fraud cannot be allowed, to weigh down prefumptions of fairness. On the other hand, what had Mr. Malone, during the first period, to oppose to these reasonings, and to those facts? He had an indifference, which ftifled his curiofity. He was indifferent about the Shakfpeariana in Norfolk-ftreet; because he had been told, by travellers, tales "of antres vaft, " and defarts idle:" He made little effort to fee them; fearing left his inspection should authenticate them; left his examination fhould clear the dark, and confirm the doubtful: So, he refolved" to be a candle-holder, and look "on" threatening, however, to accufe, and preparing, diligently, to cross-examine, when publication fhould furnish matter, and give him a pretence. He was urged, meanwhile, by his fcepticism to contradict the probability, which he had taught the inquifitive world to entertain, in favour of the discovery of the fragments of Shakspeare, either from Bagley, or from Barnard. In this temper, was he carried forward by his theory to contend, during the first period, against Hooker, that no truth can contradict any truth.

2. Thus decifive was the general argument, in favour of the Believers, during the whole of

the

the first period. We are now about to enter on the second of the propofed periods, at the epoch of the expected publication. The day came at laft, which relieved the public accufer from his embarrassments, when the MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS were fent into the cold world, from Norfolk-ftreet, Contradictory tales were now neither heard, nor told, by "ftrenuous partizans," on either fide. The cavils of poffibility, which Tillotson had exploded, as inadmiffible, in argument, vanished into air; into thin air. And, the various objections, which, during the first period, had excited contempt by their folly, or laughter by their levity, were difmiffed, during the fecond period, to ferve a fimilar turn, on fome lefs lucky day:

«Soon to that mass of nonsense to return;

Where things destroy'd are swept to things unborn.”

The publication of the Mifcellaneous Papers was extremely favourable both to the believers, and to the unbelievers. The believers were now furnished with the means, which they wanted before, of carrying their general reafonings into minute infpection: And, many were convinced, by that inspection, and believed no more. On the other hand, the impugners of those papers, who would not inspect the originals, had now

an

an opportunity to examine the copies, which only supplied a fecond-rate evidence. Objections of a new form, and of a very different import, were at length framed, by very different minds, and urged, with very different aims. The minor critics fucceffively appeared with their Letters, their Free Reflections, and their Familiar Verfes. But, the world waited with anxious fufpenfe, for the appearance of the public accufer himself, who, for many a month, with threatening tone, had avowed his purpose, to detect what he would not condefcend to infpect:

26

All eyes direct their rays « On him, and crowds turn coxcombs, as they gaze.” He now (z) undertook, without examining the originals, "to prove, from 1. the orthography, 2. the phrafeology, 3. the dates given or deducible by inference, and 4. "the diffimilitude of the hand-writing, that "not a fingle paper or deed in this extraordi

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nary volume was written or executed by "the person to whom it is afcribed (a).” Yet, none of these propofitions could, in any degree,

(z) Inquiry, p. 22-3.

(a) I quote this passage, pointed as it is, designedly, by this mafter of criticism, in order to fhow his accurate knowledge of that useful branch of critical science.

have been established by him, who was content with secondary evidence, after calling for rigid demonstration, if those papers had not been published; fince, without infpection, there could be no examination. The publication, then, was of great confequence to him, and also of effential ufe to the world. And, the fubfcribers, who contributed their money, for the neceffary expence, thereby performed an important service to SHAKSPEARE, and to TRUTH. Yet, the public accuser is too busy with his project of detection to thank the admirers of Shakspeare, and lovers of truth, for their liberality: And, as gentle dulness ever loves a joke, he is, ever and anon, breaking his jefts upon their folly, and credulity, in acting without his confent, and believing without his inftruction; though without accomplishing his jocund purpose of setting the table in a roar. Such dulness, and such jokes, may, perhaps, provoke the fubfcribers to exclaim, with Marfton (6):

"Tut, tut, a toy of an empty brain,

"Some fcurrill jests, light gewgaws, fruitlesse, vaine.” Knowing, however, while thus occupied with his light gewgaws, that the pofitive praife of one, may reflect indirect cenfure on many;

(b) In the Scourge of Villanie, 1599.

Mr.

Mr. Malone brings his twenty years friend, Lord Charlemont, on the ftage, to declare, in terfe English, "that if Lord C. had known "as much of it as he now does, he would not "have given either his name or his money to "the publication (c)." Nay! Give his name to the publication! Did ever any nobleman before, when fubfcribing his charitable guinea to a fcribbler, think himself anfwerable for the wit, the truth, or the propriety, of the book? "Opinion mounts this froth unto the skies; "Which judgements' reafon justly vilifies: "For, (fhame to the poet) read NED, behold! "How wittily a Maifter's-hood can fcold (d)."

3. Thus much, with regard to the second period. We are now to enter on the third of the propofed periods, from the epoch of the publication to the prefent day. While the public accufer was thus cafting froth against the wind, he was content to facrifice the graces of candour, to relinquish the praise of liberality, and to enfeeble the ftrength of conceffion. He might have conceded, with candour and liberality, to the fubfcribers, the moft of whom, during this third period, believed as little as himself, that they had done an useful

(c) Inquiry, p. I.

(d) Marston's Satire: Stultorum plena funt omnia.

fervice.