of downright error in the history of philosophy than is commonly
supposed; nay, _we shall find nothing so conducive to a right
appreciation of truth as a right appreciation of the error by
which it is surrounded_." (p. 360. The Italics are ours.)

A mere philologist might complain that the book contained nothing new. And
this is in the main true, though by no means altogether so, especially as
regards the nomenclature of classification, and the illustration of
special points by pertinent examples. In this last respect Mr. Mueller is
particularly happy, as, for instance, in what he says of "Yes 'r and Yes
'm." (pp. 210 ff.) And as regards originality in the treatment of a purely
scientific subject, a good deal depends on the meaning we attach to the
term. If we understand by it striking conclusions drawn from theoretic
premises, (as in Knox's "Races of Man,") clever generalizations from
fortuitous analogies and coincidences insufficiently weighed, (as in
Pococke's "India in Greece,") or, to take a philologic example,
speculations suggestive of thought, it may be, but too insecurely based on
positive data, (as in Rapp's "Physiologie der Sprache,") we shall vainly
seek for such originality in Mr. Mueller's Lectures. But if we take it to
mean, as we certainly prefer to do, safety of conclusion founded on
thorough knowledge and comparison, clear statement guarded on all sides by
long intimacy with the subject, and theory the result of legitimate
deduction and judicial weighing of evidence, we shall find enough in the
book to content us. Mr. Mueller does not now enter the lists for the first
time to win his spurs as an original writer. The plan of the work before
us necessarily excluded any great display of recondite learning or of
profound speculation. Delivered at first as popularly scientific lectures,
and now published for the general reader, it seems to us admirably
conceived and executed. Easily comprehensible, and yet always pointing out
the sources of fuller investigation, it is ample both to satisfy the
desire of those who wish to get the latest results of philology and to
stimulate the curiosity of whoever wishes to go farther and deeper. It is
by far the best and clearest summing-up of the present condition of the
Science of Language that we have ever seen, while the liveliness of the
style and the variety and freshness of illustration make it exceedingly
entertaining.

We hope that a book of such s