For the spirit in which my inquiries have been met, I am deeply grateful. I have recorded in the course of the narrative the names of many to whom I am indebted for valuable assistance and information. Other valued friends whom I have not named, will kindly accept this general acknowledgment.

There is one, however, to whom I owe a most special and grateful expression of thanks—his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. From him, at the very outset of my task, I received a mass of anecdotes, recollections, and suggestions, which, besides their great intrinsic interest, most materially assisted me in my further inquiries; and the grace of the contribution was enhanced by the fact, that it was generously withdrawn from that delightful store of Personal Recollections which his Eminence has since given to the public; and in which his brilliant pen would have made it one of the most attractive episodes.

Several of the autographs, also, which appear in the sheet of fac-similes, I owe to his Eminence. Others I have received from friends who are named in the Memoir.

CONTENTS.

PREFACE,[pp. v-vii.]
INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR.
Ancient period:—
History of Linguists little known—Legendary Linguists—The Jews—The Asiatics—The Greeks—Mithridates—Cleopatra—The Romans—Prevalence of Greek under the Empire—The Early Christians—Decline of the Study—Separation of the two Empires—The Crusaders—Frederic II—The Moorish Schools in Spain—Council of Vienne—Roderigo Ximenes—Venetian travellers—Fall of Constantinople—Greeks in Italy—Complutensian Polyglot,[pp. 5-18.]
Modern period:—
I. Linguists of the East. Dragomans—Genus Bey—Jonadab Alhanar—Interpreters in the Levant—Ciceroni at Mecca—Syrian Linguists—The Assemani—Greeks—Armenians—The Mechitarists,[pp. 18-24.]
II. Italian Linguists. Pico della Mirandola—Teseo Ambrosio—Pigafetta—Linguistic Missionary Colleges—The Propaganda—Schools of the Religious Orders—Giggei—Galani—Ubicini—Maracci—Podestà—Piromalli—Giorgi—De Magistris—Finetti—Valperga de Galuso—The De Rossis,[pp. 25-34.]
III. Spanish and Portuguese Linguists. Fernando di Cordova—Covilham—Libertas Cominetus—Arias Montanus—Del Rio—Lope de Vega—Missionaries—Antonio Fernandez—Carabantes—Pedro Paez—Hervas-y-Pandura,[pp. 34-41.]
IV. French Linguists. Postel—Polyglot-Pater-Nosters—Scaliger—Le Cluse—Peiresc—Chasteuil—Duret—Bochart—Picquet—Le Jay—De la Croze—Renaudot—Fourmont—Deshauterayes—De Guignes—Diplomatic affairs in the Levant—De Paradis, Langlés—Abel Remusat—Modern School, Julien, Bournouf, Renan, Fresnel, the d’Abbadies,[pp. 41-58.]
V. German, Dutch, Flemish, and Hungarian Linguists. Müller—(Regiomontanus)—Bibliander—Gesner—Christmann—Drusius—Schultens—Maes—Haecx—Gramaye—Erpen—The Goliuses—Hottinger—Kircher—Ludolf—Rothenacker—Andrew Müller—Witzen—Wilkins—Leibnitz—Gerard Müller—Schlötzer—Buttner—Michaelis—Catholic Missionaries—Richter, Fritz, Widmann, Grebmer, Dobritzhofer, Werdin—Berchtold, Adelung, Vater, Pallas, Klaproth, Niebuhr, Humboldt and his School—Castrén, Rask, Bunsen, Biblical Linguists—Hungarian Linguists—Csoma de Körös,[pp. 59-81.]
VI. British and Irish Linguists. Crichton—Andrews—Gregory—Castell, Walton, Pocock, Ockley, Sale, Clarke, Wilkins, Toland, “Orator” Henley, Carteret, Jones, Marsden, Colebrooke, Craufurd, Lumsden, Leyden, Vans Kennedy, Adam Clarke, Roberts Jones, Young, Pritchard, Cardinal Wiseman, Browning, Lee, Burritt,[pp. 81-99.]
VII. Slavonian Linguists. Russians—Scantiness of Materials—Early Period—Jaroslav, Boris—The Romanoffs—Beründa Pameva, Peter the Great, Catherine I., Mentschikoff, Timkoffsky, Bitchourin, Igumnoff, Giganoff, Tchubinoff, Goulianoff, Senkowsky, Gretsch, Kazem-Beg—Poles—Meninski, Groddek, Bobrowski, Albertrandy, Rzewuski, Italinski—Bohemians—Komnensky, Dobrowsky, Hanka,[pp. 99-110.]
Miraculous gift of tongues—Royal Linguists—Lady-Linguists—Infant Phenomena—Uneducated Linguists,[pp. 110-121.]
LIFE OF CARDINAL MEZZOFANTI.
CHAPTER I. (1774-98.)
Birth and family history—Legendary tales—Early education—First masters—School friends—Ecclesiastical studies—Illness and interruption of studies—Study of languages—Anecdote—Ordination—Appointment as Professor of Arabic—Deprivation of professorship,[pp. 125-147.]
CHAPTER II. (1798-1802.)
Straitened circumstances—Private tuition—The Marescalchi family—The military hospitals—Manner of study—The Magyar, Czechish, Polish, Russian, and Flemish languages—Foreigners—The Confessional—Intense application—Examples of literary labour,[pp. 148-161.]
CHAPTER III. (1803-1806.)
Appointed as Assistant Librarian of the Istituto di Bologna—Catalogue Raisonné—Professorship of Oriental Languages—Paper on Egyptian obelisks—De Rossi—Correspondence with him—Polyglot translations—Caronni’s account of him—Visit to Parma, Pezzana, Bodoni—Persian—Illness—Invitation to settle at Paris—Domestic relations—Correspondence—Translations,[pp. 162-190.]
CHAPTER IV. (1807-14.)
Labour of compiling Catalogue—His skill as linguist tested by the Russian Embassy—Deprivation of Professorship—Death of his mother—Visit to Modena and Parma—Literary friends—Giordani’s account—Greek scholarship—Bucheron’s trial of his Latinity—Deputy Librarianship of University—Visitors—Lord Guildford—Learned societies—Academy of Institute—Paper on Mexican symbolic Paintings,[pp. 191-204.]
CHAPTER V. (1814-17.)
Restoration of the Papal Government—Pius VII. at Bologna—Invites Mezzofanti to Rome—Re-appointment as Professor of Oriental languages—Death of his father—Notices of Mezzofanti by Tourists—Kephalides—Appointed head librarian—Pupils—Angelelli—Papers read at Academy,[pp. 205-18.]
CHAPTER VI. (1817-20.)
Tourists’ Notices of Mezzofanti—Society in Bologna—Mr. Harford—Stewart Rose—Byron—The Opuscoli Letterarj di Bologna—Panegyric of F. Aponte—Emperor Francis I. at Bologna—Clotilda Tambroni—Lady Morgan’s account of Mezzofanti—Inaccuracies—The Bologna dialect—M. Molbech,[pp. 219-40.]
CHAPTER VII. (1820-28.)
Illness—Visit to Mantua, Modena, Pisa, and Leghorn—Solar Eclipse—Baron Von Zach—Bohemian—Admiral Smyth—The Gipsy language—Blume—Armenian—Georgian—Flemish—Pupils—Cavedoni, Veggetti, Rosellini—Foreigners—Daily duties—Correspondence—Death of Pius VII.—Appointment as member of Collegio dei Consultori—Jacobs’ account of him—Personal appearance—Cardinal Cappellari—Translation of Oriental Liturgy—Mezzofanti’s disinterestedness—Birmese,[pp. 241-70.]
CHAPTER VIII. (1828-30.)
Visit of Crown Prince of Prussia—Trial of skill in languages—Crown Prince of Sweden—M. Braunerhjelm—Countess of Blessington—Irish Students—Lady Bellew—Dr. Tholuck—Persian couplet—Swedish—Cornish Dialect—Frisian—Abate Fabiani—Letters—Academy of the Filopieri,[pp. 271-86.]
CHAPTER IX. (1831.)
Political parties at Bologna—M. Libri’s account of Mezzofanti—Hindoo Algebra—Indian literature and history—Indian languages—Manner of study—Revolution of Bologna—Delegates to Rome—Mezzofanti at Rome—Reception by Gregory XVI.—Visit to the Propaganda—Dr. Cullen—Polyglot conversation—Renewed Invitation to settle at Rome—Consents—Calumnies of revolutionary party—Dr. Wordsworth—Mr. Milnes—Removal to Rome,[pp. 287-300.]
CHAPTER X. (1831-33.)
Rome a centre of many languages—Mezzofanti’s pretensions fully tested—Appointments at Rome—Visit to the Chinese College at Naples—History of the College—Study of Chinese—Its difficulties—Illness—Return to Rome—Polyglot society of Rome—The Propaganda—Amusing trials of skill—Gregory XVI.—Library of Propaganda rich in rare books on languages—Appointed First Keeper of the Vatican Library—Letters,[pp. 301-17.]
CHAPTER XI. (1834.)
The Welsh language—Dr. Forster—Dr. Baines—Dr. Edwards—Mr. Rhys Powell—Flemish—Mgr. Malou—Mgr. Wilde—Canon Aerts—Pere van Calven—Pere Legrelle—Dutch—M. Leon—Dr. Wap—Mezzofanti’s extempore Dutch verses—Bohemian—The poet Frankl—Conversations on German and Magyar Poetry—Maltese—Padre Schembri—Canonico Falzou—Portuguese—Count de Lavradio,[pp. 318-37.]
CHAPTER XII. (1834-36.)
The Vatican Library—Mezzofanti’s colleagues—College of St. Peter’s—Mezzofanti made Rector—His literary friends in Rome—Angelo Mai—Accademia della Cattolica Religione—He reads papers in this Academy—Gregory XVI.’s kindness—Cardinal Giustiniani—Albani—Pacca—Zurla—Polyglot party at Cardinal Zurla’s in his honour—Opinions regarding him—Number of his languages—Mr. Mazzinghi—Dr. Cox—Dr. Wiseman—Herr Fleck—Greek Epigram—Herr Fleck’s criticisms—Mezzofanti’s Latinity—His English—Dr. Baines—Cardinal Wiseman—Mr. Monckton Milnes—Mezzofanti’s style formed on books—Lady Morgan’s opinion of his English—Swedish Literature—Professor Carlson—Count Oxenstjerna—Armenian Literature—Mgr. Hurmuz—Padre Angiarakian Arabic of Syria—Greek Literature—Mgr. Missir—Romaic—Abate Matranga—Polish Literature—Sicilian—The poet Meli,[pp. 338-54.]
CHAPTER XIII. (1836-38.)
Californian students in Propaganda—Californian language—Mezzofanti’s success in it—Nigger Dutch of Curaçoa—American Indians in Propaganda—Augustine Hamelin—“The Blackbird”—Mezzofanti’s knowledge of Indian languages—Dr. Kip—Algonquin—Chippewa Delaware—Father Thavenet—His studies in the Propaganda—Arabic—Albanese—Mr. Fernando’s notice of him—Cingalese—East Indian languages—Hindostani—Mahratta—Guzarattee—Dr. M’Auliffe—Count Lackersteen—M. Eyoob—Chinese, difficulty of—Chinese students—Testimony of Abate Umpierres—Cardinal Wiseman—West African languages—Father Brunner—Angolese—Oriental languages—Paul Alkushi—“Shalom”—Letter,[pp. 355-72.]
CHAPTER XIV. (1838-41.)
Created Cardinal—The Cardinalate—Its history, duties, emoluments, congregations, offices—Mezzofanti’s poverty—Kindness of Gregory XVI.—Congratulations of his Bolognese friends—The Filopieri—Polyglot congratulations of the Propaganda—Friends among the Cardinals—His life as Cardinal—Still continues to acquire new languages—Abyssinian—M. d’Abbadie—His visit to Mezzofanti—Basque—Amarinna—Arabic—Ilmorma—Mezzofanti’s failure—Studies Amarinna—Abyssinian Embassy to Rome—Their account of the Cardinal—The Basque language—M. d’Abbadie—Prince L.L. Bonaparte—M. Dassance—Strictures on Mezzofanti—Mrs. Paget—Baron Glucky de Stenitzer—Guido Görres—Modesty of Mezzofanti—Mr. Kip—Görres—Cardinal Wiseman—Mezzofanti among the pupils of the Propaganda,[pp. 373-97.]
CHAPTER XV. (1841-43.)
Author’s recollections of Mezzofanti in 1841—His personal appearance and manner; his attractive simplicity—Languages in which the author heard him speak—His English conversation—Various opinions regarding it—Impressions of the author—Anecdotes—Cardinal Wiseman—Rev. John Smyth—Father Kelleher—His knowledge of English literature—Mr. Harford—Dr. Cox—Cardinal Wiseman—Mr. Grattan—Mr. Badeley—Hudibras—Author’s own conversation with the Cardinal—The Tractarian movement—Mr. Grattan—Baron Bunsen—Author’s second visit to Rome—The Polyglot Academy of the Propaganda—Playful trial of Mezzofanti’s powers by the students—His wonderful versatility of language—Analogous examples of this faculty—Description of it by visitors—His own illustration—The Irish language—Mezzofanti’s admission regarding it—The Etruria Celtica—The Eugubian Tables—Amusing experiment suggested by Mezzofanti—Dr. Murphy—The Gælic language—Mezzofanti’s extempore Metrical compositions—Specimens—Rapidity with which he wrote them—Power of accommodating his pronunciation of Latin to that of the various countries—National interjectional sounds—Playfulness—Puns,[pp. 398-431.]
CHAPTER XVI. (1843-49.)
Death of his nephew Mgr. Minarelli—His sister Teresa—Letter—Visitors—Rev. Ingraham Kip—English conversation—English literature—American literature—The American Indian languages—Scottish dialect—Burns and Walter Scott—Rev. John Gray—Mezzofanti as a philologer—Baron Bunsen—The Abbé Gaume—French patois—Spanish—Father Burrueco—Mexican—Peruvian—New Zealand language—Armenian and Turkish—Father Trenz—Russian—M. Mouravieff—The Emperor Nicholas—Polish—Klementyna z Tanskich Hoffmanowa—Makrena, Abbess of Minsk—Her history—Her account of Mezzofanti—His occupations—House of Catechumens—First communion—Fervorini—The confessional—Death of Gregory XVI.—Election of Pius IX.—Mezzofanti’s epigrams on the occasion—His relations with the new Pope—Father Bresciani’s account of him—The revolution of 1848—Its effect on Cardinal Mezzofanti—His illness—Death and funeral,[pp. 432-56.]
CHAPTER XVII. (Recapitulation.)
Plan pursued in preparing this Biography—Points of inquiry—Number of languages known to Mezzofanti—What is meant by knowledge of a language—Popular notion of it—Mezzofanti’s number of languages progressive—Dr. Minarelli’s list of languages known by him—Classification of languages according to the degrees of his knowledge—Languages spoken by him with great perfection—Languages spoken less perfectly—Languages in which he could initiate a conversation—Languages known from books—Dialects—Southern and central American languages—Total number known to him in various degrees—His speaking of languages not literally faultless, but perfect to a degree rare in foreigners—Comparison with other linguists—His plan of studying languages—Various systems of study—Mezzofanti’s method involved much labour—Habit of thinking in foreign languages—His success a special gift of nature—In what this consisted—Quickness of perception—Analysis—Memory—Peculiarity of his memory—His enthusiasm and simplicity—Mezzofanti as a philologer, as a critic, a historian, a man of science—Piety and charity, liberal and tolerant spirit—Social virtues,[pp. 457-493.]
APPENDIX,[pp. 495-502.]