Classic Literature, 47 



to the inspection of the intelligent and the curious, 

 thnt many remains of ancient genius, before un- 

 known, would have been brought to light. Few 

 acquisitions, however, of this kind have been 

 made by the republic of letters. The industry and 

 zeal of former times, in this pursuit, seem to have 

 left little to be gained by modern exertions. The 

 small additions which have been made during the 

 last age, to the classic treasures before possessed by 

 the world, may perhaps deserve some brief notice. 



It had been long known that a composition 

 bearing the title of an Hymn to Ceres, and ascribed 

 to Homer, existed in the second century; but 

 learned men considered it as irretrievably lost. In 

 the eighteenth century this composition was brought 

 to light; and what is remarkable, it was found in 

 one of the rudest and most unclassical countries of 

 Europe. About the year 1775 Christian Fre- 

 deric Matthjei, a learned German, having been 

 invited to settle at Moscow, in Russia, obtained ac- 

 cess, soon after taking up his residence there, to a 

 number of Greek manuscripts, deposited in the 

 library of the Holy Synod in that city. Among 

 these manuscripts he found the Hymn to Ceres 

 above mentioned, almost entire, which he sent to 

 his friend D. Ruhnkenius, of Leyden, who, in 

 1780, committed it for the first time to the press, 

 accompanied with learned annotations." It is, in- 

 deed, far from being certain that this Hymn, not- 

 withstanding all its celebrity, is really the produc- 

 tion of the immortal Grecian bard to whom it is 

 ascribed. The learned editor himself expresses 



n This Hymn was elegantly translated into English verse, and accom- 

 panied with learned notes, by Richard Hole, LL. B. 8vo. 1781. 



o It is generally known that of the other Hymns ascribed to Homer, 

 suspicions have been entertained that the greater part, if net all, are spurious. 

 See on this subject Davidis Ruhnkenii Episiola Critica in Homerida- 

 rum Hymnos et Hesiodum, ad xirimi clarissimum JLvdov. Casp. Val.c- 

 ksnarium, 8vo. Lug. Bat. 1749. 



