WE do not pretend to know the motives which induced the Corporation to endeavor to secure the services of Dr. Sievers; but judging from the facts so far made known, we think there is reason for congratulating the University for the refusal of the Doctor to come to America. Dr. Sievers is one of the highest authorities in Europe on German philology; and if Harvard had needed nothing but a professor in German philology, no one would have regretted more the failure of securing such a strong scholar than the Crimson. But it seems the Corporation, in its anxiety to get high authorities in their proper departments for our University, has allowed itself for the present to forget the actual needs of Harvard. What we do need is an instructor to fill the place of Dr. Hedge; and those who have had the pleasure of studying under Dr. Hedge will scarcely feel that his place can be filled by a great philologist. When the College shall have secured the services of high authorities in German literature, it will then be time to think of making the addition of a philological scholar to the German department, but not till then. Much as we regret, therefore, that Harvard has failed to secure the services of Dr. Sievers, we feel nevertheless that for the present it is as well.
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