Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-25
THU. RICHMOND DIsPATCH-SUNDAY. MARCH 25 1888

proofs OF the latter's authorship. The
fullest life OF Lord Bacon that has ever
been written is that by Basil Montagu.
II is upon this life that Macaulay bases
his celebrated essay upon Lord Bscon,
which is doubtless the profoundest OF
his essays. In speaking OF Mr.. Mon
tagu's work Macaulay says-viz. "The
writer is evidently enamored OF his sub
iect. It fills his heart. II constantly
overfows from his lips and his pen.
Indeed, Montsgu lie always the apologlst
of Lord Bacon, and yet in this full and
abundant life, in this absolute defence
of Bacon, in this unbroken assertion OF
his merits, he does not once claim Tor
him the authorship OF Shakespeare's
plays. In addition to this, Macau-
lay, with all his wonderful learn
ing and analytical power, reviews TINS
work OF Montagu's, he discusses the per
sonal traits Of Bacon, he reviews the
political career Of Bacon, Analyses and
describes his literary achievements, insti-
tutes comparison between the Bacon
ian philosophy and the philosophy OF the
ancients, and declares, in speaking OF
Bacon, "The poetical faculty was won
derful in Bacon's mind, but not
like his wit, so powerful as occasion
ally to usurp the place OF his
reason, and to tyrannize over the whole
man. No Imagination was ever at once
so strong and 80 thoroughly sublugated:.
It never stirred but at a signal from good
sense. 1t stopped at the first check from
good sense. Yet though disciplined to
such obedience it gave noble proofs OF
its yigor. In truth, much OF Bacon $ LIE
was passed in visionary world, amidst
things as strange as any that are de-
scribed in the Arabian Tales. And
Notwithstanding the knowledge that this
criticism quoted shows Of Bacon 5 poeti-
cal and mental organism, Macaulay does
not once in this splendid essay claim for
him the authorship of Shakespeare's
PLAYS. but! on the contrary. in it takes
occasion to pay tribute to Lord South
ampton as the patron OF Shakespeare,
"who will be remembered to the latest
ages as the generous and discerning
patron of Shakespeare. Can it be be-
lieved for an instant that Rowe, Ma
lone, Alexander, Pope, DR.. johnson,
Boswell, Caldecott, Knight, Stanton,
Dyce, Richard Grant White, Macsulay,
and all the accomplished commentators
and scholars have been deceived as to
the authorship Of Shakespeare's plays
It is impossible.
1t is easy to ascertain the causes why
Shakespeare's writings have come down
to US in condition more imperfect than
those OF any other author OF his time.
Shakespeare seems to have been indif-
ferent TO literary fame, and appears to
have written for the theatres alone IN
which he was interested and with view
Of securing competency and retiring
as he did do-to a life Of ease and
freedom from care. Doubtless when
he disposed of his interest in the
theatres and retired to Stratford
he also disposed OF his interest in these
plays to his partners. Hemminge Il
COndell, and subsequent to the death OF
Shakespeare, almost Immediately. most
violent civil commotion ensued in Eng
land, in which all plays were forgotten,
and under the Cromwellian dynasty and
the accompanying Puritsnical avalanche
the stage was totally destroyed and a
dramatic author WAS viewed not
only as unworthy of remembrance,
but as an abominstion. After the
Restoration period OF laxlty
and decentralization occurred which
swept to the other extreme, and Shake
speare was equally forgotten, and when
the drama was revived during the Resto-
ration it was in the most debauched and
depraved condition. French taste and
French morals had ostracised Shake
speare from the stage, and he was almost
forgotten by the English people, and
nearly hundred years elapsed before
Rowe began those Investigations which
revived his memory and the recognition
of his genius in the publication of Shake
speare's works made by him in 17O9.
But the last pretension with which l
have to deal, with those who advocate
the Bsconian theory, is that Bacon was
ashamed to acknowledge the authorship
Of these plays. OF such an impeach-
ment it might be said
"A falcon tow'ring in his pride Of place,
Was by mousing owl hawked at and killed.
Bacon's life fulfilled every infamy.
He touched the lowest depths of degra-
dation, as well as the most exalted
heights Of genius, but on those heights
of genius there is no sublimer perform
ance than Shakespesre's plays. That
Bacon should disdain the authorship of
these plays, which have no peer
in either ancient or modern literature,
is q pretension too irrational for grave
thought, and basing the declaration
upon the knowledge of Bacon as re-
vealed in his life, if he had written those
plays he would have been the first per
son to have claimed them, OF if he had
not written them, as he did not, and be
could have made successful claim to