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Jon : Bouchier.
LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.
"When found, make a note of." CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
IDLAND SEMUNG
UMVERSITY
SECOND SERIES.-VOLUME TENTH.
JULY-DECEMBER, 1860.
LONDON:
BELL & DALDY, 186. FLEET STREET.
· 1860.
-
REPLIES:-College Salting, 10-"Coqueliner," 11-Dr.
Parr and Tobacco, 12-" Fellowes' Visit to la Trappe," &c.,
the Note on it in Willis's Catalogue, 13 - Centenarianism,
15- Derivation of Shakspeare -Pencil Writing -De-
scriptive Catalogue Library discovered at Willscot
Glebe-House
Mural
The Gold Ants of Herodotus -
Burial- Hereditary Alias Ride v. Drive-Paul Hiffer-
nan-Ventilate- - Čarnival at Milan-Vant - Henry Can-
trell, M.A.-Splitting Paper- Publication of Banns-
Rutherford Family-Submerged Bells-The Judas Tree
-The Rev. John Huttou- Colonel Hooke-Britain 1116
B.C.- John Wythers, 15.
Notes on Books.
Notes.
COLLEY CIBBER AND GAY.
Cibber succeeded to the "bays" upon the death
of Eusden in 1730. The poet who might have
calculated more surely than any other upon that
distinction was Gay; but, by a strange incon-
sistency of conduct shortly after the accession of
George II., he had obstructed his promotion, and,
by greater subsequent acts of indiscretion, de-
stroyed the faintest hope of establishing his for-
tunes, at least through the influence of the court.
Gay experienced, in fact, the truth contained in
his own inimitable fable of "The Hare":
who depend
66
On many, rarely find a friend."
No doubt, he had aspired to the office of lau-
reate, and would have obtained it most probably
through the intervention of Queen Caroline; who,
whilst Princess of Wales, had always been very
favourably disposed towards him, and, imme-
diately upon her accession, had given him an
earnest of her sincerity and condescension by
offering him the situation of gentleman-usher to
her daughter, the Princess Louisa. The office
was almost a sinecure, worth more than 2001. per
ann., and a sure stepping-stone to higher prefer-
ment; yet Gay had the folly and indecency not
only to reject it peremptorily, but with every
expression of scorn. The infatuated poet then
"Love in a riddle, for so my new-fangled performance
was called, was as vilely damned and hooted at as so
vain a presumption in the idle cause of virtue could
deserve."
The signal failure of that dramatic piece, no
less than his "annual Odes," which had no merit
but their loyalty, exposed the unlucky laureate to
the incessant attacks of Gay and his friends; and
amongst the latter not one was so persistent in his
opposition as Fielding. Gay himself had established
the precedent of writing "volunteer Odes," and
had by such means at first attracted the favour-
able notice of the Queen, whilst she was Princess
of Wales. The authors of the accompanying “Ode
for the New Year" (reprinted for the first time
from the original broadside) intended as well to
retaliate upon the presumptuous laureate as to ex-
in the
pose the foibles of the principal personages court. Both the hand and kindly nature of Gay are discernible in it; in those stanzas, I mean, which refer to that truly excellent, but oftentimes For whilst
much abused lady, Queen Caroline.
the ballad hints at the parsimonious and irascible
disposition of the King, the weakmindedness of his
voluptuous and dependent son, Prince Frederic
Louis of Wales, and their mutual and disgraceful
squabbles, the allusions to her Majesty are rather
complimentary than satirical; evidencing, in fact,
her steady patronage of the most distinguished
men of her day, without regard either to their
religious or political creeds.
"AN ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR:
Written by Colley Cibber, Esq.,
Poet Laureate.
"God prosper long our gracious King, Now sitting on the throne; Who leads this nation in a String, And governs all but One.*
* His minister, Sir Robert Walpole; whose red ribbon