Vorwort. VII

in der Times und anderen Zeitungen. Leider war ihm die Durch-führung nicht mehr vergönnt. Auch in diesem Falle wird wohlin späteren Jahren Ft. Priebschs Werk und Einfluß in seiner völligenGröße erfaßt werden.

Nähere Freunde und Schüler Robert Priebschs haben in der Times'dem tiefen Schmerze über dessen Hinscheiden beredten Ausdruck ver-liehen, der in Englands Gelehrtenwelt viel Zustimmung fand:

AN APPREGIATION: Professor H. G. Atkins' and Mr. F. Norman(London) write: —

The appointment of Professor Robert Priebsch to the chair ofGerman at University College, London, in 1898, marked an epoch inGerman University studies in this country. He had already wonrecognition for bis published work, and he devoted the remainder ofhis life to the furtherance of Germanic studies with the single-mindedness and enthusiasm of the true scholar.

On his arrival he at once threw himself energetically into the workof reorganizing the German department and the German library. Fromvery modest beginnings he built up, in the 33 years during whichhe held the chair, a vigorous school of medieval German studieswhich—particularly in its post-graduate aspect—became a model ofits kind, and by providing holders for many University posts he wasdirectly instrumental in raising the whole Standard of the teachingof his subject in this country. For the prosecution of these studiesan adequate library was essential. On Professor Priebsch's arrivalat University College the German library consisted of little more thanelementary textbooks, and when he left he had, in conjunction withthe late Professor J. G. Robertson, built up a library of Germanstudies which need not fear comparison with the best in this countryor abroad. He was one of the pioneers of palaeographical studiesin London, and among his other eminent Services to scholarship mustbe reckoned the instruction which he gave to advanced students ofthis subject and the accumulation of a most valuable collection of

1 Abdruck mit gütiger Erlaubnis der Times-Schriftleitung: s. Times 29. V. und31. V. 1935; s. auch deutsche Nachrufe: Herrigs Archiv 1935, H. 1/2, Bd. 168(R. Petsch) und Zs. f. d. Philologie 61, 1936, H. 1 (A. Closs).