A SEMITIC PHILOLOGIST of the eighteenth century:

Kennett resident publishes book
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Joshua Payne

Daily Dunklin Democrat

A local man has written a historical book about a very influential individual of the 18th century, Dr. David Caldwell.

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Dr. David Caldwell was born in 1725 in Lancaster County, according to Finis. The parents of David Caldwell were Andrew and Martha Caldwell a couple of swine farmers. Until the age of 25, Caldwell's father apprenticed him to be a carpenter. Turning 25, Caldwell determined that he was called to become a gospel preacher and made arrangements with his three younger brothers to obtain money for college. To receive the money, Caldwell gave away all rights to his parents inheritance money, said Finis.

Dr. David Caldwell attended the college of New Jersey, which later became Princeton, in 1761. At the age of 27, Princeton called Caldwell to teach in the classical language department. Caldwell taught the languages of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, along with possibly teaching Sanskrit and Arcadian, according to Finis. The teaching lasted for about a year, and as payment for services, the university awarded Dr. Caldwell with a Master of Arts Degree.

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I don't know what "Arcadian" is. True, it was an ancient Greek dialect, but that doesn't quite fit here. Perhaps it is intended to be Akkadian, but Akkadian was not deciphered until well into the nineteenth century.