"_Twenty scholars in seven years might retrieve the worst losses we
experience from the bigotry of popes and califs._ I do not intend to
assert that every Herculanean manuscript might, within that period, be
unfolded; but the three first legible sentences might be; which is
quite sufficient to inform the intelligent reader whether a farther
attempt on the scroll would repay his trouble. _There are fewer than
thirty Greek authors worth inquiring for; they exist, beyond doubt, and
beyond doubt they may, by attention, patience, and skill, be brought to
light._ * * With a _smaller_ sum than is annually expended on the
appointment of some silly and impertinent young envoy, we might restore
_all_, or _nearly all_ those writers of immortal name, whose
disappearance has been the regret of genius for four entire centuries.
In my opinion, a _few thousand pounds_, laid out on such an
undertaking, would be laid out as creditably as on a Persian carpet or
a Turkish tent."--Landor's _Imaginary Conversations--Southey and
Porson--Works_, vol. i. p. 20.
I call upon the literary men of England, upon the English government, and
upon the public, to set the example in a glorious expedition, which, even
in this age of wonders, is one of no little importance and magnitude. I
conjure them to bear in mind the words I have placed at the head of this
article,--the opinion of one of our best and most delightful authors. This
opinion Mr. Landor, veiled under the eidolon of Porson, I feel assured,
does not hold alone; I believe it to be engraven on the "red-leaved
tablets" of the hearts of many more learned and more distinguished scholars
than myself, who am but as the trumpet which is to rouse the friends of
classical literature to action; as the bell which awakens the reaper to his
abundant harvest: but I will sustain, that on none of them is it cut more
deeply or more inextinguishably than on mine.
I propose that the friends of Classical, Scandinavian, and Oriental
literature form themselves into an Association for the Rescue of the many
ancient MSS. in the Greek, Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Norwegian, Zend, Sanscrit,
Hebrew, Abyssinian, Ethiopian, Hindostanee, Persian, Syriac, Arabic,
Armenian, Coptic, Turkish, and Chinese languages:--that application be made
to government for the pecuniary furtherance of this enterprise;--and that
the active co-operation of all foreign literary men be secured.[1]
Thus a careful and untiring search may be entered upon in all the regions
of the earth where any MSS. are likely to be found, and the recovery or
loss of the many inestimable authors of antiquity be made certain. Let the
libraries of Europe be examined strictly and inquisitorially (and this will
not be a heavy expense), and the new accessions to classical literature
printed, the MSS. {162} which present themselves of already known authors
carefully examined, and the variations to the received text marked. How
much this is wanted we experience in the corruptions of Sophocles,
AEschylus, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristoteles! In this way much that is
valuable may be recovered; much that is matter of discussion set at rest.
Let me instance the Babrian fables, and the discovery of Mr. Harris at
Alexandria; who, it was remarked to me, might have discovered the whole,
instead of a part, had proper hands unfolded the mummy.
On the advantages of this search, it were useless to expatiate: every one
is sensible of it, and, sooner or later, it _must_ occur. Let us not allow
our grandchildren to surpass us in everything, but let us set about this
ourselves. Monstrous as the idea seems, it is simple of execution.
I will not take up the space so kindly afforded me by the Editor of "NOTES
AND QUERIES" with speculation. The Association should be composed of a
Literary Section and a Business Section: the first to be under the
administration of a President and an efficient Board of Examiners, to look
into literary matters, and examine and appoint the proper officers of the
Investigation Parties; which parties must be composed of clever,
adventurous, hardy, and adroit men, obtaining the assistance of the natives
wherever they may be carrying on their researches; the Second Section to be
under the direction of a Chairman and Finance Committee, to which the
officers of the subordinate departments render their accounts.
I know not whether more will be required of me on this subject; very likely
not: but I reserve much that I could say, until that time. I have now only
to thank the Editor for inserting this long, but I will not say, wholly
uninteresting proposal.