Part I

., Act III. Sc. 1.

_History of the Plague._ _Journal of the Plague Year_, 1722.

MR. GODWIN

This was ostensibly a review of _Cloudesley_, published in 1830. Some years previously Sir James Mackintosh had suggested that Hazlitt should be asked to review Godwin’s novels. Towards the end of 1823 he wrote to Godwin: ‘I see your novels advertised to-day. Could you ask Mr. Hazlitt to review them in the _Edinburgh Review_. He is a very original thinker, and notwithstanding some singularities which appear to me faults, a very powerful writer. I say this, though I know he is no panegyrist of mine. His critique might serve all our purposes, and would, I doubt not, promote the interests of literature also.’ (C. Kegan Paul, _William Godwin: His Friends and Contemporaries_, II. 289.) The _Edinburgh_ had reviewed Godwin’s _Fleetwood_ (vol. VI. p. 182), and had praised _Caleb Williams_ very highly in a review of the _Lives of Edward and John Philips_ (XXV. p. 485). Cf. Hazlitt’s sketch of Godwin in _The Spirit of the Age_, vol. IV. pp. 200 _et seq._, and notes.

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385. _Dramatised._ _Caleb Williams_ was dramatised by George Colman the younger as _The Iron Chest_. See vol. VIII. (_A View of the English Stage_), p. 342.

386. ‘_Seemed like another morn_,’ _etc._ _Paradise Lost_, V. 310–311.

‘_Even in his ashes_,’ _etc._ Cf. Gray, _Elegy written in a Country Church-Yard_, 92.

387. _Otium cum dignitate._ Cicero, _Pro Sestio_, XLV. 98.

‘_Retired leisure_,’ _etc._ _Il Penseroso_, 49–50.

387. _Horas non numero, etc._ The motto of a sun-dial near Venice. See Hazlitt’s essay ‘On a Sun-Dial.’

‘_The iron rod_,’ _etc._ Vaguely quoted from _Paradise Lost_, II. 90–92.

‘_Stretched upon the rack_,’ _etc._ Cf. _Macbeth_, Act III. Sc. 2.

‘_And like a gallant horse_,’ _etc._ _Troilus and Cressida_, Act III. Sc. 3.

_There is only one living writer._ Scott, no doubt.

388. ‘_O let not virtue_,’ _etc._ Loosely quoted from _Troilus and Cressida_, Act III. Sc. 3.

‘_To elevate and surprise._’ The Duke of Buckingham’s _The Rehearsal_, Act I. Sc. 1.

‘_Takes an inventory._’ Ben Jonson, _The Alchemist_, Act III. Sc. 2.

391. ‘_A pass of wit._’ Cf. ‘Wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this country. “Steal by line and level” is an excellent pass of pate.’ _The Tempest_, Act IV. Sc. 1.

‘_O’ersteps_,’ _etc._ _Hamlet_, Act III. Sc. 2.

392. _Annesley._ Hazlitt refers to the well-known case of James Annesley (1715–1760), who claimed to be the legitimate son and heir of Lord Altham. The story will be found in Howell’s _State Trials_ (vols. XVI. and XVII.), and has been used by other novelists besides Godwin. See _Peregrine Pickle_ (chap. 98) and Charles Reade’s _The Wandering Heir_. Godwin, in the advertisement to _Cloudesley_, says: ‘It is but just that the reader should be informed that a novel has been already written on this theme, and printed in the year 1743, under the title of “Memoirs of an unfortunate young Nobleman, Returned from a Thirteen Years’ Slavery in America.”’ This is presumably the work referred to by Hazlitt as ‘a novel with the title of _Annesley_.’ In 1756 appeared _The Case of the Honourable J. A., humbly offered to all lovers of truth and justice_.

‘_Mark and likelihood._’ _Henry IV._,