Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03

/ ticn OF the state OF Europe IN tno Az III
| mediateiy preceding the Reformation VIII
| be found IN the correspondence OF Eras-
mus himself, and that II one would un.
| derstsnd 4 man and his times be cannot
| do better than read his letters. and TO
| the support Of these contention Mr..
| Froude's comments connecting the letters
are largely addressed. His admiration Tor
Erasmus and his writings II intense, but
he cannot go 30 far ~ to accept that
extraordinary mans estimate OF his own
greatness. What he appears to admire
more In Erasmus is his independence.
another name for which, according 70
other commentators on Erasmuss me
and letters, Is "adroitness." Certain II 10
that Erasmus possessed 4 genius Tor
keeping himself free from entangiements.
and had the faculty Of making fair
weather with popes. bishops. kings ana
princes. He was for the time being
citizen OF any country In which his LOT
might sbe cast.
Among the most interesting passages IN
the book are those which treat OF the re-
laiions OF Erasmus and Luther. ana mere
we generally find Mr.. Froude an apologis'
for Erasmus. A fair Illustration OF this,
as well as OF Mr.. Froudes style. Is found
In the following:
This letter Ito Campegio) has been
often quoted. among others, to prove that
Erasmus was a mean creature. and had
not the courage of his convictions 90
not know that a readiness to be a mar
tyr IL a very sublime quality, or that
those who needlessly rush TO their own
destruction show any particular WISDOM.
Such supreme sacrifice may at times De-
come a duty. but only when a man mas
no better use for his life. IT Is not
duty OF which he need go in search. 1
Av,n al n make a general ODSeTNa-
ton. Princes, statemen. thinkers VINO
have played a great part In the direction
of human affairs. have been OF superior
character, men in whose presence ordi-
nary persons are conscious OF inferiority'
Their blographers-the writers OF his
tory gererally-are OF commoner meta,
They resent, perhaps unconsciousiy. tne
sense that they stand on lower level
and revenge their humiliation when they
come to describe great men by attributing
TO them the motives which Influenced
themselves. Unable to conceive Or TN
willing to admit that men OF lofty char
acter may have had other objects than
are familiar to their experience. they de-
light to show that the great were not
great after all, but were very poor crea-
lures, inferior, when the truth Is known
about them, to the relator or their ac-
tlons; and they have thus reduced his
tory to the dung-heap OF Illuminating
nonsense. which a large part OF 1t has
unfortunately become"
Mr.. Froude regards the Encomium
Moriae as "if not the most remarkable.
yet the most effective of all Erasmus's
writings" Again, he says Through the
printing process 1t few over the west
ern christendom, through France,
through Spain. through England. and
Germany, and. like an explosion OF dy-
Mantle, 1t left monks and clergy In
wreck, and confusion. the objects OF uni
versal laughter The 'Epistolae Obscure
rum Virorum' had been coarse and
obscene, a book TO be read In private, II
read at all, and not to be talked about;
'Moria' was delicate and witty, running
through the heart like polished rapier
and killing dead in the poltest manner
in the world. Princes and secular poll
ticians took no offence: they were rather
entertained and delighted TO see the
punishment OF an insolent order that
had so long defied them. Leo Y. read
'Moria.' and only observed, Here is our
old friend again."
On the whole. II is hardly TO
be doubted that the lectures will cause
many historical students TO go deeper into
the letters Of Erasmus than Mr.. Froude
has gone, and will stimulate study OF
the mass of literature that clings about
the name of Erasmus, and which Mr.
Froude has sighted.
For sale by j. w. Randolph & Co.
MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHIES OF THE
NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEA-
LOGICAL SOCIETY. Volume 5. 1852
1854. Boston. 1891.
This volume. edited by Messrs. John ".
Dean and A. II. Hoyt. maintains the
- Aa
and conscientiousness of its editors. 1t
covers a period OF the demise Of many
eminent men in varied exemplifcation,
members OF the society which now COM
memoratcs their usefulness. 1t is note
worthy that their lives comprehend al
most a century-one having been born in
iii.
The biood-link, from the planting of the
American republic. beween Massachu-
sets and Virginia is well known to stu
dents. Whatever OF sectional difference
there has been in the past. the society
which issues this volume has ever pleaded
for fraternity, and has never hesitated
In its functions, from its means. in the
recognition of southern brethren. 1t has
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ton Of knowledge and its diffusion.
1t has from the beginning comprised in
its membership representatives, Of the
South whom the South loved and honored
The dispensation Of providence allotted
fewer Of these to the period covered by
the present volume than TO that Of some
Of its predecessors. The following how
ever are embalmed: A. A. Smetz and I.
X. Tefft. OF Georgia, distinguished as con-
SENATORS of learning. and J. w. Porter,
Of Alabama, as a jurlst Alexander VAL
temare and Lord Lyndhurst uhe latter OF
American birth) also claim our immediate
regard.
In the next volume will be included a
memoirs OF DR.. Robert Mayo. and. 1t Is
hoped. OF Hon. Thomas II. Wynne. OF this
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Dalrympls and Philip Slaughter, Of
blessed memory in this State.
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