you, who have so far exceeded it as to throw all other German philosophers into the shade. So much the more agreeable was it to me to learn through our common friend Wilkes, that you had not, in this long interval, entirely forgotten me. I also have often thought of you, my dear Kant, and should have done so still oftener, if I had been able, as I have a hundred times desired, to obtain the products of your genius. But your German writings are rarely or never brought to Holland. I have learned through the journals, the contents of your books, and have rejoiced in the commendations bestowed on you. *** Certainly, in adopting the German language, instead of the common language of the learned, you have consulted neither your fame, nor the benefit of foreigners. *** After leaving Königsberg, I went to Wittenberg, where I studied philosophy and elegant literature two years. I then came to Holland, with the design of remaining three years in the Leyden university, and then returning to my country. But finding here such scholars as I never expected to meet with any where, I could not be prevailed on to leave them, either by the entreaties or by the threats of my parents. I remained, therefore, eight years in Leyden, except one year, when I was in Paris. *** At length I received the reward of my toil; for the curators of the university made me, first, professor extraordinarius of Greek, and then, ordinary professor of eloquence and history, to which the office of librarian has recently been added. In short, Holland has so loaded me with benefits, that I have not only almost forgotten my native Pomerania, but I even declined the place of Gesner, which the curators of the Göttingen university offered me. Meanwhile, I have edited and explained not a few Greek and Latin authors, which have procured me some fame in Holland and England, but which perhaps are not known at all in Prussia. Yet I have never abandoned

entirely the study of philosophy to which I was most ardently attached in my youth. The study of antiquity, however, has led me to Plato, in whose doctrines I cordially acquiesce.

I have seen the Observations on the New Testament by Kypke, who was our fellow-student. There was great emulation between him and me. He was a precocious genius, and gave promise of future eminence. These observations are, as I think, first-rate. I have never heard from Porsch, another fellow-student, who used to write Latin poetry with such wonderful facility. I fear he found an early grave.

RUHNKEN TO THOMAS TYRWHITT.

Leyden, Jan. 8, 1783.

I should not have delayed so long to express to you how much pleasure your book gave me, but for the resolution I had formed to pay you in the same coin. I send you, therefore, a new edition of the Homeric Hymn, with critical epistles twice as large as before. I have the less occasion to mention the merits of your treatise De Lapidibus, as I shall soon speak of that publicly, in the Bibliotheca Critica, with some emendations which may have escaped your notice. journal is edited at Amsterdam by some of my disciples, whose articles I revise; but I rarely write myself, except when some work, like yours, invites me by its excellence. I am very anxious to know what you are now doing. I wish you would employ your admirable talents in editing Stobæus.

This

RUHNKEN TO JOHN HENRY VOSS.

Leyden, Aug. 28, 1780.

I was surprised on reading your letter, and turned immediately to Matthaei's copy which I had happened

to preserve, to see whether the lines were omitted by my mistake or by his. On examination of the copy, it appeared, that the learned gentleman, in his zeal to aid me, was in too great a hurry, and fell into this great blunder. Mortified at the discovery of such an error, I resolved to publish a new and much more complete edition of the hymn to Ceres, and thus efface the memory of the first. I have, therefore, this day written to Matthaei, requesting him to compare the text carefully with the Moscow manuscript, and mark all the variations, and supply the lines accidentally omitted. To give the new edition still greater advantage over the former, I intend to remove a ground of frequent complaints among my friends, by adding a Latin translation. It would be a great favor to me, if you, who have already acquired such reputation by your translations of Homer, would undertake this service. My engagements are so numerous, that I cannot find the necessary leisure. Please to give me an early reply. ** I am very happy that this circumstance has introduced me to your acquaintance; and now I earnestly desire you would give me a full account of your life, where you were born, under what masters you studied, and what you are preparing for publication. No man living has a stronger desire to aid in providing means to emend and illustrate the Greek and Latin classics, such men as I know you to be. Will you also inform me in what studies you take most pleasure?

J. H. VOSS TO RUHNKEN.

Otterndorf, Sept. 23, 1780.

It gave me, respected sir, the highest pleasure to learn, that you were not displeased at my obtruding upon your attention Matthaei's omission of several lines in the Homeric Hymn; but, on the contrary, that you received my intimation with the greatest kindness and benignity.

You request me to give you an account of my life, as if it were worthy of your notice; and, to show that you do not wish merely to gratify me by a friendly curiosity, you offer to aid me with the stores of your learning, and propose to me the task of preparing a Latin version, to accompany your new edition of the Hymn. To such kindness towards me I cannot refuse to yield, though I shall make but a poor requital.

My native place is Penzlin, a small town in Mecklenburg. In consequence of the calamities of war, my parents had destined me to the workshop. At length I prevailed on them, when I was fifteen years of age, to let me attend the Latin school at New Brandenburg, to lay the foundation of a liberal education. I had a teacher who thought he had performed all his duty in Greek, when he had taught select passages in the New Testament. But I had such a desire for reading those authors rejected as profane, that, with the greatest effort, I studied by myself the first that came in my way, namely, Plutarch on the Education of Boys, and Hesiod's Works and Days. Three years afterwards, when want of funds prevented me from proceeding with my studies, I became a private teacher in the family of a country gentleman, where I remained for a period of three years more. I next made myself known, by some verses with which I was accustomed to relieve the tedious hours, to Professor Boje, of Göttingen, by whose efficient aid I was enabled to escape from a state of idleness. I went to Göttingen, the seat of the severer muses, at his invitation, in the spring of 1772, where, it is unnecessary to say, I availed myself as far as possible of the instructions of Heyne, and of the extensive library of the university. From the first lectures, which scorned to treat of the elements of grammar, I could derive but little benefit, on account of my want of proper preparation for so high a course of instruction. Having

acquired by degrees more confidence in myself, I presented Heyne a German translation of some of Pindar's odes, and thereby stimulated him to prepare an edition of that author, and to deliver lectures on his odes. The dissertations which I wrote, on becoming a member of his Philological Seminary, defending, against Heyne's assaults, some just, or at least ingenious, observations of the ancient commentators on Pindar, were my gleanings from the harvest of that poet. Two years passed away with me in such pursuits, at the expiration of which, I was seized with a severe illness, which confined me to private reading, and to my physician's care for a whole year. By his advice I removed to Wandsbeck, near Hamburg, for a change of climate, where I supported myself by editing a poetical anthology, called the Calendar of the Muses. You smile. Was it not allowable in me, to append a few verses of cheerful song to the astronomical tables, the genealogies of princes, market-days, agriculture, and rules for preserving health and for putting bedbugs to flight? In the year 1777, I married the sister of Boje, the friend and benefactor, who was the means of my going to Göttingen; and the year following I accepted, in the hope of something better, the office of rector of the gymnasium of Otterndorf. But enough of my personal history, which I would relate to none but you.

You inquire what I am preparing for the press. I have made, or rather commenced, a German translation of the Odyssey, with a commentary, in which I have done my utmost to illustrate the manners, arts, and religious rites, and geographical and astronomical views of the ancient Greeks. Grammatical niceties, which have been overlooked or misunderstood by others, I have reserved for a distinct Latin publication. The design of editing the Odyssey has been relinquished, on account of the