Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-06


viruence was very considerably aba.ed IN its pro-
gress across the channel. To be believer in
Homer was then considered almost as disreputable
\ among German scholars, as is the belief in Christ
at the present day among such christian theoo-
eians as Doctors Strauss and De Wette. The hy-
pothesis of Wolf was at first proclaimed to be a
grand discovery OF modern research; subsequently,
however, certain of his followers endeavored to hnd
confirmation of his views in the statements OF
ELAN and Eustathus respecting the doubts and
misgivings entertained by the Alexandrian critics
concerning the authorship OF the Iad and Odyssey.
Even Frederic Schlegel has fallen into the crassa
lignoratia, or, what's quite as bad the crassa neg
Kgenfia of referring to the Alexandrian sect of
prammarians denominated the Chorizonfes, or
Separatists as if they entertained views similar to
those embodied in the Wolfan theory, whereas he
should have known that their doubts were limited
to the unity of authorship generally attributed to
the two poems-a separate author being assigned
by them, as their name implies, TO the respective
epics II cannot be doubted, however, that Wolf
was anticipated in the most essential features OF
his Prelegomena, by James Perizonius, French
man. who, it is believed, was the first to suggest
that the Had & Odyssey was mere collection OF
bardc songs, such as are found in every nation at
certain stage in the history Of its civilization inf
nitely superior it is true to those of any other peo
actestics Heyne also has complained that WOLF who had
been his pupil and attended his lectures much in
debcd him many Of his ideas and conclusions than he
willing to admit. But if Wolf forestaed by Vice.
PezOnus, Heyne is certain that he out VOTED
by Hardouin the unconsconable of these classic
c,noclass ard who maintained that all the Latin classics
ogeries perpetrated by the Monks during the Dark
Ages excepting only the Saes Of Horace the Georges Of
Virgil the Natural History Of Plny, and few Of Ciceros
controversial writings According this learned Jesuit the
hero Of the Ened valiant and warrior of the church,
while Laage and her rivals in the odes Of Horace regard
cd monksh ard poecal symbols Of the christian faith It
such speculaons these that provoked from Boeau
the witty remark, 81 have great fancy for Monks, yet
should be glad have known Brother Horace and Dom
Virgil" Aud if Hardouin asserts, the odes of Horace
written in Benedicns monastery, must learn to
transfer grateful thoughts from the Court Of Augustus to
the Coster Of Benedict There is political adage, falsely
attributed original with exPresdent Van Buren,, which
that the ssober second thought Of the people is al
ways right" We shall pause to inquire either into the
authorship authenticity Of this sentiment but there is an
ohe which, its application certain subjects dependant
moral evidences hold to be equally it is that
the first thought and the third thought oener right
than the second thought" Between these two aphosms,
anagoasc they may appear, there in reality contra
dic.on. If the second thought be kept SOBER it may
prove right but such is the DANGER lest from the love Of ORR
gnaiiy the ntoxicaon Of novelty, may be seduced
the remuneration of old truth because it is DID, and
into the acceptance of statement because it Is new,
that should relax hold upon old traditions and tried
maXims with the greatest caution and sobeness The "se
cnd thought" Of Wolf and his disciples upon the Homerc
question was not sober one and the consequent revul
sion has been that the third thought nothing than
return the 6rs thought Of Aristotle, Arsarchus and
Lopginus. The great merit Of COL Mure consists, we
Think in the cIearness with which he has enuncaed the
third thought and therefore in the total conutaon Of the
specous aerlhoughts Of Wolf Previous the appearance
Of COL Mures volumes, able critic had remarked in the
Edinburgh Review that the time seemed to have for
acknowledged Of the higher department Of the
critical up the subject and embodyng the chaos Of
his disposal into historical
tion place this interesting question permanent
and satisfactory basis Such " acknowledged MASTER is
Col Mure and upon such basis" has he placed the Ho
question. The assertions of antiquity have been ve
fed in such that belief in their general accuracy
rests upon grounds more permanent and satisfactory
than did the creduy Of the anciens that hereafter
may cay with the good old ar in Of Fords neglected
dramas:
Dispute this;
Such questions, know, are fund for better It's
To bless the sun than reason how it shines;
Yet those thou talk Of are above the
No more l may not hear it.
To rebuff that portion Of the Woan hypothesis which de-
the preservation Of the Homeric poems by writing, prior
to the age Of the Pssads, comparatively easy task
but reconcile apparent discrepancies in the internal compo
ston Of the poems, determine upon supposous inter-
platons Of schoas and hanscbe to adjust the asserted
dsocaons in the several parts, is task that demands the
keenes and the delicate manpuaons Of critical
surgery sashing critic like Bentley, who is so
happy when he gets classic under his knife, would make
Indifferent operator Homer he would have mangled
him be did Lucetus Wolf never wished to believe in
the integrity Of the Homec poemr, and therefore sought every
occasion prove that they conglomeraons Of in
homogeneous and arculaed body. Bentley resembles
expementer, trying to how much bis patent bear,
and yet live. Wolf resembles in6del, endeavoring
prove that there evidences Of unity either Of design
designer in the human frame, the constitution Of ma
ture Col. Mure resembles Butler Paley, who, by
tracing the anaoges and discovering the adaptations
ss between the parts Of consistent WHOLE has formed and
concluded happy alliance between ancient faith and modern
inquiry His observations the poems in their generality
often original and always just but it in the department
Of verbal criticism that be especially e1cels in ne he has
subjected the whole question to that exhaustive process of in
vesgaion which leaves the careful and student
nothing to DESIRE and therefore commend his volumes
study and appreciation Of every admrer Of the blind old
man Of Scios rocky isle"
The followers Of Wolf have often asserted that gno-
of Ham -