The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-06

he cannot expect the mass even of intelligent
men to comprehend his ideas of matter He
regards it as q congeries ofinfnitely fine, mys-
terious, ever active play of subtle forces in
state of constant undulation and ever giving
birth, by the polarity of its atoms and its in
herent tendencies toward particular forms,
to order, beauty, life, intelligence and utility.
1t is only the elite of the scientific world that
can realize his refined and almost spiritual
conception of matter. His materalism is GER
tain to be misunderstood to the disadvantage
of science and the gratuitous disturbance of
consoling cherished beliefs. His bold declara-
tons will cause his views to be caricatured in
the popular mind to the equal detriment of
both science and religion.
Did Bacon Write Shakespeare Plays.
So little is known of Shakespeare, and that
little is SO unsatisfactory as to his character,
that in this scepical and inquisitive age many
persons have refused to believe him the author
of the plays which for nearly three hundred
years have borne his name. Those who deny
his authorship have been required to find
some mind of the Elzabethan period great
enough to have produced those immortal
works, and they have inevitably turned to
Francis Bacon, the founder of modern philoso-
ply. A claim put forth for any other historic
parsonage of the time would be dismissed as
worthless, and it is agreed upon both sides
of the great controversy that if Shakespeare
did not write the plays then Bacon must have
written them, and that if the argument for
Bacon fails Shakespeare must forever reign
as their undisputed author.
The inquiry has, of late years, been ably
conducted, especially by the champions of
Bacon, upon whom the burden Of proof has
rested and q new interest has been given to
it by the remarkable article we republish to-
day from Naser's Magazine. This clear state
ment of the evidence in favor of the Baconian
theory is principally based upon s'The Author
ship Of Shakespeare, o work written by an
American author, the Hon. Nathaniel Holmes,
Professor of Law in Harvard University. The
question is not one which the world of intel
lect can afford to dismiss with ridicule. 1t is
far more important to literature than the ques-
ton of the identity of Junius or whether Homer
is myth. On the one hand we are asked to
consign to obscurity o name familiar in our
mouths as household words" Gentle Will
Shakespeare is, after three hundred years, to
have the laurel taken from his brow, and to
be dismissed as the greatest literary impostor
of all time. On the other hand, we are asked
to do late justice to Francis Bacon as
one of 'the inheritors of nnfulflled re-
nown" whom fate has defrauded Of his right
full glory. More than sentiment is involved in
the answer, for if Bacon is the creator of
Hamlet and Lear and Imogen, then new
and wonderful proof of intellectual power is
discovered. We think that the conclusion
would be irresistible that Bacon was infinitely
the greatest of all men. If Bacon and Shake
speare are one, if these two stately phantoms
ara to mingle, they will form vision of in
tellectual splendor almost too beautiful and
bright for earth. The world has not dared to
suppose that one mortal could achieve SO
much.
Bacon's authorship of the plays, it win be
seen, is supported by two arguments; the
uI6I doouLuihB w ouOW ny tuc ldCI6 III Ouak6-
speare's life that he could not have had the
knowledge necessary to produce such works,
while Bacon possessed all the qualifications
of intellect, education, culture and experience
of the world. The second argument depends
upon documentary evidence and comparison
of the plays with Bacons authenticated
writings Thus Shakespeare's early life in
Stratford is said to have been without
educational opportunities; his career is
described as in strong contrast with
his works; the dramas are full of
classical illusions and translations from Latin
and Greek, languages of which he knew little;
they show extensive knowledge of law and
medicine, sciences which he had not studied;
he never formally claimed nor collected his
plays. But Bacon was lawyer, student of medi.
cine, scholar, courtier, philosopher. Then
come citations from the works of Shake
speare and Bacon which show remark.
able resemblance. Finally, the letters of
Bacon and mysterious epistle from
his friend Sir Tobie Matthew, are quoted
in support Of the theory. The argument
based upon these facts is ingeniously con-
structed, but it is to be admitted that some of
the missing links are neatly supplied by con-
lecture. 1t is not our purpose to enter the
discussion here but as the evidence in favor
of Lord verulam is so fully presented we may
state briefly some of the difficulties his adyo-
Gates must overcome.
The first inquiry is naturally, why did not
Bacon acknowledge the plays if he wrote
them? The answer is, that in the time of
Queen Elizabeth playwrights were of low repute,
and Bacon's professional interests would have
suffered from confession. But this is not
antirely true. Lord saokviuA had vrit4An