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extent, stretches out fearfully before me. I have had much leisure, and this I have employed in filling up several gaps which had been left in my studies. I have, in the meantime, aided my friends, Walch and Köpke, by giving some lessons to the first class in the Gray Cloister gymnasium; more, however, to keep up some connection with active life, and to give regularity to my habits, than for any other cause. Nothing was more natural, than that I should, for the remainder of my time, adopt a student's life; and I am thankful, that after eight years of professional toil, I find myself still sharp-set for study. Wolf's talents and scholarship would naturally present the strongest attractions for me; and now I can, with equal propriety, and with equal pride, call myself the disciple of Jacobs, Hermann, and Wolf. That which, next to his instructions, interests me most, is a circle of men, associated for the purpose of studying ancient literature, making Herodotus the nucleus of their researches. The whole story will be told, when I say that Schleiermacher, Niebuhr, Süvern, Böckh, Buttmann, Bekker, Hirt, and Ideler compose the circle. I am admitted as a friend and guest; and the evenings thus spent, are the happiest of my life. But these employments will terminate with the present month. I have been recently appointed professor of ancient literature, in Breslau, in Schneider's place, who has retired from academic life. *

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VI.

SCHOOL OF PHILOLOGY IN HOLLAND.

18*

HEMSTERHUYS, RUHNKEN, WYTTENBACH.

THE place occupied by Germany, in many departments of literature, is so high, that the claims of other countries may not receive that consideration to which they are entitled. In some of the principal branches of knowledge, the German language contains more valuable materials than can be found in all other languages together. Germany nearly fills the literary horizon. Her influence overshadows the whole of Christendom. Hence, we are in danger of undervaluing real excellence which exists elsewhere.

Holland, if not now eminent, has a rich intellectual history. In Oriental learning, her scholars once stood in the front rank. Erpenius and Golius produced works that will not soon be forgotten. Albert Schultens first brought a profound knowledge of Arabic to the illustration of the Old Testament. His son and grandson gave additional lustre to the name. Reland's Palestine, says Gesenius, yet remains the standard work on the subject. Schrader, Scheid, and Graevius were learned investigators in the Semitic languages.

In classical philology, Holland has a reputation second to scarcely any country but Germany. The first traces of philological culture appeared in the fourteenth century.

In the year 1370, Gerard Groote, who had studied at Paris, opened a school at Deventer, which attained much celebrity under his pupils and successors. Agricola and Thomas a Kempis studied there. The former went to Italy, and became a learned philologist under Guarini and Theodore Gaza. The founding of the universities, and of the learned school at Amsterdam, was attended with auspicious results. Leyden became one of the principal seats of the liberal arts. Thither scholars were drawn from every country of Europe, partly for the sake of study, and, partly, on account of the political freedom which was then enjoyed in Holland. Erasmus of Rotterdam, who died in 1536, earned an European reputation by his classical acquisitions. Valuable services. were also rendered to this branch of literature, by Dousa, Justus Lipsius, and Joseph Scaliger. The last named was professor at Leyden from 1593, till his death. in 1609. He had more learning, though less genius, than his father. When nineteen years of age, he went to Paris, where he devoted his days and nights to the study of Greek. He shut himself up in his chamber, and, in two years, read all the Greek classical authors, in chronological order. With equal industry, he then investigated the Hebrew, and other Oriental languages. Among his works, are Annotations on Theocritus, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Nonnus and Seneca's Tragedies; also two valuable treatises on Chronology. Another scholar, who was equally at home in various departments of knowledge, and who is one of the few whose reputation is not diminished by the lapse of time, is Hugo Grotius. In the fourteenth year of his age, he prepared a valuable edition of Martianus Capella, which called forth the praises of Scaliger. He is among the best writers of Latin verse in modern times. His metrical translations from the Greek are full of the poetic spirit.

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