Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-06
THE PLAYS OF SHAKSPEARE-WHO WROTE
THEA7

An interesting controversy has arisen IN the litera
ry world in England, dc we'll rs in this country, as 10
wi William shss.pesrs. Sir. William Henry smith Of
Londo has impugned the validity of hi. cains, and
transferred hi. Iaurels to Lnrd Bacon. This bold
hereto commences bis onslaught ON The Bard I
Avon by citing pas.age from the writings of
Alexander Pope, 10 which the poet gives it his
opinion that the plays attributed to William Shrk-
spear. were pieces produced by unknown authors,
ur ted up for the theatre woo was und=r Ills ID.
tnln,stranu, and 10 ober owner claiming Ihem they
judged 10 hm, as they give strays TO III. iord
ui the manor "
Mr. NTH describes Shakespeare Nc :n Intoxicated
man. inc pable vi producing the dramar with which
mis- associated, aud repres him ns II" high
er than theatrical tacfolun. being sole owner "i
the wardrobe and Tho pioprrileeI i'll word, rs the
manager aud superintendent Vt tue uiech8iica de.
pRrtm.nr Of the theatre.
In favor OF the pretensop, of Lord Bacon, he puts
forward the t"'l"wing argument: Bacon. in 1897
composed the Dumb Sko,csS. acted before Qu-eu Ell
zab.th, at Greeuw ich. IL a Innsk, aud this Id
ndduc.d 10 proof Of his dramatic oapabitesi be.
-idss, his familiar conversation is known 10 have
been PECULIARLY drouatc in tone. lu l62l he WIS
politically disgraced, anh devoted himself TO collect
aud arrange hs literary works 10 lo23 appeared The
folio If tho plays, including SONS ana excluding
others, which had always beeu attributed ~ Shaks
peare. Now, who nndc the selection VIII alone
competent I" make it who could classify tile SO
plays contained 10 the toIiui Clearly no person but
The au;hor himself or person deputed by the author
rhe folio appeared under the names Of John Hum
inge and Henry Couds tho players, but Mr. Smith.
CONSIDERS the reu editor was Ben Jonson, who acted
uader the directions Of Lard Bacon. Mr.. Smith, IN
support Of his theory. quotes lstter from Tobio
Matthew u the Lord Viscouut ". Albau's, coutsiu
ing this remarkable postscript THE most prodigious
wit ever knew u! my nation, and Of this side OF the
s-a Is Of your lordship's uame. though he be known
BY another" by "anotber," tits assumed that Tobie
audes ~ Shakespeare, who usurped the hobors due
II Bacon.
1t is well known fact that Shakespeare was singu.
larly regardless OF fame. His editor, Malone. when
crlticz,ng the play called the London Prodigai,'
says "ODe Knows not which most TO admlrc-,he
i:npudence Of the printer in adiIing great poet
uane To comedy, publicly acted ut his own Theatre,
d. which Ii is very Improbable that he should have
written single line, .Shakspesres negligence Of
tame in suffering such piece TO be imputed to him
without taking the least notice Of It," This inditsr
ence is indeed very startling circumstance, but WAS
Il NOT equally retnarka able in Lord Bacon If he were
the author of the dranas attributed to Shakspearel-
Mr. Smith denies that Shakespeare hal sufficient, tai.
eu;. learning 10 write these drana-; bur he wrote
the poems Of "Fsnus and Adonnis, VI "Tarquin aud
Lurr ece." and the "Sonnets."
These are proofs o! his abilities, md TO make good
Mr.. Smiths argument he must prove that Shakespeare
was not their author But there is other evidence of
Shakspeare's genius in Abe praises OF him recorded
by bis contemporaries aud transmitted TO W.. Take
the following from Fuller: MANY wer7 the wit com
bats between Shakespeare and Ben Junson. beheld
them like Spanish great gall.on and English
men Of war. Master Jonson, like the former was
built far higher IN learning, solid but slow III ms per
urmancee; Shakespeare, like the latter, less IN ouk
but lighter In sailing could turn with all tides Jack
about, and take advantage OF al winds BY the quick
ness Of his Wit aud invention"
All educated persons must take hveiy interest IN
whatever relates to the fame OF the Bard OF AVop'
and ne therefore give the salient features of this new
controversy. Eacb must decide for himself between
Bacon and Shakespeare. Mr. Smith delivered Zee.
ture on the subject at the Beethoven Rooms, Harley
street. London but does not appear hat ne mas d.
yet clade any converts.