It is never self-formed. It has
very seldom indeed an original development. In regard to the work of
an already famous or infamous author it decides, to be sure, with a
laudable promptitude; making up all the mind that it has, by reference
to the reception of the author's immediately previous publication-
making up thus the ghost of a mind pro tem.- a species of critical
shadow that fully answers, nevertheless, all the purposes of a
substance itself until the substance itself shall be forthcoming.
But beyond this point the general opinion can only be considered
that of the public, as a man may call a book his, having bought it.
When a new writer arises, the shop of the true, thoughtful or critical
opinion is not simultaneously thrown away- is not immediately set
up. Some weeks elapse; and, during this interval, the public, at a
loss where to procure an opinion of the debutante, have necessarily no
opinion of him at all for the nonce.
The popular voice, then, which ran so much in favour of "The Spanish
Student," upon its original issue, should be looked upon as merely the
ghost pro tem.- as based upon critical decisions respecting the
previous works of the author- as having reference in no manner to "The
Spanish Student" itself- and thus as utterly meaningless and valueless
per se.
The few, by which we mean those who think, in contradistinction from
the many who think they think- the few who think at first hand, and
thus twice before speaking at all- these received the play with a
commendation somewhat less pronounced- somewhat more guardedly
qualified- than Professor Longfellow might have desired, or may have
been taught to expect.
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