THE LIFE
OF
CARDINAL MEZZOFANTI.
J. Card. Mezzofanti
Perugini, del. H. Adlard, sc.
THE LIFE
OF
CARDINAL MEZZOFANTI;
WITH
AN INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR
OF
EMINENT LINGUISTS, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
BY
C. W. RUSSELL, D.D.
PRESIDENT OF ST. PATRICK’S COLLEGE, MAYNOOTH.
LONDON:
LONGMAN, BROWN, AND CO.
PATERNOSTER-ROW.
1858.
[The Right of Translation is reserved.]
The following Memoir had its origin in an articleon Cardinal Mezzofanti, contributed to the EdinburghReview in the year 1855. The subject appearedat that time to excite considerable interest.The article was translated into French, and, in anabridged form, into Italian; and I received throughthe editor, from persons entirely unknown to me,more than one suggestion that I should completethe biography, accompanied by offers of additionalinformation for the purpose.
Nevertheless, the notices of the Cardinal onwhich that article was founded, and which at thattime comprised all the existing materials for a biography,appeared to me, with all their interest, towant the precision and the completeness which areessential to a just estimate of his attainments. Ifelt that to judge satisfactorily his acquaintancewith a range of languages so vast as that which fameascribed to him, neither sweeping statements foundedon popular reports, however confident, nor generalassertions from individuals, however distinguishedand trustworthy, could safely be regarded as sufficient.The proof of his familiarity with any particularlanguage, in order to be satisfactory, oughtto be specific, and ought to rest on the testimony[vi]either of a native, or at least of one whose skill inthe language was beyond suspicion.
At the same time the interest with which thesubject seemed to be generally regarded, led me tohope that, by collecting, while they were yet recent,the reminiscences of persons of various countriesand tongues, who had known and spoken with theCardinal, it might be possible to lay the foundationof a much more exact judgment regarding himthan had hitherto been attainable.
A short inquiry satisfied me that, although scatteredover every part of the globe, there were stillto be found living representatives of most of thelanguages ascribed to the Cardinal, who would beable, from their own personal knowledge, to declarewhe