published at Paris in 1733, in 4 vols. folio. This is
the most valuable and important work of the author, and
contains the Hebrew text corrected by the soundest rules
of criticism, a Latin version, and useful notes: and prefixed to each book is a very learned preface. Benedict
XIV. who justly appreciated the value and difficulty of the
work, honoured the author with a medal, and some other
marks of approbation; and the clergy of his own country,
unsolicited, conferred a pension on him. 2. A Latin translation of the Psalter, from the Hebrew, 1746, 12mo. 3.
Another of the Old Testament at large, in 1753, in 8 vols.
8vo. 4. “Racines Hebraiques,
” Examen du Psautier des Capuchins,
” 12mo,
the mode of interpretation used in which, he thought too
arbitrary. 6. A French translation of an English work by
Forbes, entitled “Thoughts on Natural Religion.
” 7.
Most of the works of Charles Leslie translated, Paris, 1770,
8vo. Father Houhigant is said also to have left several
works in manuscript, which, from the excellence of those
he published, may be conjectured to be well deserving of
the press. Among these are a “Traite des Etudes;
” a
translation of “Origen against Celsus;
” a “Life of Cardinal Berulle;
” and a complete translation of the Bible,
according to his own corrections. The first of these was
to have been published by father Dotteville, and the rest
by Lalande, but we do not find that any of them have appeared.