Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century: Anecdotes

Historical, Monumental, and Genealogical Collections relative to the County of Gloucester; printed from the original Papers of the late Ralph Bigland*, Esq. Garter Principal King of Arms. No. I. Containing the Parishes of Abbenhall, Abston and Wick, Acton Iron, Acton Turville, Adlestrop and Alderton-t," Folio.

* Of whom see before, vol. VIII. p. 713.

"This modest work, which professes to be little more than a Collection of Monumental Inscriptions, and rather an History of the Inhabitants of Gloucestershire than of the Shire itself,' was begun, about 30 years ago, by the late Ralph Bigland, Esq. principally to obtain information relative to his profession. It was not till he found the Collections increase on his hands, and had been repeatedly solicited by his friends in that his native County, that he entertained thoughts of offering them to the Publick. This was to have been done in a new Edition of Sir Roger Atkyns's Antient and Present State of Gloucestershire;' but the business of the College of Arms beginning at that time to increase, and Mr. Herbert having in the mean time reprinted Atkyns, and Mr. Rudder having formed a new History of the County, the Publick have been deprived of the benefit of such an excellent design, and obliged to content themselves with very meagre compilations of others, to which the present work can only serve as an Appendix, in the article of Epitaphs-Parish Registers-Incumbents-and a few short notes at the head of each Parish. These are embellished with Plates of many Churches, drawn and engraved by that ingenious artist Mr. Thomas Bonnor." Mr. Gough, in Gent. Mag. vol. LVI. p. 1062.

VOL. IX.

"The

"The Persian Heroine. A Tragedy*. By Richard-Paul Jodrell, Esq." 8vo. and 4to.

*"This original composition is introduced by a Preface, which might be justly denominated The Lamentation of an Author ;' who, having sinned against the majesty of the Managers of Drury Lane Theatre, and suffered under their sentence (which, it seems, is as irrevocable as the Laws of the Medes and Persians), appeals from it to the great tribunal of the Publick. The Public Reader must therefore now decide on the merits of this Tragedy; and to that tribunal, having first guarded the property by Law,' [entered in Stationers Hall,] the Author appeals with confidence.' We heartily wish his hope deferred may not make his heart sick; and that, since there is in London no Temple of Apollo, wherein eminent characters decide on the merits of poetical candidates, as at Rome; nor private rehearsal before the company and the Author himself, as in France; he may find himself at least reimbursed the expence of Printing by this appeal; which is not from the caprice or political discretion of a Lord Chamberlain, or the manus expurgatoria of a Licenser of Stage Plays, but from some unknown Critic and Judge, concealed behind the shield of Linley and Harris, and perhaps afraid of a challenge in this fighting age. We wish a more impartial verdict may pass in the open court, but confess our recollection of very few instances in which such appeals have produced the desired effect. It is storied that the Paradise Lost first emerged from under a minced-pie-such obscure beginnings of reputation has true genius. If every disappointed Author publishes an offering to his own vanity, the world would not contain the books that should be printed, nor would it prove a meat or a drink offering to the Compositor or Bookseller-The Play before us is followed by a learned Commentary, justifying the Author's strict adherence to the manners of the times, or excusing his variations, in 68 instances, the contents of which remind us of the contents of Sir Thomas Browne's Vulgar Errors."-Mr. Gough, in Gent. Mag. vol. LVI. p. 586.

"This Tragedy is introduced to us by a Preface, in which the Author, who is well known in the literary world, exhibits a complaint against the Managers of Drury Lane Theatre. To this no. answer has been given; and the charge, while it remains unrefuted, must be considered as founded in truth. The substance of Mr. Jodrell's accusation is this:-He sent a printed copy of his Play, by Mr. Nichols, to Drury-Lane, in September 1784, in the Author's name, requesting the attention of the Manager to a new Production. On the 15th of October following, the Piece was returned to Mr. Nichols, being rejected for that season, and probably for ever. It appeared that this was a very hasty decision, no more than 17 pages being cut open, and of course nothing read beyond the fourth scene of the second Act. In the month of December following, the Author expostulated with Dr. Ford, who seemed to think that the injured have no right to

complain :

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