Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-22

ing or sliding of large portions at one time
may be easily guarded against.
THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE.
An interesting controversy has arisen il
the literary world in England, as we'll as ir
this country, as to the authorship of the plays
generally attributed to Willium Shakespeare
Mr.. William Henry Smith, Of London, has
impugned the validity of his claims, and
transferred his claims to Lord Bacon. This
bold hereto commences his onslaught on the
Bard of Avon by citing passage from the
writings of Alexander Pope, in which tht
poet gives it as his opinion that the "play'
attributed to William Shakespeare were piece:
produced by unknown authors, or fitted W
for the theatre while it was under his admin
istration, and no other owner claiming them
they were adjudged to him, as they give
strays to the lord of the manor"
Mr.. Smith describes Shakespeare as an un
educated man, incapable of producing the
drama with which his name is associated, and
represents him as no higher than a theat'ica
factorum, being sole owner of the wardrobe
and properties; in a word, as the manager and
the superintendent of the mechanical depart
ment of the theatre.
In favor of the pretensions Of Lord Bacon,
he puts forward the following argument
Bacon, in 1857, composed the Dunn Shows,
acted before Queen Elizabeth, at Greenwich
1t was mask, and this is adduced in proof
of his dramatic capabilities; besides his fa'
miliar conversation is known to have been
peculiarly dramatic in tone. In 1921 he was
politically disgraced, and devoted himself tc
collect and arrange his literary works. In
1923 appeared the folio of the plays, inclu.
ding others, which had always been attribu.
ted to Shakespeare. Now, who made the
selection who alone was competent to make
it? who could classify the 36 plays contain.
ed in the folio? Clearly no person but the
author himself, or person deruted by the
author. The folio appeared under the names
of John Humiuge and Henry Coudell the
players, but Mr.. Smith, considers the real
editor was Ben Jnhnson, who acted under
the directions of Lord Bacon. Mr.. Smith,
in support of his theory quotes letter from
Tobic Matthews to the Lord Viscount St. al.
bans containing this remarkable postscript
"The most prodisious wit ever know of my
nation, and of this side of the sea, is of your
lordship's name, though he be known by a.
mother" BY "anothcr," it is assumed that
Tobie alludcs to Shakespeare, who usurped
the honors due to Bacon.
1t is q well known fact that Shakespeare
was singularly regardless of fame. His edi.
tor, Malone, when criticizing the play called
the ."London Prodigal," says: "onc knows
not which most to admire-the impudence Of
the printer iu afhxiug our great poets name
to comedy, publicly acted at his own thea,
tire, of which it is very improbable that he
should have written single line, or Shak-
speare's negligence of FAME in suffering such
piece to be imputed to him without taking
the least of it, This Indifference is indeed
a very startling circumstance, but was it not
equally remarkable in Lord Bacon, if he
were the author of the dramas attributed to
Shakespeare? Mr.. Smith denies that Shak-
speare had sufficient talents or learning to
write these dramas; but he wrote the poems
of "Venus and Adonis," of "Tarquin and
Lucreece," and the "Sonpets."
These are proofs Of his abilities, auG to
make good Mr. Smiths argument, he must
prove that Shakespeare was not their author.
But there is other evidence of Shakespeare S
genius, in the praises of him recorded by his
contemporaries and transmitted to us. Take
the following from Fuller: "N1any were the
wit combats between Shakespeare and Ben
johnson. 1 beheld them like Spanish
great gallcon and an English man of war.-
Master johnson, like the former, was built
far higher in learning, solid, but slow, in his
performances; Shakespeare, like the latter,
less in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could
turn with all tides, tack about, and take adj
vantage Of all winds by the quickness of his
wit and invention"
All educated persons must take lively
interest in whatever relates to the fame of
the Bard of Avon, and we have therefore
given the salient features of this new con-
troversy. Each must decide for himself
between Bacon and Shakespeare. Mr.. Smith
delivered lecture on the subject at the
Beethoven Rooms, Harley street, London,
but it does not appear that he has as yet
made any converts. ..