I cannot leave this line without remarking, that one of the _Scribleri_, a descendant of the famous _Martinus_, has expressed his suspicions of the text being corrupted here, and proposes, instead of "_All on_" reading "_Alone_," alledging, in favour of this alteration, the effect of Solitude in raising the passions. But _Hiccius Doctius_, a High Dutch commentator, one nevertheless well versed in British literature, in a note of his usual length and learning, has confuted the arguments of _Scriblerus_. In support of the present reading, he quotes a passage from a poem written about the same period with our author's, by the celebrated _Johannes Pastor_[*], intituled "_An Elegiac Epistle to the Turnkey of Newgate_," wherein the gentleman declares, that rather indeed in compliance with an old custom, than to gratify any particular will of his own, he is going
--------"All hanged for to be "Upon that fatal Tyburn tree."----
[Footnote *: More commonly known, I believe, by the appellation of "_Jack Shepherd_."]
Now as nothing throws greater light on an author, than the concurrence of a contemporary writer, I am inclined to be of _Hiccius's_ opinion, and to consider the "_All_" as an elegant expletive, or, as he more aptly phrases it "_elegans expletivum_." The passage therefore must stand thus,
"The Queen of Hearts "She made some Tarts, "All on a Summer's Day."
And thus ends the first part, or _beginning_; which is simple and unembellished; opens the subject in a natural and easy manner; excites, but does not too far gratify our curiosity: for a reader of accurate observation may easily discover, that the _Hero_ of the Poem has not, as yet, made his appearance.
I could not continue my examination at present through the whole of this Poem, without far exceeding the limits of a single paper. I have therefore divided it into two; but shall not delay the publication of the second to another week,--as that, besides breaking the connection of criticism, would materially injure the _unities_ of the Poem.
--------Servetur ad imum, Qualis ab incepto processerit, et sibi constet.
From his first Entrance to the closing Scene, Let him one equal Character maintain.
Having thus gone through the first part, or _beginning_ of the Poem, we may naturally enough proceed to the consideration of the second.