The outcome of Mr. Lee's system of " translation" is that only about three-tenths of his book come from Thomas a Kempis, the rest being Mr. Lee's; and that its title-page is therefore misleading.
We now come to another Protestant " translation " by the Rev. Dr. S. Kettlewell, two editions of which were published in 1892, and a third (after his death) in 1894.[1]
Dr. Kettlewell writes thus (page xlvii of the Preface, ed. 1894):
" It is necessary to notice that a translation of the ' De Vita ' was made into English by Henry Lee, LL.B., in 1760, But in this case, so much of the translator's reflections and other references to Scripture are added, that it is difficult to tell what is really Lee's and what belongs to Thomas a Kempis, to whom the whole volume is inscribed [sic]. It is most desirable, therefore, that a new translation be made of the 'De Vita,' in which rarely is there a word given but what has been written by the devout author himself. This is as necessary as the re-authentication of its real author; that the public may have some confidence that they are using a most precious and veritable
- ↑ The reason why two editions of this book were published in 1892 was that shortly after its publication Dr. Kettlewell saw fit to cancel some ten pages of his Preface. The edition of 1894 is identical with the former edition of 1892 — the cancelled pages of the Preface being replaced, and only one verbal correction made (at p. 339).
