ESTIMATIONS IN CRITICISM 20 EDWARD GIBBON.1 A WIT said of Gibbon's autobiography that he did not know the difference between himself and the Roman Empire. He has narrated his 'progressions from London to Buriton, and from Buriton to London,' in the same monotonous majestic periods that record the fall of states and empires. The consequence is that a fascinating book gives but a vague idea of its subject. It may not be without its use to attempt a description of him in plainer though less splendid English. The diligence of their descendant accumulated many particulars of the remote annals of the Gibbon family; but its real founder was the grandfather of the historian, who lived in the times of the 'South Sea.' He was a capital man of business according to the custom of that age-a dealer in many kinds of merchandise-like perhaps the 'complete tradesman' of Defoe, who was to understand the price and quality of all articles made within the By 1 The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Edward Gibbon, Esq. With Notes by Dean Milman and M. Guizot. Edited, with additional Notes, by William Smith, LL.D. In Eight Volumes. London, 1855. Murray. VOL. II.-I kingdom. The preference, however, of Edward Gibbon the grandfather was for the article' shares'; his genius, like that of Mr. Hudson, had a natural tendency towards a commerce in the metaphysical and non-existent; and he was fortunate in the age on which his lot was thrown. It afforded many opportunities of gratifying that taste. Much has been written on panics and maniasmuch more than with the most outstretched intellect we are able to follow or conceive; but one thing is certain, that at particular times a great many stupid people have a great deal of stupid money. Saving people have often only the faculty of saving; they accumulate ably, and contemplate their accumulations with approbation; but what to do with them they do not know. Aristotle, who was not in trade, imagined that money is barren ; and barren it is to quiet ladies, rural clergymen, and country misers. Several economists have plans for preventing improvident speculation; one would abolish Peel's act, and substitute one-pound notes; another would retain Peel's act, and make the calling for one-pound notes a capital crime: but our scheme is, not to allow any man to have a hundred pounds who cannot prove to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor what to do with a hundred pounds. The want of this easy precaution allows the accumulation of wealth in the hands of rectors, authors, grandmothers, who have no knowledge of business, and no idea except that their money now produces nothing, and ought and must be forced immediately to produce something. I wish,' said one of this class, for the largest immediate income, and I am therefore naturally disposed to purchase an advowson.' At intervals, from causes which are not to the present purpose, the money of these people |