DR. WAAGEN' S ERRATA.
We have received from Mr. Morris Moore a rather long and loud- mouthed letter on a rather small point. Dr. Waagen has claimed, in print, to have been the first to announce publicly that a so-called Ghirlandajo was a Michel Angelo. The picture was one of the most fa- mous at Manchester last year. The Doctor rests his claim upon his having made this announcement in his book published in 1854 : Mr. Morris Moore reminds the public that he himself had made (and even then not for the first time) a similar announcement, in his printed evidence, before the National Gallery Committee as early as 1853. We are happy to right Mr. Moore on this point, if he thinks it worth raising ; and have not the slightest objection to confirming, by any evi- dence in reason, our own expressed opinion that Dr. Waagen, who is fond enough of assuming the hoot of the bird of wisdom, and makes it tell with the utmost effect upon credulous cars, is " a bit of a humbug after all." But we cannot afford to print Mr. Moore's letter : life is too short for discussing microscopical points at such a high magnifying power, and the Spectator shorter still. We regret too to find a man like Mr. Moore, of knowledge and ability sufficient to produce some useful results, moving eternally in one rut, and that a muddy one. Every time that Eastlake blunders, (and other men are quite as prone to do the same,) or Waagen assumes an air of importance, heaven and earth must realty not be adjured to witness : they have other things to attend to, of no inferior gravity.
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