m being confined within
the limits of the bar, was scarce bounded by those of nature."

Guy Patin writes[722], February 24, 1662, "They have finished in
Holland, in nine volumes in folio, an edition of all the works of
Grotius, whom I formerly knew: he was the finest genius of his time; a
man of surprising knowledge, and perfect master of polite and useful
learning." "He and Salmasius were the greatest scholars or their time,"
he writes in another letter[723]. And in another place, "Peter Grotius,
says he[724], was son of the first man of his age."

"I would not mention the most learned and greatest man of this country,
says Wicquefort[725], were I not forced to it by the remarks published
at Brussels on what I have said of him in my Memoirs: it will be readily
conceived that I mean Hugo de Groot. I admire, with the rest of the
world, the genius, the probity, and the works of this great man; and
besides this there are particular considerations, which inspire me with
a veneration for his memory."

Morhof calls him the phoenix of his age[726]: Hofman gives him the same
commendation.

"He is the greatest of men, says Meibomius[727], the light and support
of letters; on whom we can bestow no praise but what will fall short of
his virtue and erudition. His uncommon penetration makes us compare him
to an eagle in the clouds," says Oldenburg.

In 1727 was printed at Hall in Saxony, under the false name of Delft, a
book entitled _Hugonis Grotii Belgarum Phoenicis manes ab iniquis
obtrectationibus vindicati_. The author, who was said to be M.
Lehman[728], speaks of Grotius as the greatest man Holland ever
produced, and fit to be compared with the most illustrious of other
Countries, and he flatters himself that the Dutch will in the issue
agree with all nations, that he was the greatest ornament of their
country. He gives his thoughts of Grotius in the following lines.

_Hic ille est Grotius, majus quo doctior orbis
Nil habuit; credo, nil habiturus erit:
Gallia quem stupuit, stupuit quem Suecia, verus
Qui Phoebus Delphis, orbe pharusque fuit._

Salmasius, who so unmercifully fell foul of Grotius's memory, had
formerly been one of his greatest admirers. Grotius gave him the title
of Most Eminent, which Pope Urbin VIII. had a very little time before
attributed to the Cardinals. Salmasius answers him[729] August 8, 1630.
"You not only offend the Cardinals, but, more than most eminent Grotius
(_super emi