Singular as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that Porson did not hold ⸺ in so high a degree of estimation as might have been expected from the exalted station, which this venerable personage has invariably enjoyed in the kingdom of letters. It would be invidious, as it is quite unnecessary, to be circumstantial; but the fact was so.
On one occasion, when this personage was enjoying his afternoon’s pipe, he turned triumphantly to the Greek Professor, and remarked, “Porson, with all your learning, I do not think you well versed in metaphysics.” “I presume you mean your metaphysics,” was the reply.
At another time, when something which this gentleman had written and published much interested the public attention, and occasioned many squibs, paragraphs, and controversial letters in the newspapers, Porson wrote the following epigram:
“Perturbed spirits spare your ink,
And beat your stupid brains no longer,
Then to oblivion soon would sink,
Your persecuted ⸺monger.”
On the other hand, it is to be observed, that this eminent man, for so he was, invariably spoke of Porson in terms of the highest admiration and regard.
Whatever might be the case with respect to the person above alluded to, Porson was never at any pains to conceal his extreme contempt for Wakefield. There was at one time a seeming sort of friendly communication; but whilst Wakefield aimed at being thought on a level with Porson in point of attainments, this latter must unavoidably have felt the consciousness of his own great superiority.—Indeed, the difference between them was immense. Without disparagement to Wakefield, his warmest advocates must acknowledge, that although he formed his opinions hastily, he never failed to vindicate them with peremptory decision. In consequence of this eagerness and haste, his criticisms were frequently erroneous, and his conclusions false; neither, if detected in error, would his pride allow him either to confess, or retract his fault. The writer of this article once pointed out to him a very great error in his translation of the New Testament; he acknowledged it at the time, but the second edition appeared, and the same error was repeated: he might possibly have forgotten it. Porson, on the contrary, never declared or formed his critical opinions (for of such we are now speaking) hastily.—He patiently examined, seriously deliberated, and was generally correct in his decisions; nevertheless, he quietly listened to the arguments of opponents, and was neither irritable nor pertinacious. How erroneous an estimate Wakefield had formed of Porson, is sufficiently apparent from the Posthumous Letters between him and Mr. Fox.
W. appears to tell that eminent Statesman, with a sort of ill-natured exultation, that nine hundred errors had been detected in the edition of Heynes’ Virgil, corrected, as he is pleased to call it, by Porson. The fact is not so. The errors were certainly very numerous; but the office of press corrector was far beneath the dignity of Porson, and what mistakes there are, are principally confined to the notes, which a single glance from a critical reader, will in a moment detect and amend. The errors of the text, which is of more material importance, did not exceed twenty in all the four volumes.