The life of Cardinal Mezzofanti / With an introductory memoir of eminent linguists, ancient and modern

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 following Memoir had its origin in an article on Cardinal Mezzofanti, contributed to the Edinburgh Review in the year 1855. The subject appeared at that time to excite considerable interest. The article was translated into French, and, in an abridged form, into Italian; and I received through the editor, from persons entirely unknown to me, more than one suggestion that I should complete the biography, accompanied by offers of additional information for the purpose.
Nevertheless, the notices of the Cardinal on which that article was founded, and which at that time comprised all the existing materials for a biography, appeared to me, with all their interest, to want the precision and the completeness which are essential to a just estimate of his attainments. I felt that to judge satisfactorily his acquaintance with a range of languages so vast as that which fame ascribed to him, neither sweeping statements founded on popular reports, however confident, nor general assertions from individuals, however distinguished and trustworthy, could safely be regarded as sufficient. The proof of his familiarity with any particular language, in order to be satisfactory, ought to be specific, and ought to rest on the testimony either of a native, or at least of one whose skill in the language was beyond suspicion.