Literary character of men of genius : drawn from their own feelings and confessions / by Isaac Disraeli.
- Isaac D'Israeli
- Date:
- [1881?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Literary character of men of genius : drawn from their own feelings and confessions / by Isaac Disraeli. Source: Wellcome Collection.
10/488
![The In'quiuy into the Litek.vuy and Political CiiAiiACTEu OF James the Fiust has surely coiTcctcd some general misconceptions, and thrown light on some obscure points in the history of that anomalous personage. It is a satisfaction to me to observe, since the publication of this tract, that while some competent judges have considered the “ evidence iiTesistible,” a material change has occurred in the tone of most writers. The subject presented an occasion to exhibit a minute picture of that age of transition in our national history. The titles.of Calamities of Autiiohs and Quabeels of Autiiobs do not wholly designate the works, which include a considerable portion of literary history. Public favour' has encouraged the rcpublication of these various works, which often r'cferrcd to, have long been difficult to procure. It has been deferred from time to time with the intention of giving the subjects a more enlarged investigation ; but I have delayed the task till it carrnot be performed. One of the Calamities of Authors Irrlls to my lot, the delicate organ of vision with me has suffered a singular disorder,*—a disorder which no oculist by his touch can heal, and rro physician b}’' his experience can e.xpound; so much remains concerning the frame of man unrevcaled to man! In the midst of my library I am as it were distant from it. ]\Iy unfinished labours, frustrated designs, remain paralysed. In a joyous heat I wander no longer through the wide circuit before me. The “strucken deer” has the sad privilege to weep when he lies down, perhajis no more to course amid those far-distant woods where once he sought to range. * I record my literary calamity as a warniug to my sedentary brothers. When my eyes dwell on any object, or whepever they are closed, there appear on a bluish film a number of mathematical squares, which are the refiection of the fine network of the retina, succeeded by blotches which subside into printed characters, apparently forming distinct words, arranged in straight lines as in a printed book ; the monosyllables arc often legible. This is the process of a few seconds. It is remarkable that the usual power of tlie eye is not injured or diminished for distant objccta, while those near are clouded over.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24851590_0010.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
