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Mr. Macpherson, in a note on his Temora, mentions an Irith Poem on this fubject which he had feen; and wherein the death of Ofcar is related

with many different circumftances. The quarrel is indeed afcribed to a difpute at a feaft, about the exchange of aims; but it does not reprefent the heroes as fighting till fome time after, when Cairbar met Ofcar at the pals of Gabhra, through which Ofcar was returning home with the fpoils of Ireland, which he had been ravaging in confequence of the quarrel. Pothibly Mr. Macpherfon might fay the foregoing Poem alfo is Irith, and indeed not without reafon, notwithstanding it contains fome of the very paflages he has inferted in his

Temora.

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Since I fent you, Mr. Urban, the two untranflated Poems, inferted in your Magazine for May laft, pp. 399 and 400, I have received the following account of their contents, in confe. quence of Dr. Willan's application to his friends at Edinburgh. The fitft of them, called Duan a Mhuileartich, is an account of a hideous monfter called Muilcartach, which fwam by fea into lieland, attacked Fingal's army, killed a number of his men, and was at last killed by his own hand."—I ardently with that this remarkable poctical romance was literally tranflated, as it probably contains much curious knowledge. It ftrikingly refembles the ferpent of Bagrada, which is faid to have

oppofed the Roman army under Regulus

in Africa.

The first part of the other Poem, called Cubba Fhinn do Riegb Lochin, defcribes "the compenfation offered by Fingal to the King of Lochiin, to fave Ireland from a threatened invafion."

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"Though the King of Lochlin should get thefe things and all the wealth of Ireland, he and his people would not return back till Ireland fhould be tributary to them $8.

The remainder of this Poem is "a

army,

defeription of the ftandards of Fingal's as they appeared in order. Perhaps this part may contain fome of the pallages of Mr. Macpherson's Offian.

It is already obferved that thefe Poems evidently appear to attribute the foregoing account to frongly corFingal to Ireland ; an affertion which roborates, that I could not omit repeating it here.

I fhall trouble you, Mr. Urban, with another letter of conclufions deducible, as they appear to me, from the foregoing premifes; but which I fhall endeavour to render as fhort as poffible. I think myfelf much indebted to you Sir, for the attention you have already

fhewn to,

Yours, &c.

THO. F. HILL.
No 31, Ely Place, Holborn.

laft Magazine, p. 403, have been erroneoudly
printed. The first note is right to the end
of the fift period: the remainder belongs to
the fecond no, which thould have been as
follows: "Though Ofan is generally
"reprefented as the ion of Fingal, this verfe
and the next do not leem to fpeak of him
as fuch.
Mac Nab faid, St. Patrick was
Fingal's fon." See Mag. for Jan. laft,

* THE first and fecond notes in your

"

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"A thousand whels, a thousand dogs;
A thousand collars + upon a thoufand P. 34.

dors:

principally indebted for the foregoing Song, honoured me with the traditional explication of this verfe, which is in the true flyle of gigantic fable. It agrees with Macpherton in respect to Cairbar hiding himfelf in a hole, when he attacked Ofcar: fee the note on v. 15. and reprefents Ofcar as poff ffing an invulnerability, very fimilar to that of Achilles. The

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word flag, here used, relates to the following story: Ofcar could only be dain by his own javelin; this Caibar knew, when he defired to exchange arms with him. After Cairbar "had flain Ofcar with this javelin, he hid himself in a hole of the earth, and covered himself with an enormous flag, which is above referred to."-Perhaps, however, the lait verfe affords fome fufpicion, that it is itself a bare interpolation.

B. 1, p. 14, edit. 8vo, 1773.

Or fine wool or filk coverings.

Or chains to lead them.

Or Lochaber axes. || Or bard red breaß-plates.

**Such maidens were probably fcarce. See alfo Mag. for June, p 489, about the See Mag. for May, p. 400.

Cuftom relating to women.

6 Mac Nab tranflated part of this poem for me: yet, though he wrote the copy of it, he did not feem clearly to understands.

Mag. for Maj, p. 399.

99. R marks, Critical and Illuftrative, on the Text and Notes of the laft Edition of Shakipeare *. 800.

THE

HESE Remarks can proceed from no other than the virulent pen of Warteno - Maflix, the modern Zoilus, who, however juft his criticifins, by the manner in which he conveys them, cannot fail to difguft his readers and irritate his opponents. It has been his

the ftory of Oliver the Paladin has just as much connection as it has with the history of Oliver of Cafiile and Arthur of Algarbe. With respect to the above French and Spaith titles, they are literally tranfcribed from Frefnoy. And fo much for Dr. Percy's acquaintance with old romances."

Cavalierly as Mr. R. treats these two learned prelates, Dr. Johnfon fares much worfe, and, bulky as his Dictio

principal bufinefs, very properly, to col-nary is, he lugs it in headlong, merely

late the original and authentic editions of his author. The affertion of his "eight profeffed editors," particularly Dr. Johnfon, Mr. Steevens, and Mr. Malone, that they have diligently performed this laborious but neceffary talk, our critic denies, even for a fingle play; and thefe affertions, it must be owned, are abundantly confirmed, fuppofing the references juft, in the courfe of thefe

Remarks. Of them we fhall exhibit a few, as a fpecimen both of his matter and manner; though of the latter he is fo bad a judge himfelf, that he thinks it "not inconfiftent with a due fenfe of ob. ligations and the profoundest respect."

LOVE'S LABOUR LOST.

"Dr.Warburton's note upon the old Romances] "Dr. Warburton," fays this redoubted critic [Dr. Percy] "is quite mistaken in deriving Oliver from [Palmerin de] Oliva, which is utterly incompatible with the genius of the Spanith language." So that, from his thus recurring to mythology, he clearly appears to be not a whit better acquainted with the history than Dr. Warburton was. "The old Romance," continues he, "of which Oliver was the hero, is intituled, in Spauith, "fliftorias de los nobles Cavalieros Olivero de Caftilla, y Artus de Algarbe, in fol. en Valladoid, 1501, in fol. en Sevilla, 1507" and in French thus, "Hiftoire d'Olivier de Caftile,

Artus d'Algarbe, fon loyal compagnon, & de Helene fille au Roy d'Angleterre, &c. tranflatée du Latin, par Pb. Camus, in fol. Gothique."

"From fo much feeming knowledge, from the annotator's great credit, and from his very confident affentions, who would be forward to fufpect his ignorance, or doubt his veracity? But it is even fo; he knows no more of the hiflory which he quote with fo much parade than Bp. Warburton knew of Amadis or Palmerin; with either of which

* Our critic confirms this fpelling from a more decifive authority than Shakspeare's will, viz. from a leafe or mortgage from him of a houfe in Blackfriars, thus fubfcribed with his own hand, which the editors (he fays) must have known to have been in Mr. Garrick's poffeffion, "though they did not think it neceffary to notice the fa&t.”

GINT. MAC, July, 1783.

to befpatter a work which does honour to its author and to our language; 2. g. Minnekin is evidently a corruption of mannekin, or manikin, properly mankin,

a little man."-" Dr. Johnfon," fays Mr. R. " is fo very imperfectly acquainted with the nature and derivation of the English language (and, in that refpect, his Dictionary, how valuable foever it may be on account of the explanation and ufe of English words, is beneath contempt; there being fcarcely ten words properly deduced in the whole work,) that it is no wonder to find him making minnekin and minx the fame word. But minnekin does not mean a nice trifling girl; and, though a substantive, is oftener ufed adjectively than otherwife. So in Midas (not John Lylies), 'My minikin Mifs.'-As mankin got changed into minnekin, a little man,' fo they formed minnekennels, ‘a little woman, a girl;' which has fince, by corruption, become minx. Thus laddefs (ladefs) from lad, has, by a fimilar progrefs, become lafs."

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MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

"Mr. Steevens is certainly mistaken in affigning Spenfer's death to Dublin. He died in King Street, Weftminster, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

"Sly. Am not I Chriftopher Sly, old Slys fau, of Burton-beat? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat-ale-wife of Wincot, if the know me

not, &c."

"Mr. Steevens fufpects that we should read Barton heath, Barton and Woodmancot, vulgarly Wencot, being both in Gloucestershire, near the refidence of Justice Shallow. [The ingenious obferver might have recollected William Vifor of Woncot.] But the matter is fully cleared up by the celebrated Mr. Warton, who pofilage in Warwickshire, with which Sbakfpare tively affures us, that "Wilncotte is a vil was well acquainted, near Stratford; that the houfe kept by our genial bostess still remains, but is at prefent a mill." A ftranger to the chronology of Mr. Warton's life would be apt to conclude, from this fatisfactory information, that Shakspeare and he had had many a merry meeting over a cup of our

genial

genial hofteffes Warwickshire ale; or how fhould we fuppofe him to have come by fuch a perfect knowledge of the houfe, our authors intimate acquaintance with it, and the character of its miftrefs? Burton Dorfet is a village in Warwick thire."

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY IV.

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1 Car. An't he not four by the day, I'll be hang'd: Charles' wain is over the new chimney."

"Charlefes wain is the vulgar name given to the conftellation called the Bear. But

why Charleses wain? What Charles? It is, in fact, a mere corruption of the Chories or

Churis wain (Sax. ceonf, a countryman.)

For this very ingenious and judicious ery. mology the author is indebted to a learned friend."

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.

"Fal. [on feeing the Prince and Poins difguifed as waiters] Ha a baftard son of the kings? and art not thou Poins, bis brother" ilis brother! whofe brother? the kings,

or his baftard fons? Aftonithing, that the editors did not perceive the abfurdity of printing, or, at leaf, pointing the paffage thus:

And art not thou Poins his brother? (i. e. Poinses brother, or brother to Poins) a valgar corruption of the genitive cafe!"

That fo eafy a mark fhould never before be hit is ftrange indeed. But the meaning, though obviously wrong to the eye, can never be miftaken by the dulleft ear. Such an advantage in this, and in many other inftances, has the ftage over the closet.

Sbal. - Will Squele, a Corfwold man. i. e. fays Mr. Steevens, one verfed in the gymnaftic exercises; and, con quently, of a daring fpirit, and athletic conftitution. I fuppole, continues he, the following paffage contains an allufion of the fame kind:

By my faith ye are wont to be as bold As yt were a lyon of Cotyfwold. "Again &

You ftale old ruffin, you lyon of Catfwell," "It is rather unlucky that the ingenious commentator did not comprehend the force of this expreffion. A lyon of Corfwold is a Sheep."

Dr. Farmer, though he is fometimes corrected, farés much better with this literary Drawcanfir than his brethren, being quoted, p. 100, only to be praised, and ftyled "an ingenious and learned critic, whom every lover of Shakspeare, literature, and truth, muft always regard with the utmoft gratitude and refpect." And in p. 176 Mr. Malone alfo is complimented with gratitude and respect for the pertinence, propriety, and great im

portance of his learned and ingenious

remarks."

P. 112. The critic cites two inftances

of Dr. Johnson's producing the reading of the old copies as his own conje&tures.

Of this writer's political principles we may form a judgement from his faying, ironically, p. 84, that the baring the fucceffion of the innocent iffue, in any cafe, for the perfonal mifconduct of the ancestor, is a humane and righteous principle, referved for the difcovery and practice of a more refined and liberal people, in a more enlightened and polite age," by which his prefent Majefty is virtually declared an ufurper; and afferting, p. 124, that the "Revolution Parliament, unhappily for this country! contributed as much to destroy the conftitution as that defcribed by Shakspeare (3d Part of King Henry VI.) did to preferve it."-His religious principles may, in like manner, be collected from feveral paffages and expreffions, which we hall leave the reader to difcover, particularly his quotation from Collins,

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"Otb. A liberal hand: the hearts, of old, gave hards;

But our new beraldry is― hands, not hearts." "Wbout it can be proved that this play exifted, in its prefent shape, prior to the inttitution of the order of baronets, one may, pretty fafely, admit that this paffage contains an allufion to the arms allotted them. But that Shakspeare intended to facer at the elablishment, or had fuch a refined and complex meaning as Dr. Warburton would contend, is not quite obvious. As to the inconfiftency of Othellos acquaintance with an English honour of the writers own time, every play abounds with fimilar inftances."

The vulgarifin of Without for Unless cannot efcape the intelligent reader.

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Univerfity of Wittemberg. The poet, in the fifth act, he thinks, had forgot what he wrote in the first.

"In fact, however, the poet has forgot nothing; neither is there any reafon to fuppofe the leaft inconfiftency in the marter: men may ftudy, or refide at the Univerfity to any age."

This could not be unknown to the learned judge, who continued at the Univerfity bisself till paft that age-as a fellow of a college. But neither he, nor his animadverter, ever knew an inftance of a nobleman or a prince (like Hamlet) continuing his studies there to that age.

Many of thefe Remarks it must, however, be owned, are very pertinent, and difplay much critical knowledge and fagacity. Though far from being fault lefs bisself, Mr. R. is more fuccefsful than could have been expected in detecting the faults of others. But it muft be acknowledged that he has had the advantage of purloining, from the Supplements of the very Editors he cenfures, materials for correcting their errors. It is hoped, however, that the new edition of this great bard, which is here advertised as preparing for the prefs in eight duodecimo volumes, will be free from that perfonal and illiberal abufe which difgraces the prefent and his former publication, fo as frequently to make even the better caufe appear the worfe. Then, befides his own difcoveries, availing himself also of the refearches of his predeceflors, he may be able to fee farther, and explore more, than the giants on whofe fhoulders he ftands.

We shall clofe this article by copying two letters from "The St. James's "Chronicle."

"SIR,

June 5.

"I have juft feen a volume of Remarks on the laft admirable edition of Shakspeare. I here fend you my fentiments of a work which, I believe, few of your many and refpectable readers will have the patience to perufe. This redoubted Reformer of modern Criticifm attacks fome of the firft Writers of the prefent age with the malevolence of a cynick, and the dulnefs of a pedant. Dr. Johnfon and Mr. Warton are the chief objects of his refentment. His Commentary is confined to topicks of a molt trivial and infignificant nature. He explains nothing that is of any confequence to Shakspeare's

real merit and character. He entertains vs with differtations on the juft fize of minikin

This word is always fubftituted by our Buthor for bimself.

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6 SIR, June 10. "Your correfpondent Alcipbron either has not read the Remarks on the last Edition of Shakspeare, or from ignorance, interestedness, or prejudice, is incapable of paffing a juft fentence upon it. The Writer of this Book has evidently propofed to himfelf a certain defign, which, in my humble opinion, he has fully accomplished. It has been to prove the late admirable edition (as your correfpondent calls it) of the above great author an execrabie bad one. Ard this, 1-fay, he has done. To object the trifling and infignificant nature of his Remarks is nugatory and abfurd; fince the objection, if founded, applies with equal force and propriety to the Annotations of thofe great Criticks whom he has undertaken to oppofe. Such a reader as Alciphron, who can be neither acquainted with the fabject, nor fenfible of the ufe and indeed importance of this, or any other fpecies of Critieifm, is little qualified to determine the tafte or manners pertinent to the occafion. And as his humanity feems to be of a piece with his judgement, his cenfure is much more valuable than his praife. JUSTICE."

100. The Works of the Right Reverend Thomas Newton, D. D. late Lord Bishop of Bristol, and Dean of St. Paul's, London. Web fome Account of his Life, and Anecdotes of feveral of bis Friends. Written by Himself. 3 Vols. 410.

THE Contents of the Ift volume are as follows:-" Preface to the Life. Some Account of the Author's Life, &c. (as above). Appendix to it, containing, 1, A Speech intended for the Houfe of Lords, on the fecond Reading of the Diffenters Bill, May 19, 17722. The Sentiments of a moderate Man concerning Toleration, 1779. [Thefe were printed on a fiugle fheet, and diftributed in the Houfe of Lords.] 3. A Letter to the New Parliament, with Hints of fome Regulations which the Nation hopes and expects from thein, 1780 [This was printed and delivered gratis, at the two Houfes, to their re1pective members.]

Differtations, on the Prophecies, which have remarkably been fulfilled, and at this Time are ful filling in the World. In Three Parts."

Of

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genial hofteffes Warwickshire ale; or how fhould we fuppofe him to have come by fuch a perfect knowledge of the houfe, our authors intimate acquaintance with it, and the character of its miftrefs? Burton Dorfet is a village in Warwick thire."

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY IV.

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I Car. An't be not four by the day, I'll be hang'd: Charles' twain is over the new chimney."

"Charlefes wain is the vulgar name given

to the conftellation called the Bear. But why Charleses wain? What Charles? It is, in fact, a mere corruption of the Chories or Churis wain (Sax. ceons, a countryman.) For this very ingenious and judicious ety. mology the author is indebted to a learned friend."

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.

"Fal. [on feing the Prince and Peins difguifed as waiters] Ha a baftard son of the kings? and art not thou Poins, bis brother"

His brother! whofe brother? the kings, or his baftard fons? Aftonithing, that the editors did not perceive the abfurdity of printing, or, at leaf, pointing the paffage thus:

And art not thou Poins his brother?

(i. e. Pointes brother, or brother to Poins) a vulgar corruption of the genitive cafe!"

That fo eafy a mark fhould never before be hit is ftrange indeed. But the meaning, though obviously wrong to the eye, can never be miftaken by the dulieft car. Such an advantage in this, and in many other inftances, has the stage over the closet.

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You ftale old ruffin, you lyon of Catfwell.” "It is rather unlucky that the ingenious commentator did not comprehend the force of this expreffion. A lyon of Catfweld is a Sheep."

Dr. Farmer, though he is fometimes corrected, farés much better with this literary Drawcanfir than his brethren, being quoted, p. 100, only to be praifed, and styled "an ingenious and learned critic, whom every lover of Shakfpcare, literature, and truth, muft always regard with the utmoft gratitude and refpect." And in p. 176 Mr. Malone alfo is complimented with gratitude and respect for the pertinence, propriety, and great im

portance of his learned and ingenious remarks."

P. 112. The critic cites two inftances of Dr. Johnfon's producing the reading of the old copies as his own conje&tures.

Of this writer's political principles we may form a judgement from his faying, ironically, p. 84, that the barring the fucceffion of the innocent iffue, in any anceftor, is a humane and righteous cafe, for the perfonai mifconduct of the principle, referved for the difcovery and practice of a more rehned and liberal people, in a more enlightened and polite age," by which his prefent Majefty is virtually declared an ufurper; and afferting, p. 124, that the "Revolution Parliament, unhappily for this country! contributed as much to deftroy the conftitution as that defcribed by Shakspeare (3d Part of King Henry VI.) did to preferve it."-His religious principles may, in like manner, be collected from feveral paffages and expreffions, which we shall leave the reader to difcover, particularly his quotation from Collins, KING RICHARD III.

P. 144.

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"Oth. A liberal hand: the hearts, of old,

But

But our new beraldry is― bands, not hearts." gave bards; "Wbout it can be proved that this play exifted, in its prefent shape, prior to the inftitution of the order of baronets, one may, pretty fafely, admit that this paffage contains an allufion to the arms allotted them. that Shakspeare intended to facer at the efablishment, or had fuch a refined and complex meaning as Dr. Warburton would contend, is not quite obvious. As to the inconfiftency of Othellos acquaintance with an English honour of the writers own time, every play abounds with fimilar inftances.”

The vulgarifm of Without for Unless cannot efcape the intelligent reader.

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