ace.
value themselves principally upon their severity ; and they have reviewed some works seemingly with no other object than to
show what their powers in this particular line of criticism are.” 25 She elsewhere returns again to the subject and with deep convic
tion writes : “ Neither its authors nor the public then perceived how false and dangerous is the very principle of such a work
of a small established corps of men undertaking to pronounce on works in regard to each one of which the reviewer is, probably , less competent than the author, who is most likely to know more of his subject than those who have studied it less. The failure
to perceive this, and the virulence of tone natural to young men who felt themselves under a political and social ban , made the great Review a receptacle of unjust judgments and indefensible
tempers.” 26 It was not in any sense a caricature of critics that Thackeray
drew when he wrote, apropos of Pendennis, “ The courage of young critics is prodigious; they clamber up to the judgment
seat, and , with scarce a hesitation, give their opinion upon works themost intricate or profound.” Unfortunately , the spirit of tyranny has not been confined to youth and the periodical reviews of the nineteenth century show how largely the personal element entered into the criticism of
. 26 Harriet Martineau, “ Lord Brougham ,” Biographical Sketches, pp. 392 – 402.
James Stephen wrote to Napier, December 26 , 1842, “ We have no right to be angry (over criticism ) for, to this day, the blisters raised by Sydney Smith 's caustic pen are unhealed . ” — Napier Correspondence, p . 414.
36 Introduction to the History of the Peace, I, cccciii. Lord Morley has aptly said that reviewers are in a position similar to that of a judge before whom is argued a patent right case or a suit about rubrics
or vestments. — " Valedictory,” Fornightly Review , October, 1882, n . s. 32 : 511- 521.
There may be some ground for the general feeling of authors that critics do not do them justice and often criticize the vestments rather than render
a decision in the question involving their use. But Lord Morley himself gives an interesting illustration of the sympathy that may exist between
author and reviewer . As a young man he had reviewed Les Travailleurs de la Mer in the Saturday Review and Victor Hugo wrote the editor a letter of warm appreciation in which he says: “ C 'est là une page de haute et profonde
critique. Jamais livre n 'a été analysé avec plus de pénétration. L 'auteur de l'article s'est assimilé toute la philosophie de l'ouvre qu 'il a si admirable
ment compris.” Lord Morley 's comment is, — “ It is easy to believe how a young apprentice in criticism was encouraged in his new calling. " - Recollec
