MALLET’S “Northern Antiquities,” which was translated into English by Bishop Percy in 1770, gave the general public its first idea of the rich treasures of the Scandinavian Sagas and Eddas. The mythology of the Northern tribes, preserved chiefly in Icelandic, is second only to the myths of Greece in beauty, while in strength it frequently surpasses them. Mallet lived before mythology became a science, and he is sometimes sharply criticized by those who are more ready to express critical opinion than they are to appreciate merit; but he undoubtedly has great merit both as a scholar and a writer, and his works on Scandinavian myths and customs are never likely to be wholly out of date. He was born at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1730, and educated there. In 1752 he became professor of Literature in the Academy at Copenhagen, and in 1755 published his introduction to the “History of Denmark,” following it in 1756 with a second part entitled “Monuments of the Mythology and the Poetry of the Celts, and More Particularly of the Ancient Scandinavians.” This is the work which, as translated by Bishop Percy under the title of “Northern Antiquities,” has become an English classic, largely through its own intrinsic merit, but to a considerable extent, no doubt, through the excellence of Percy’s style. In 1760 Mallet returned to Geneva and became professor of History there. He was strongly opposed to the French Revolutionists, and in 1792 was obliged to leave Geneva on account of political persecutions which kept him in exile until 1801. He returned in that year and died at Geneva, February 8th, 1807.