Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851 | Page 2

Coptic, Turkish, and Chinese
languages:--that application be made to government for the pecuniary
furtherance of this enterprise;--and that the active co-operation of all
foreign literary men be secured.[1]
Thus a careful and untiring search may be entered upon in all the
regions of the earth where any MSS. are likely to be found, and the
recovery or loss of the many inestimable authors of antiquity be made
certain. Let the libraries of Europe be examined strictly and
inquisitorially (and this will not be a heavy expense), and the new
accessions to classical literature printed, the MSS. {162} which present
themselves of already known authors carefully examined, and the
variations to the received text marked. How much this is wanted we
experience in the corruptions of Sophocles, Æschylus, Thucydides,
Plato, and Aristoteles! In this way much that is valuable may be
recovered; much that is matter of discussion set at rest. Let me instance
the Babrian fables, and the discovery of Mr. Harris at Alexandria; who,
it was remarked to me, might have discovered the whole, instead of a
part, had proper hands unfolded the mummy.
On the advantages of this search, it were useless to expatiate: every one
is sensible of it, and, sooner or later, it must occur. Let us not allow our
grandchildren to surpass us in everything, but let us set about this
ourselves. Monstrous as the idea seems, it is simple of execution.
I will not take up the space so kindly afforded me by the Editor of
"NOTES AND QUERIES" with speculation. The Association should
be composed of a Literary Section and a Business Section: the first to
be under the administration of a President and an efficient Board of
Examiners, to look into literary matters, and examine and appoint the
proper officers of the Investigation Parties; which parties must be
composed of clever, adventurous, hardy, and adroit men, obtaining the
assistance of the natives wherever they may be carrying on their
researches; the Second Section to be under the direction of a Chairman
and Finance Committee, to which the officers of the subordinate

departments render their accounts.
I know not whether more will be required of me on this subject; very
likely not: but I reserve much that I could say, until that time. I have
now only to thank the Editor for inserting this long, but I will not say,
wholly uninteresting proposal.
KENNETH R. H. MACKENZIE.
February 18. 1851.
[Footnote 1: I need not remind you how favourable an opportunity is
presented by this year.]
* * * * *
THE ESSAY ON SATIRE.
Dryden, as sir Walter Scott observes, left a name in literature "second
only to those of Milton and Shakspere"; but, popular as his writings
were, he gave no collective edition of his poetical or dramatic works.
The current editions of his poems may therefore be open to censure,
both on the score of deficiency and redundancy--and such I believe to
be the fact.
An Essay on satire, itself a coarse satire, has been ascribed to him for
more than a century on dubious authority, and the correctness of this
ascription has been properly suggested as a question for examination.
We have to decide on the credibility of two opposite statements, as
made in the publications about to be enumerated:--
1. "The works of John Sheffield, earl of Mulgrave, marquis of
Normanby, and duke of Buckingham. LONDON: printed for John
Barber, 1723. 4º. 2 vols."
2. "The works of John Sheffield, earl of Mulgrave, marquis of
Normanby, and duke of Buckingham. Printed for John Barber,
alderman of LONDON, 1726. Small 8º. 2 vols."

3. "Original poems and translations, by John Dryden, Esq. LONDON:
printed for J. and R. Tonson, 1743. 12º. 2 vols."
In the two former publications, the poem appears as the entire
composition of the noble author, and is said to have been "written in the
year 1675." In the latter publication it appears without date, and is said
to be "by Mr. Dryden and the earl of Mulgrave."
The publications were posthumous, and as the editors afford no
explanation of the point in dispute, we must consult the reputed
authors.
In the year 1691, as an advertisement to King Arthur, a dramatic opera,
Dryden printed a catalogue of his "plays and poems in quarto," in order
to prevent future mis-ascriptions. The catalogue comprises ten poems,
but no Essay on satire. The publisher of King Arthur was Mr. Jacob
Tonson.
In 1682, the earl of Mulgrave published, anonymously, through the
agency of Mr. Joseph Hindmarsh, an Essay upon poetry. It contains
these lines:--
"The laureat here may justly claim our praise, Crown'd by Mac-Fleckno
with immortal bays; Though prais'd and punish'd for another's rimes,
His own deserve that glorious fate sometimes, Were he not forc'd to
carry now dead