GENIUS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR.,—In reading the " Recollections of a Long Life," by Lord Broughton, Vols. III. and IV., just published, I came across the diary entry dated October 23rd, 1825, as follows :— " Read a life of Sir William Jones extracted from Lord Teign- mouth's ; also Sir W. Jones's dissertation on Asiatic poetry. If genius be as Sir W. Jones seems to think it, a capacity for applica- tion and acquirement, he was one of the most stupendous geniuses that ever lived."
How does this affect the hitherto accepted belief in the originality of Carlyle's dictum that genius is "an infinite capacity for taking pains " ? It would be interesting to have the opinion of some of your learned readers.—I am, Sir, &c.,
FREDERIC S. FRANKLIN.
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