Note 44 — JOSEPH-MARIE QUÉRARD.

Nothing could be more apposite to his position than Mathias’ remarks:—“The want of discretion and prudence has ruined more men of learning and of genius than the time would allow me to mention. Without this sobriety of intellect, nothing is strong, nothing is great.... The world will but smile at such scholars; and ministers when called upon to promote them, will tell you, not without reason, that “they are not producible.” Those who in confidence of superior capacities or attainments, disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing will supply the want of prudence.” Pursuits of Literature, 1812; 4ᵗᵒ; 366.

The numerous and copious notes in this work remind us that we should apologise for our own. But it seems some cannot write without them, and others, a very small minority indeed, with them. It has been said that notes to a book show want of thought, but surely this could not be a reproach to the one we have just quoted. The young German students we are told rush into print and oceans of notes directly their college life is over. (Rogers. Vanity and Glory of Lit.) Struvinus says that lawyers are especially apt to give too many notes. We do not think this aptitude confined to them. Mr. Bolton Corney, in 30 pages, has 110 notes. (See his excellent critique on The New General Biographical Dict. 1839. 8ᵛᵒ; 35.) Basil Montagu’s notes sometimes rival the size of his work. George Ensor, in the Independent Man, has 1000; and Buckle, in his Introduction, has 10,000. What would become of Dibdin deprived of his notes!