We regret to notice the unexpected death of Mr. J.
Addington Symonds, the brilliant litt6rateur, who, forced by health to live among the snows and glaciers of the Engadine, devoted himself to elucidate the history of the Renaissance in Italy. He died at Rome this week from acute pneumonia. We have no sympathy with his views, which were frankly humanist, and do not rank him high as a thinker, but he had great knowledge, a delight in his subject, and a style of perfect lucidity. He understood the men of the epoch, too, though he seems to us to tolerate scoundrels far too gladly. Still, he compelled his readers to think ; and his books, to those who have read others on the same subject, are nutritive. Personally, Mr. Symonds is said to have been delightful, never using his knowledge as a weapon, and always pleased to be of intellectual assistance.
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