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

by our excellent prelate. I
was even pleased with the apprehended ingenuity of my discoveries.
But the whole was a mistake, which, whilst it will be a warning to
myself, may furnish an instructive lesson to others. At the same time, I
do not retract the character which I have given of the Adventures of
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. Whoever was the author of that
performance, it does credit to his abilities and to his heart."
After this decisive testimony of Bishop Berkeley's son, accompanied by
the candid confession of error on the part of the editor of the
_Biographia Britannica_, the rumour as to Berkeley's authorship of
Gaudentio ought to have been finally discredited. Nevertheless, it
seems still to maintain its ground: it is stated as probable by Dunlop, in
his _History of Fiction_; while the 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