Mr. Nichols (of the Gentleman’s Magazine), writing of Swift’s Life about the same time, says: “I was much indebted to the friendship of Mr. Malone, who, besides many useful hints, obtained for me a very valuable Essay on the earlier Part of the Life of Swift by the Rev. Dr. John Barrett, Vice Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, with numerous articles written by the Dean in early life, and then first printed. From Mr. Malone also, I received a drawing of the very excellent likeness of the Dean, taken after his death; and an original letter to Dr. Jenny on the state of Ireland (1736), copied from one in the possession of Lord Cremorne.
In 1796 the Rev. James Plumptre of Clare Hall, Cambridge, “with high respect for his critical opinions,” sends his Observations on the Tragedy of Hamlet. And John Kemble, not to be behind in complimentary offering, replies to an assailant of Shakspeare by an anonymous essay, Macbeth Reconsidered, scribed to his master in the critical art, Malone.
[Desirous of doing all honour to the person and character of Lord Southampton, Shakspeare’s patron, no opportunity was lost (see p. 179) of introducing both to our familiar acquaintance. With this view, one of his explorations for a picture of that nobleman was to Woburn, of which the following account is given to Ozias Humphrey. I am indebted for it to the kindness of Mr. Halliwell, but it came to hand too late for arrangement in chronological order.]
