“This is doubtless one of those exhibitions of learning which have made such a deep impression on the reviewers.  Certainly, as it stands, this note suggests a thorough acquaintance with all the by-paths of the Ignatian literature, and seems to represent the gleanings of many years’ reading.  It is important to observe, however, that every one of these references, except those which I have included in brackets, is given in the appendix to Cureton’s ‘Vindiciae Ignatianae,’ where the passages are quoted in full.  Thus two-thirds of this elaborate note might have been compiled in ten minutes.  Our author has here and there transposed the order of the quotations, and confused it by so doing, for it is chronological in Cureton.  But what purpose was served by thus importing into his notes a mass of borrowed and unsorted references?  And, if he thought fit to do so, why was the key-reference to Cureton buried among the rest, so that it stands in immediate connection with some additional references on which it has no bearing?” [68:1]

I do not see any special virtue in the amount of time which might suffice, under some circumstances, to compile a note, although it is here advanced as an important point to observe, but I call attention to the unfair spirit in which Dr. Lightfoot’s criticisms are made.  I ask every just-minded reader to consider what right any critic has to insinuate, if not directly to say, that, because some of the references in a note are also given by Cureton, I simply took them from him, and thus “imported into my notes a mass of borrowed and unsorted references,” and further to insinuate that I “here and there transposed the order” apparently to conceal the source?  This is a kind of criticism which I very gladly relinquish entirely to my high-minded and reverend opponent.  Now, as full quotations are given in Cureton’s appendix, I should have been perfectly entitled to take references from it, had I pleased, and for the convenience of many readers I distinctly indicate Cureton’s work, in the note, as a source to be compared.  The fact is, however, that I did not take the references from Cureton, but in every case derived them from the works themselves, and if the note “seems to represent the gleanings of many years’ reading,” it certainly does not misrepresent the fact, for I took the trouble to make myself acquainted with the “by-paths of Ignatian literature.”  Now in analysing the references in this note it must be borne in mind that they illustrate the statement that “doubts, more or less definite,” continued to be expressed regarding the Ignatian Epistles.  I am much obliged to Dr. Lightfoot for drawing my attention to Wotton.  His name is the first in the note, and it unfortunately was the last in a list on another point in my note-book, immediately preceding this one, and was by mistake included in it.  I also frankly give up Weismann, whose doubts I find I had exaggerated, and proceed to examine Dr. Lightfoot’s