Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-02
Tbs Plays Of shakspsare-who Wrote
Them


An interest controversy has arisen In the
literary world in England, as we'll as in this
country, as TO the authorship Of the plays
generally attributed to William Shakespeare.
Mr. VIM Henry Smith, Of London, has i'm
pugned the validity of his claims, and trans
ferred his Isurels to Lord Bacon. This bold
heretic commences his onslaught on the Bard
of Avon By citing passage from the writings
Of Alexander Pope, in which the poet gives it
as bis opinion that the plays attributed TO
william Shakespeare were pieces produced by
uaknoIn authors, or fitted up for the theatre
while il was under his administration, and no
other owner claiming, they were sdjudged to
him, as they gave strays to the lord Of the
manor.
Mr. Smith describes Shakespeare as an nm
educated man, incapable Of producing the
dramas with which his name is associated.
and represents him as no higher than theat-
rical factOtem, being sole owner Of the ward
robe and the properties; in a word, as the
manager and superintendent Of the mechsni-
cal department Of the theatre.
In favor Of the pretensions Of Lord Bacon
he puts forward the following argument Ba-
con, in 1857, composed the Dumb Showes.
acted before Queen Elizabeth, at Greenwich.
1t was mask, and this is sdduced as a proof
VI bis dramatic capabilities besides, his ia
lnilisr conversation is known to have been pe-
culisrly dramatic tone. In 1871 he was DO
litically disgracod, and devoted himself to
collect and arrange his literary works In
1923 appeared the folio Of the plays, including
some and excluding others which had ALWAYS
been attributed 10 Shakespeare Now, who
made the selection Who alone was compe-
tent To make it Who could classify the tb;r-
ty-slx plays contained in the folio Clearly.
l. person, but the author himself, or q person
deputcd by the author. The folio appeared
under the name OF John Humiuge and Henry
CoDdeil. the players, but Mr.. Sui h considers
the real editor was Ben Jons0n, who acted
under the directions Of Lord Bacon. Mr.. Smith.
in support of his theory, quotes a letter from
IObie Matthew 10 the Lord Eiscount 81. Al
bans, cont lining this remarkable postscript
- The most prodigious Wit ever knew of NV
nation. and of this side Of the sea, is of your
lOrdship's name, though he was known bar
another. BY another il Is assumed thai
Iooie alludes to Shakespeare, who usurped the
honors due TO Bacon.
1t is well known fact that Shakespeare was
sngularly regardless of fame His editor.
Malone, when crticising the play called the
London Prodigai,' says: Zone knows NOT
which most 20 admire-the impudence of the
printer in sfixing our great poets name 10 a
comedy, publicly acted a. his own theatre, of
which 1t is very improbable that he should
have written single line, or Shskspesre's
negligence OF tame in suffering such A piec,
70 be imputed to him without taking the leasf
nctlce OF IL. This Indifference is indeed n
very startling circumstance, but was il not
equally remarkable in Lord Bacon, if t,e we've
the author Of the dramas attributed On Sbsk.-
peare Mr.. Smith denies that Sbaksnesro
had sufficient talents or learning to write these
dramas; but he wrote the poems of "Venus
and Adonis, Of " TarGuin snd Lucrece, and
the Sonnets."
These are proofs of his abilities, and 10
make good Mr. Smiths argument. be must
Prove that Shakespeare was not their author.
But there is other evidence of Shakspeare's
genius In the praises of him recorded by his
cotemporaries and transmitted to US Take
the following from Fuller: MANY were the
Wit ccmbats between Shakespeare and Ben
Jonson. beheld them like Spanish great
gslieon and an English man-of.war Master
Jonson, like the former, built far higher in
learning, solid, but slow in his performances:
Shakespeare, like the latter, less in bulk, but
hghter In sailing, could turn with all tides,
tack about, End take advantage Of all winds
by the quickness Of his wit and invention
All educated persons must take lively in.
terest in whatever relates to the fame Of the
Bard Of Avon, and We therefore give the sa.
lient features of this new controversy Each
must decide for himself between Bacon and
Shakespeare. Mr. Smith delivered a lecture
on the subject at the beethoven Rooms, Har-
ley street, London, but il does not appear
that be has as yet made any converts.