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A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.
"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
NO. 22., SATURDAY, MARCH 30. 1850. [Price Threepence. Stamped Edition, 4d.]
NOTES:-- Pages The Taming of the Shrew, by Samuel Hickson Proverbial Sayings and their Origins William Basse and his Poems Folk Lore:--Something else about Salting. Norfolk Weather Proverb, Irish Medical Charms. Death-bed Superstitions Note on Herodotus by Dean Swift Herrick's Hesperides, by J.M. Gutch
QUERIES:-- Rev. Dr. Thomlinson 350 Minor Queries:--"A" or "An"--The Lucky have whole Days--Line quoted by De Quincey--Bishop Jewel's Papers--Allusion in Friar Brackley's Sermon--Quem Deus Vult perdere--Snow of Chicksand Priory--The Bristol Riots--A living Dog better than a dead Lion--American Bittern--Inquisition in Mexico--Masters of St. Cross--Etymology of "Dalston"--"Brown Study"--Coal-Brandy--Swot
REPLIES:-- The Dodo, by S.W. Singer Watching the Sepulchre, by Rev. Dr. Rock, and E.V. Poem by Sir E. Dyer Robert Crowley, by Rev. Dr. Maitland Replies to Minor Queries:--John Ross Mackay--Shipster--Gourders-- Rococo--God tempers the Wind--Guildhalls--Treatise of Equivocation-- Judas Bell--Grummet
MISCELLANIES:-- Duke of Monmouth--To Philautus--Junius--Arabic Numerals
MISCELLANEOUS:-- Books and Odd Volumes wanted Notices to Correspondents Advertisements
In two former communications on a subject incidental to that to which I now beg leave to call your attention, I hinted at a result far more important than the discovery of the author of the _Taming of a Shrew_. That result I lay before your readers, in stating that I think I can show grounds for the assertion that the _Taming of the Shrew_, by Shakspeare, is the _original_ play; and that the _Taming of a Shrew_, by Marlowe or what other writer soever, is a _later_ work, and an _imitation_. I must first, however, state, that having seen Mr. Dyce's edition of Marlowe, I find that this writer's claim to the latter work had already been advanced by an American gentleman, in a work so obvious for reference as Knight's _Library Edition of Shakspeare_. I was pretty well acquainted with the contents of Mr. Knight's _first_ edition; and knowing that the subsequent work of Mr. Collier contained nothing bearing upon the point, I did not think of referring to an edition published, as I understood, rather for the variation of form than on account of the accumulation of new matter. Mr. Dyce appears to consider the passages cited as instances of imitation, and not proofs of the identity of the writer. His opinion is certainly entitled to great respect: yet it may, nevertheless, be remarked, first that the instance given, supposing Marlowe not to be the author, would be cases of theft rather than imitation, and which, done on so large a scale, would scarcely be confined to the works of one writer; and, secondly, that in original passages there are instances of an independence and vigour of thought equal to the best things that Marlowe ever wrote--a circumstance not to be reconciled with the former supposition. The following passage exhibits a freedom of thought more characteristic of this writer's reputation than are most of his known works:--