Burrow, Edward John: The Elgin marbles: with an abridged historical and topographical account of Athens (Band 1): Illustrated with forty plates (London, 1817)

by any chisel since their original creation, m
organized, as almost living forms, link, as it
were, the ages that are long past with the
present passing day; and having stood in
their elevated stations, alike insensible to the
applause and contempt of Heathens, Moham-
medans, and Christians, of race succeeding
race, have at last been brought, by English
enterprise and patriotism, to adorn, a second
time, the metropolis of a free and illustrious
country*

With regard to the contested point, whether
the sculptures of the Parthenon be the work
of Phidias himself, it is so nearly connected
with the exalted interest which we must be
allowed to feel in their possession, that it is
worthy of some attention. But, as we have
no positive testimony to the fact, we must
abide by the sort of evidence which we are
able to produce. It is very obvious, that
neither the superior, or indeed any other single
artist employed upon the Parthenon, did or
could execute the whole of the exterior deco-
rations. The several Metopes, and different
portions of the Frize, areof very unequal merit;