Notes and Queries, Number 51, October 19, 1850 | Page 8

writer of a useful Essay on "Social Utopias," in the third volume of _Chambers's Papers for the People_, No. 18., treats it as an established fact.
L.
In addition to the remarks of your correspondent L., I may state that the first edition in 1737, 8vo., contains 335 pages, exclusive of the publisher's address, 13 pages. It is printed for T. Cooper, at the Globe, in Paternoster Row. The second edition in 1748, 8vo., contains publisher's address, 12 pages; the work itself 291 pages.
I find no difference between the two editions, except that in the first the title is _The Memoirs of Sigr. Gaudentio di Lucca_; and in the second, _The Adventures of Sigr. Gaudentio di Lucca_; and that in the second the notes are subjoined to each page, while in the first they follow the text in smaller type, as _Remarks of Sigr. Rhedi_. The second edition is--
"Printed for W. Innys in Paternoster Row, and R. Manby and H.S. Cox on Ludgate Hill, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster Row."
With respect to the author, it must be observed that there is no evidence whatever to justify its being attributed to Bishop Berkeley. Clara Reeve, in her _Progress of Romana_, 1786, 8vo., mentions him as having been supposed to be the author; {328} but her authority seems only to have been the anonymous writer in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. xlvii. p. 13., referred to by your correspondent. The author of an elaborate review of the work in the _Retrospective Review_, vol. iv., advocates Bishop Berkeley's claim, but gives no reasons of any validity; and merely grounds his persuasion upon the book being such as might be expected from that great writer. He was, however, at least bound to show some conformity in style, which he does not attempt. On the other hand, we have the positive denial of Dr. George Berkeley, the bishop's son (Kippis's _Biog. Brit._, vol. iii., addenda to vol. ii.), which, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, seems to be quite sufficient.
In a letter signed C.H., _Gent. Mag._, vol. vii. p. 317., written immediately on the appearance of the work, the writer observes:--
"I should have been very glad to have seen the author's name prefixed to it: however, I am of opinion that it its very nearly related to no less a hand than that which has so often, under borrowed names, employed itself to amuse and trifle mankind, in their own taste, out of their folly and vices."
This appears to point at Swift; but it is quite clear that he could not be the author, for very obvious reasons.
A correspondent of the _Gent. Mag._, who signs his initials W.H. (vol. lv. part 2. p. 757), states "on very good authority" that the author was--
"Barrington, a Catholic priest, who had chambers in Gray's Inn, in which he was keeper of a library for the use of the Romish clergy. Mr. Barrington wrote it for amusement, in a fit of the gout. He began it without any plan, and did not know what he should write about when be put pen to paper. He was author of several pamphlets, chiefly anonymous, particularly the controversy with Julius Bate on Elohim."
Of this circumstantial and sufficiently positive attribution, which is dated October, 1785, no contradiction ever appeared that I am aware of. The person intended is S. Berington, the author of--
"Dissertations on the Mosaical Creation, Deluge, building of Babel, and Confusion of Tongues, &c." London: printed for the Author, and sold by C. Davis in Holborn, and T. Osborn in Gray's Inn, 1750, 8vo., pages 466, exclusive of introduction, 12 pages.
On comparing Gaudentio di Lucca with this extremely curious work, there seems a sufficient similarity to bear out the statement of the correspondent of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, W.H. The author quoted in the _Remarks of Sigr. Rhedi_, and in the _Dissertations_, are frequently the same, and the learning is of the same cast in both. In particular, Bochart is repeatedly cited in the Remarks and in the Dissertations. The philosophical opinions appear likewise very similar.
On the whole, unless some strong reason can be given for questioning the statement of this correspondent of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, I conceive that S. Berington, of whom I regret that so little is known, must be considered to be the author of The Memoirs of Gaudentio di Lucca.
JAS. CROSSLEY.
Manchester, October 7. 1850.
* * * * *
ENGLEMANN'S BIBLIOTHECA SCRIPTORUM CLASSICORUM.
(Vol. ii., pp. 296. 312.)
The sort of defence, explanation, or whatever it may be called, founded upon usage, and offered by ANOTHER FOREIGN BOOKSELLER, is precisely what I wanted to get out, if it existed, as I suspected it did.
If your correspondent be accurate as to Engelmann, it appears that no wrong is done to _him_; it is only the public which is mystified by a