Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851 | Page 2

where any MSS. are likely to be found, and the recovery or loss of the many inestimable authors of antiquity be made certain. Let the libraries of Europe be examined strictly and inquisitorially (and this will not be a heavy expense), and the new accessions to classical literature printed, the MSS. {162} which present themselves of already known authors carefully examined, and the variations to the received text marked. How much this is wanted we experience in the corruptions of Sophocles, ?schylus, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristoteles! In this way much that is valuable may be recovered; much that is matter of discussion set at rest. Let me instance the Babrian fables, and the discovery of Mr. Harris at Alexandria; who, it was remarked to me, might have discovered the whole, instead of a part, had proper hands unfolded the mummy.
On the advantages of this search, it were useless to expatiate: every one is sensible of it, and, sooner or later, it must occur. Let us not allow our grandchildren to surpass us in everything, but let us set about this ourselves. Monstrous as the idea seems, it is simple of execution.
I will not take up the space so kindly afforded me by the Editor of "NOTES AND QUERIES" with speculation. The Association should be composed of a Literary Section and a Business Section: the first to be under the administration of a President and an efficient Board of Examiners, to look into literary matters, and examine and appoint the proper officers of the Investigation Parties; which parties must be composed of clever, adventurous, hardy, and adroit men, obtaining the assistance of the natives wherever they may be carrying on their researches; the Second Section to be under the direction of a Chairman and Finance Committee, to which the officers of the subordinate departments render their accounts.
I know not whether more will be required of me on this subject; very likely not: but I reserve much that I could say, until that time. I have now only to thank the Editor for inserting this long, but I will not say, wholly uninteresting proposal.
KENNETH R. H. MACKENZIE.
February 18. 1851.
[Footnote 1: I need not remind you how favourable an opportunity is presented by this year.]
* * * * *
THE ESSAY ON SATIRE.
Dryden, as sir Walter Scott observes, left a name in literature "second only to those of Milton and Shakspere"; but, popular as his writings were, he gave no collective edition of his poetical or dramatic works. The current editions of his poems may therefore be open to censure, both on the score of deficiency and redundancy--and such I believe to be the fact.
An Essay on satire, itself a coarse satire, has been ascribed to him for more than a century on dubious authority, and the correctness of this ascription has been properly suggested as a question for examination.
We have to decide on the credibility of two opposite statements, as made in the publications about to be enumerated:--
1. "The works of John Sheffield, earl of Mulgrave, marquis of Normanby, and duke of Buckingham. LONDON: printed for John Barber, 1723. 4o. 2 vols."
2. "The works of John Sheffield, earl of Mulgrave, marquis of Normanby, and duke of Buckingham. Printed for John Barber, alderman of LONDON, 1726. Small 8o. 2 vols."
3. "Original poems and translations, by John Dryden, Esq. LONDON: printed for J. and R. Tonson, 1743. 12o. 2 vols."
In the two former publications, the poem appears as the entire composition of the noble author, and is said to have been "written in the year 1675." In the latter publication it appears without date, and is said to be "by Mr. Dryden and the earl of Mulgrave."
The publications were posthumous, and as the editors afford no explanation of the point in dispute, we must consult the reputed authors.
In the year 1691, as an advertisement to King Arthur, a dramatic opera, Dryden printed a catalogue of his "plays and poems in quarto," in order to prevent future mis-ascriptions. The catalogue comprises ten poems, but no Essay on satire. The publisher of King Arthur was Mr. Jacob Tonson.
In 1682, the earl of Mulgrave published, anonymously, through the agency of Mr. Joseph Hindmarsh, an Essay upon poetry. It contains these lines:--
"The laureat here may justly claim our praise, Crown'd by Mac-Fleckno with immortal bays; Though prais'd and punish'd for another's rimes, His own deserve that glorious fate sometimes, Were he not forc'd to carry now dead weight, Rid by some lumpish minister of state."
In 1717, Mr. Tonson published Poems by the earl of Roscommon; and added thereto the Essay on poetry, "with the leave and with the corrections of the author." The lines shall now be given in their amended state, as they appear in that volume, with the accompanying notes:--
"The Laureat[2] here may justly claim our praise,