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[ 294 ]
l e t t e r x x t i i .
From Chevffier I h r e to Dr. T r o i l «
Concerning the Edda^
Upfal, o a . 21, 1776.
S I R,
Ac c o r d i n g to your requeil, I
fend you an anfwer to the object
io n s made by Mr. Schlozer againft
my opinion o f the Edda, whieh, together
with a tranflation of my letter
to Mr. Lagerbring, on the fubjea of
a manufcript of the Icelandic Ec]da, is,
as you know, inferted in that gentleman’s
Icelandie hiftory.
It gives me great pleafure to find
that my thoughts on thefe fubjeds
have been examined by men of learning
in Germany, by which means a
number o f falfe notions that had
been formed on the fubjed and deiign
of this book have been removed;
and I am very happy to receive any
objedions
[ 295 ]
objedions tvhich may tend to convince
me that I have been miftaken.
Though I now refume the pen, it is
not ib much with any immediate deiign
to refute thofe objedions that have
been made againft me, as to give thoie
accounts and explanations required
of me, and which I think myielf more
capable o f doing than any other perfon,
as I can command the codex, whenever
I think proper. Mr. Schlozer and
I propofe the fame end to ourfelves 3
namely, the inveftigation o f truth.
Mr. Schlozer’s firft objedion is,
that I have not given a complete defcription
o f the manufcript, its fize.
Sec. He is perfedly right in this
point, and I will briefly endeavour to
repair this difficulty ; but firft, I muft
obferve a diplonaatic defcription was
not fo much required in that letter, as
I had direded my attention more to
the contents of the book than its external
appearance.
1 intended to ffiew what was the
view o f the author o f the Edda in
compofing this work, what parts belonged
to it, and which did not, where-
T 4 %
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