But have I any right to quote Schlosser's words from an English translation? I do so only because this happens to be at hand, and the German not. German books are still rare in this country, though more (by one thousand to one) than they were thirty years ago. But I have a full right to rely on the English of Mr. Davison. 'I hold in my hand,' as gentlemen so often say at public meetings, 'a certificate from Herr Schlosser, that to quote Mr. Davison is to quote _him_.' The English translation is one which Mr. Schlosser '_durchgelesen hat, und fur deren genauigkeit und richtigkeit er burgt_ [has read through, and for the accuracy and propriety of which he pledges himself]. Mr. Schossler was so anxious for the spiritual welfare of us poor islanders, that he not only read it through, but he has even _aufmerksam durchgelesen_ it [read it through wide awake] _und gepruft_ [and carefully examined it]; nay, he has done all this in company with the translator. 'Oh ye Athenians! how hard do I labor to earn your applause!' And, as the result of such herculean labors, a second time he makes himself surety for its precision; '_er burgt also dafur wie fur seine eigne arbeit_' [he guarantees it accordingly as he would his own workmanship]. Were it not for this unlimited certificate, I should have sent for the book to Germany. As it is, I need not wait; and all complaints on this score I defy, above all from Herr Schlosser. [2] In dealing with an author so desultory as Mr. Schlosser, the critic has a right to an _extra_ allowance of desultoriness for his own share; so excuse me, reader, for rushing at once _in medias res_.