Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/219

Rh the collection of a vast amount of original materials. The learned Icelander, (1663-1730), gained the greatest distinction in this respect. Under the head of "Modern Icelandic Literature," we gave a full account of him.

(1685-1748) distinguished himself by a solid critical treatment of history. He was the son of a priest, and his father instructed him so thoroughly that when he, only eighteen years old, was sent to the university, he astonished the professors with his knowledge of the ancient languages, especially of Greek. In 1714 he was appointed professor in this language, and he soon acquired such renown for scholarship throughout Europe that he was consulted by the most distinguished scholars of the day. It was not long, however, before he entered the field of northern history, where he found his most congenial work. Christian VI made him royal librarian and appointed him royal historiographer, and later he was made privy archivist, or in other words, he obtained a rare opportunity for entering deeply into the study of historical documents and sources to an extent which no man had enjoyed before him, and he availed himself thoroughly of this privilege. It is true he did not write any large independent works, but he furnished the editions of older authors, which he edited with a multitude of most excellent notes. His works are at times so complete that they not only in point of quality, but even in bulk, actually constitute the principal matter. For the Royal Danish Society of Sciences, which he had founded, he contributed a great number of excellent dissertations, in which he endeavors, with remarkable acumen, to root out old errors, and thus to lay a solid foundation for future historians to build upon. Gram was one of the most remarkable and interesting personalities of his age, particularly when we consider that he was able to emancipate himself and his work as an author from the shackles of the old-time pedantry and secure a greater intellectual freedom. In his whole character he, in fact, belonged to the