I have often thought that there might be set on foot a review
of old books, i.e., of all works important or
remarkable, the authors of which are deceased, with a probability of a
tolerable sale, if only the original plan were a good one, and if no articles
were admitted but from men who understood and recognized the Principles and
Rules of Criticism, which should form the first number. I would not take the
works chronologically, but according to the likeness or contrast of the kind of genius—ex. gr.
Jeremy Taylor, Milton (his prose works), and Burke—Dante and Milton (poetry)—Scaliger and Dr.
Johnson. Secondly, if especial attention were paid to all men
who had produced, or aided in producing, any great revolution in the Taste or
opinion of an age, as Petrarch,
Ulrich von Hutten, &c. (here I
will dare risk the self-conceit of referring to my own parallel of Voltaire and Erasmus, of Luther and
Rousseau in the seventh number of
‘The Friend’). Lastly, if
proper care was taken that in every number of the Review
there should be a fair proportion of amusing matter,
such as a review of Paracelsus,
Cardan, Old Fuller; a review of Jest Books, tracing the various
metempsychosis of the same joke through all ages and countries; a History of
Court Fools, for which a laborious German has furnished ample and
| A REVIEW OF OLD BOOKS. | 305 |
Any works which should fall in your way respecting the Jews since the destruction of the Temple, I should of course be glad to look through. Above all, Mezeray’s (no! that is not the name, I think) ‘History of the Jews,’ that I must have.
I shall be impatient for the rest of Mr. Frere’s sheets. Most unfeignedly can I declare that I am unable to decide whether the admiration which the excellence inspires, or the wonder which the knowledge of the countless difficulties so happily overcome, never ceases to excite in my mind during the re-perusal and collation of them with the original Greek, be the greater. I have not a moment’s hesitation in fixing on Mr. Frere as the man of the correctest and most genial taste among all our contemporaries whom I have ever met with, personally or in their works. Should choice or chance lead you to sun and air yourself on Highgate Hill during any of your holiday excursions, my worthy friend and his amiable and accomplished wife will be happy to see you. We dine at four, and drink tea at six.
