dramatists of that and the previous age as their contentions and rivalries drew forth.
“In the biographical memoir,” he says, “it would have been hard to exact that the editor should rival the criticism of Johnson, or produce facts which had escaped the accuracy of Malone . . . whose industry has removed the clouds which so long hung over the events of Dryden’s life.” Such is and has been the general opinion. The laugh, if any arose, soon ceased. The book remains a standard of authority of the times and matters of which it treats. And there are few who profess attachment to letters or to knowledge of many of the writers or writings of that day, but confess their obligations to the Life of Dryden.
To a second edition of this work, improved by new materials, he looked forward with interest. One of these acquisitions[1] was a letter of Dryden sent by correspondents named Smith, which he traced as having been addressed to the second Earl of Derwentwater, on a question of poetical translation. In return, wishing to be grateful, he transmits an autograph of Pope; laments he has not a line of Shakspeare to bestow ; but sends a fac-simile of his name to his will and to a law-deed, March 1612–13; and adds in allusion to piracies: —
- ↑ Now in the possession of R. Monckton Milnes, Esq.
