Mafter of EMMANUEL College, CAMBRIDGE, and Principal
Librarian of that University.

A NEW EDITION.

BASI L:

Printed and fold by J. J. TOURNEISEN.

M. DCCC.

THE author of the following ESSAY was foli

citous only for the honour of Shakspeare: he hath however, in his own capacity, little reafon to complain of occafional criticks, or criticks by profession. The very FEW, who have been pleased to controvert any part of his doctrine, have favoured him with better manners, than arguments; and claim his thanks for a further opportunity of demonftrating the futility of theoretick reasoning against matter of fact. It is indeed ftrange, that any real friends of our immortal POET fhould be still willing to force him into a fituation, which is not tenable: treat him as a learned man, and what fhall excufe the most grofs violations of hiftory, chronology, and geography?

Οὐ πείσεις, ἐδ ̓ ἣν πείσης is the motto of every polemick like his brethren at the amphitheatre, he. holds it a merit to die hard; and will not fay, enough, though the battle be decided. "Were it fhewn, (fays fome one) that the old bard borrowed all his allufions from English books then published, our Effayift might have poffibly established his fyftem."