THE IF ADVERTISEMENT. F Mr. Malone, in his zeal for detecting the Mifcellaneous Papers, which were exhibited as Shakspeare's; and which, with little help from others, had already detected themselves, had written, inftead of his INQUIRY, a pamphlet in plain profe; stating his objections, without irony, and fubmitting his documents, without fcoffs; thereby impugne. ing fraud, without afferting fiction, and convincing opponents, without roufing adverfaries; no one would have answered what few would have read; fince a cheat exploded is a cheat no more. But, in his high-blown pride, he was little folicitous to diffemble his free contempt for those, who, for a time, thought differently from him on difputable points; while they were influenced by reafonings, which will not foon be confuted. He was, by those motives, induced to scatter his wilful abufe, with a ready pen, throughout his Inquiry, against thofe, whom he terms "partizans of fraud," ❝ ringleaders of impofition," " hardened offenders;" thus, turning his pens to lances; and, by a scornful rhime, endeavouring to make their names fixed figures for the time of fearn, to point his flow unmoving finger at. Amidst this tempeft of provocation, he fent them a roifting challenge to defend, or retract, their opinions; thinking, doubtless, to Strike amazement to their drowsy spirits. The Believers, indeed, felt, that extremity is the trier of Spirits. Nevertheless; as men attacked, they merely act on the the defenfive, in making this Apology; as Englishmen, who had received many a blow, they, in their defperate turn, barely fend back his arrows, but without their venom; and as fcholars, antiquaries, and heralds, they only act agreeably to their charter, and their customary rights, when they refift the tyranny of a Dictator in the republic of letters; without vindicating the Miscellaneous Papers, which they acknowledge to be spurious: yet; they do not admit Mr.. Malone's principle, that our whole Archæology may be misrepresented, for the purpose of detecting a literary fraud; nor, do they allow, that the faid republic ought to be invaded in its limits, or disturbed in its quiet, by his difcharge of this inundation of mistempered humour, for the gratification of an indiscreet zeal. They will only add what Johnson remarked of Hanmer: BUT, I MAY, WITHOUT INDECENCY, OBSERVE, THAT NO MAN SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TEACH WHAT HE HAS NEVER LEARNED HIMSELF. [MACBETH. MDCCXLV.] POSTSCRIPT: The ftamp in the Title-page fhows to the curious eye the arms of the Revels: and, the Tail-piece exhibits to the inquifitive dramatist the seal of the office of the Revels, during the reigns of five fovereigns, under the KILLI GREWS. I SHAKSPEARE-PAPERS. HAVE the honour to appear at the bar of this critical (a) court; in order to fhew caufe, why an information fhall not be filed, by the public accufer, against the believers of the papers, which have been attributed to Shakspeare, for having committed the aggravated crimes of being "the credulous "partizans of folly and (b) impofture;" of thinking for themselves; and judging from (a) See the Seffion of the Poets, in the State Poems, 1703, vol. i. p. 206. Apollo, concern'd to fee the tranfgreffions, That our paultry fcribblers daily commit, (b) Mal. Inquiry, 366. t evidence. I am not, however, instructed by those believers, who certified, under their hands, the genuineness of thofe Shakspeariana: Nor, am I inftructed by those believers, who retain their original belief to the present day. Such being the parties; I will proceed, if this court will grant me its indulgent attention, and favour me with its accuftomed patience, to fhow caufe why an information fhould not be filed against thofe believers, who, claiming the right of fair difcuffion, and of free exemption from the authority of a dictator, within the republic of letters, are ambitious of appearing in this enlightened prefence, without being deemed "fome untu"tor'd youths, unskilful in the world's falfe "forgeries." - § I. — THE GENERAL ARGUMENT. OF SHAKSPEARE, it cannot be afferted, as of conquerors, in every period, that be left a name, at which the world grew pale. Shakfpeare was the delight of his own time; and became the admiration of after-ages. He was born on the 23d of April 1564, a day, propitious to genius, fortunate for our island, and 7 happy happy for mankind. He was produced in the gay season of nature, during a refplendent reign of genius and talents. Nor, did Shakspeare conteft the palm of poetry with " puny powers:" He rofe to the highest eminence, after a ftrenuous competition with some of the greatest poets, which any clime had produced, in any age. The nation, at length, claimed him as her own. And, Englishmen, when they travelled amongst the lettered inhabitants of the Continent, valued themselves, and were valued by others, as the countrymen of Shakspeare. Whoever, then, offers a purpofed dishonour to Shakspeare, commits a national offence. And he, who defignedly publishes spurious papers, as the real productions of Shakspeare, does him real difhonour. I am, therefore, ready to admit, that the partizans of such " folly and impofture," if fuch there be, ought to be proceeded against, in this court, as "So crimeful, and fo capital in nature. Yet, he, who affumes the character of a public accufer, ought not to commit crimeful feats himself. From him, fairness of pro ceeding, whilft detecting foulness, and candour of reprefentation, whilft profecuting impofi |