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389 ON THE BIRTH-YEAR OF DEMOSTHENES. Most of our readers are aware, that Mr Clinton has devoted a chapter (xx.) of the Appendix to the first volume of his Fasti, to the discussion of some disputed questions relating to Demosthenes, one of which is the date of his birth. The author has there examined several arguments of Petitus, Corsini, F. A. Wolf, and other critics, but seems not to have been acquainted with some important contribu- tions which have been made since their time to the investi- gation of the subject, by German scholars, and particularly by Boeckh. As the question involves some of a more general nature, which are interesting to all students of Greek an- tiquity, it will be useful to consider the state of the con- troversy by the light that has been thrown upon it through the researches of the later authors. It is possible indeed that before this number of our Journal is published, Mr Clinton may have conferred another benefit upon literature by a new edition of his work, and may have discussed the subject in a manner that would render the following remarks superfluous. But as on the other hand it is not impossible that they may be fortunate enough to direct his attention to some points which he would not otherwise have adverted to, it seemed better to give them this chance of becoming useful, than to postpone them till it should be certain that they had not been anticipated. We will first briefly mention the contradictory statements of the ancients, which are more fully reported by Mr Clinton, and will then examine the contending opinions of the moderns. The author of the Lives of the Ten Orators, which have been ascribed to Plutarch, assigns the birth of Demosthenes to the archonship of Dexitheus : eTrrd Kal TpiaKOVTa err] yeyovco^, Xoyt^o^uevoL^ diro Ae^tOeov ek KaWifiaxor, e(f> ov Yj Trap ^viSuov rjKe Trpecrfieia Trepl t;'/^ f^ofjOcia^. He