436 Recapitulation. 



the last fifty years, a degree of refinement and ex« 

 cellence never before known. Versions of the 

 Greek and Roman Classics have especially abound- 

 ed during the period in question. And though 

 this circumstance has contributed to render some 

 knowledge of those great works of antiquity more 

 popular, it has also been connected with the de- 

 cline of Classic Literature, which was before men- 

 tioned. As elegant versions increased in number 

 and circulation, it was natural that the originals 

 should become gradually more neglected. 



The number and excellence of modern trans- 

 lations may be considered as removing one of the 

 impediments which bar the way to science, and 

 as diminishing the inconvenience arising from the 

 multiplicity of languages. But the length to which 

 this practice is now carried will probably be found 

 to discourage the study of languages, to diminish 

 literary industry, and, of course, to render know- 

 ledge still more superficial. 



14. The last century may further be denominated 

 the age of literary honours. The practice of 

 conferring the honours of literary institutions on 

 individuals of distinguished erudition, commenced 

 in the twelfth century; when the Emperor Lotha- 

 Rius, having found in Italy a copy of the Roman 

 Civil Law, ordained that it should be publicly ex- 

 pounded in the schools: and that he might give 

 encouragement to the study, he further ordered, 

 that the public Professors of this law should be 

 dignified with the title of Doctors. 1 Not long 

 afterwards the practice of creating Doctors was 

 borrowed from the Lawyers by Divines, who, in 

 their schools, publicly taught divinity, and conr 



/ The first person created a Doctor, after this ordinance of the Empe* 

 ror, was Bulgarus Hugoliistus, who was greatly distinguished for hi* 

 learning and. literary labour. 



