Milton, this Manuscript and Dr. Bentley's Edition of Milton's Works will be so'd with the Manuscript : February 31st, (1731) Since you desire my opinion & thoughts upon Dr. Bentley's edition of Milton I, in compliance, write what follows The Dr. in his Preface says Page 4 "That the faults might be corrigible from his Manuscripts but none exists." Now, I here return you the Manpt. copy of the 1st Book, & there you will find the several places he affirms were altered by the Printer are exactly true to the copy & I think it is plain that the 1st edition was printed by this very copy which was preserved only upon account of the License written before it, & was afsigned over with the bond, when Symonds sold the copy &c. to Aylmer of whom I bought it & though there is no date to the license yet 'tis easy to know about the time it was granted by having recourse to the Company's Book where it was entered, & it must be before and near 1667. Pray learn which, & let me know it. If Mr. Aylmer is yet living he may give you some account of this matter, & particularly of Symons, the Printer &c. As for Symons, the person to whom Milton sold the copy he was not a poor Bookseller as the Dr. says (page 2). I remember him & he was look't upon an able and substantial printer, &, I think, his Father a printer before him, & a strict Difsenter; he lived near Aldersgate & Milton in Jewin Street pretty near him, & they might be of acquaintance & perhaps if the former edition of Milton's book were seen he might have been employed by him before, but this is only conjecture. I think Mr. Martyn printed his history of England, & that it came out before Paradise regained, & Starkey printed that, & they were most likely to employ another Printer they were used to, & Symons might be dead. As for his notes the first is enlarged from that in his Specimens & his opinion not so positive; as to the alteration of Sacred for Secret-I desire any one to read Psalm the 18th verses 9-10-11-12 & Psalm 97 verse the 2d -In the 18th Psalm Verse the 11th I think makes for Secret before Sacred (Pray look on Milton in Addison's notes-Page 285-I think this makes for Secret.) I suppose the Dr. is himself of that opinion but backward to own he would, or can pofsibly be mistaken. Miltons employing a printer so near his own house is to me an argument that he did not trust wholly to the Printer. As for the Editor, I think that is a mear Phantom of the Dr. creating, & raised on purpose to season in appearance his scurrilous invectives against Milton. Page 4, he calls him by way of contempt "The blind Author." Page 10, he is "blind poor and friendless" which is false in the 2 last as may be proved from Mr. Edwards account of him (in Edwards life, written by himself. As for the word Scaly verse 206, look in the Manpt. it is the only blotted word in the copy, & I know not if it is Scaly or Sealy-I know there is Seal skin used in binding but know not what it is. Page 12 & 234 "Swalm, empty bombast, nonsense a bad writer, & a blot ed copy"-Judge by the copy of this 1st book, if the copy was blotted & I can see no reason not to believe if the copy of the other book was to be found it might be as fair as this you have. Line 248-Hath. "Hath could not come from the Poet " look in the Manuscript. Verse 251-A fault neither to be forgiven Milton, nor suspected of him, vide the copy. Verse 82" is not common sense. Verse 287-" Optick glass brought in. Verse 286-" Silly and superfluous”—505 you will find the Manpt. agreeing with the first edition, which confirms the Book was printed from it. Verse 580-" Pedantry, silly."-Verse 590-"and yet this has been represented as a celebrated line"-He means Mr. Addison who Vol 3d page 277 commends this verse-704 "A Strange blunder." Mr. Addison has particularly in Page 263 & 266 commended Milton for these very things the Dr. condemns him, & one may find in his notes on Milton a vindication of Milton from a great many of the Drs. mistakes about the Poem-I cannot but observe that the Dr. takes not the least notice of Mr. Addison's name, Page 398-he says "an ingenious and celebrated writer"-By whom he must mean Mr. Addison in his notes. Page 353 makes afsumption against the 2 last lines of Milton, & for which sole reason I believe the Dr. says "the Gentleman " (no naming Mr. Addison) could eject these 2 lines," & after "these 2 lines cannot pofsibly be spared." Spectator 269-Mr. Addison has described a false critic. I have observed that generally the Dr. avoids reflecting so much upon what Mr. Addison quotes, & commends in his notes, as he does upon all the wit & sense & sure Mr. Addison might in some places have been by name taken notice of. Looking into Sir W. Temple's work Oct. 1st, Page 299 there is a character which I am pretty sure was drawn for our Dr. who had reflected in his arrogant way upon Sir Wms. naming & recommending in a former efsay Esops & Phalaris's epistles. Pray read it over, and judge for yourself Dr. Swift knowing this matter, pray give my most humble service to Mr. Pope, and shew him this, & the Manuscript of the 1st Book; it would rejoice my heart to hear that he was likely to take the Dr. to task for meddling with subjects nature had not intended him for. Sure the Dr. has forgotten that nobody else has, Mr. Boyle's fine vindication of Phalaris upon which the Dispensary has it "And to a Bentley 'tis we own a Boyle." I am yet of my former opinion; the Editions will flag in a little time. The general esteem every one has for the Poem will make an edition go off with my notes-But Bentley's nctes if allowed to be right are enough to ruin the esteem for the Author, and I do verily believe that was, & is his design, but equally waives any other of his pretensions. An edition from Mr. Pope would be most joyfully received by the world pray desire him to look into an 8vo book which I shewed him, & which I think Ld. Oxford has called the Life of Thos. Elwood writ by himself printed for J. Serl in Grace church street, there in Page 145 he gives some account of Milton, and Page 246 more, & relating to Milton's life and writings he says Page 154 he had always a man to read to him, which was usually the son of some gentleman of his acquaintance whom in kindness he took to improve in his learning in confirmation of this last I can give you this true accont I was very intimately acquainted when young, with one Mr. W. Davenant 2d son to Sir William the Poet, this gentleman was after of Magdalen hall in Oxford, & published a book_printed there being a translation relating to old authors in 8vo. He was after unfortunately drowned in France as he was swimming. This Mr. Davenant told me that Mr. Milton helped him in his study of the Latin and Greek authors to whom he used to go in order to his learning. That when his Father was in the Tower he was very much afsisted by Mr. Milton in bis gaining his liberty, & (if I am not very much mistaken) he at the same time told me his Father in return upon the Restoration was very helpful to Milton, & Milton was very acknowledging for it, & upon that score offered his afsistance in doing any thing that should be grateful to Sir William. It was a little after Milton's death he told me this. I had a mind to have seen Milton's books & Mr. Davenant went with me in order to it. I was then in my prenticeship, & could not go except on a holiday or Sunday, so the next Sunday we went. Milton was some time before then removed from Jewin Street to Moorfields near the Artillery ground, & it being in the afternoon about sermon time, there was nobody at home, & so we returned home. I have often since when at Moorfields cast a look towards that Street, & the houses were then thought such as any substantial trader, or merchant might dwell in. Mr. This is not what the Dr. represents him, "as living in a narrow dark room" or chamber, & as poor & friendlefs. I believe in Tolands life of him some useful things might be found: he had 2 nephews both indifferent authors. Phillips once wrote the English dictionary Folio & published a thick 12mo, an account of the Poets ancient, & modern, if in that, Milton should be mentioned it may be relied upon I am indeed at present (it cannot last long) not a little concerned in this Vultures falling upon a Poet that is the admiration of England, and its greatest credit abroad. I must further remark that the Dr. has most meanly avoided his Criticism upon the many, and some long quotations of Mr. Addisons notes-I dont find that in any of his remarks that in those places The Author could not write as printed The printer is not in them named a blunderer, nor any sham Editor supposed. This I mention again having since my fore mentioned hint gone through Mr. Addison's notes, and looked into the Drs. ; pray let me hear further about this matter-any matter though never so trifling about it, would be accptable & if very little in Bulk, perhaps you might get it franked. Once more my most hearty service to Mr. Pope, & hope it will not be said "Pope are you asleep"? Yr. affecte. servant, J. T. was eldest son of Sir William Baker, M.P. for Herts., who married Paradise Lost, a Poem written in Ten Books, by John Milton, Licensed and Entred according to order, 1st Edn., with the first title-page, trifling wormholes in the two blank leaves at end, excellent copy, sound and clean, in the orig. sheepskin, as published (measures 7 1-16th by 58 inches), 4to, printed and are to be sold by Peter Parker, 1667 * Pickering, £295 S. June 21 Exceedingly rare in this remarkably fine original state. The same, Ist Edn., with the fourth title-page, many leaves written on in a contemporary hand, some leaves soiled, title cut round and mounted, orig. cf., 4to, 1668 Tregaskis, £5 S. Mar. 2 The same, 1st Edn., with fourth title-page, five-line address to the reader, Argument, Verse, and Errata, in all 8 leaves, red mor. ex., g. e. by F. Bedford, G. Smith's copy, 4to, S. Simmons, 1668 Bumpus, £16 S. May 4 The same, 1st Edn. (fourth title according to Lowndes), with five-line address, Argument, "The Verse," and Errata prefixed for the first time, a few margins wormed, signature on title, hf. bnd., 4to, S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomson in Duck Lane, &c., 1668 Pickering, 19 5s S. July 29 The same, Ist Edn. (fifth title), with five-line address, argument, and errata, hf. mor. (short copy, some margins repaired), sm. 4to, printed by S. Simmons and sold by T. Helder, 1669 Dobell, £1 175 S. Apr. 23 The same, Ist Edn., with the seventh title, title cut and mounted, marginal numbers cut into, a few leaves soiled, mor. ex., g. e., 4to, 1669 Cogswell, 18s S. June 22 The same, 1st Edn., seventh title page, old cf., wants preliminary leaves, and title slightly made up, 4to, 1669 Park, £2 S. July 23 The same, Ist Edn., with five-line address to the reader, argument, and errata, seventh title (facsim.), 4to, mor., g. e. (De Coverley), 1669 11 5s H. Dec. 2 Fox, £9 17s 6d S. Oct. 30 The same, Ist Edn. (7th title), wanted leaf Printer to Reader, had 7 11. of argument and errata, sm. 4to, cf., S. Simmons, etc., 1669 The same, Ist Edn., seventh title page, with the three-line address, sm. 4to, printed by S. Simmons, and are to be sold by T. Helder at the Angel in Little Brittain, 1669 Juckes, £18 10S The same, Ist Edn., with eighth title-page (title imperfect and mounted, seven leaves defective and mended), cf. gilt, w. a. f., 4to, 1669 Dobell, IOS The same, Ist Edn., with eighth title-page in facsimile, by W. Pratt, 4to, S. Simmons, 1669 P. Mar. 17 S. Mar. 2 mor. ex., g. e. Milton (J.) 2nd Edn. (port. and title mounted, and some headlines cut), The same, port. by Dolle, old cf., 1674 Another Edn., 4th Edn., port. and plts., cf., fo., 1688 Tregaskis, £2 P. Feb. 18 Daw on, £2 18s S. Nov. 26 P. Jan. 22 S. Oct. 19 Thorp, 1 12s Another Edn. (and Paradise Regained), ed. by T. ports., and plts. by Hayman, old red mor., g. e., with arms of Duc de Nivernais, 4to, 1749-52 Maggs, 5s S. July 9 Another Edn. (and Paradise Regained), from the text of T. Newton, Baskerville ed., 2 v., russ., g. e. (cracked), imp. 8vo, Tonson, 1758 Edwards, 16s S. Mar. 5 Another Edn., from the text of T. Newton, 2 v., old English red mor., dentelle borders, g. e., Lord Hol'and's copy, 4to, Baskerville, 1758 Edwards, £2 28 Another Edn. (and Paradise Regained), boards, uncut, 4to, Birmingham, J. Baskerville, 1759 Weston, IIS S. May 7 P. Dec. 7 Andrews, 6s S. May 16 Another Edn., ills. by John Martin, 2 v., mor., g. e., 4to, 1827 Another Edn. (and Paradise Regained), 2 v., old cf., Birmingham, Baskerville, 1760 The same, 2 v., mor., g. e., fo., 1827 The same, I. P. plts. by J. Martin, largest paper, special copy, with extra plts. by Bartolozzi, &c. (some in 2, 3, and 5 states), inserted, 2 v. in 1, imp. fo., mor. (Hering), 1827 £7 H. Oct. 21 Paradise Regain'd (wants leaf of license), marked throughout with * Wanted leaf of License, but had the errata leaf. The same, with leaf before title, bearing the words, 2, 1670" (wants last leaf), mor., 1671 The same, with the license and leaf of errata, 1671 "Licensed July P. Feb. 18 The same, mor. ex, g. e., with leaf of license, 1st Edn., 1671 The same, old cf. (rebacked), 1671 *With exception of a few leaves slightly stained, a sound, clean copy, with the "Licensed " leaf and leaf of "Errata." The same, old cf. (broken), 1671 £32 H. Nov. 24 * Measured 7, 1-16th in. by 41, and had both the "Licensed " leaf and the leaf of Errata at end. The same, with leaf of License dated July 2, 1670, and leaf of errata, fine copy, orig. rough sheep., 1671 Pickering, £45 S. June 21 * Very large copy (7, 1-16th by 48 inches), with the original blank leaves at each end. Another Edn., mor., g. e., 1680 * The portrait and some paginations are, as usual, The same, wants port., cf. ex., g. e. by F. Bedford, Poetical Works, 4 v., old mor., g. e., 16mo, Glasgow, Poetical Works, with Life by W. Hayley, port. and plts., after Westall, 3 v., russ., g. e., fo., 1794 The same, 3 v., red mor. ex., joints, g. e., fo., 1794 Poetical Works, with Notes, &c., by Todd, 6 v., port., &c., cf. gilt, m. e., 1801 Milton (J.) Poetical Works, with Life by Todd, 7 v., port. (spotted), hf. cf., 1809 The same, 7 v., cf. gilt, 1809 Bull, 5s S. Jan. 28 Rimell, I 13s A. Jackson, 195 S. July 2 The same, L. P., 7 v., old mor., g. e., 1809 6 v.. tree-cf. ex., g. e., 1835 Sotheran, 1 8s S. Mar. 5 Poetical Works, with Life by Todd, 4 v., port., 1842 1843 Zubber, 9s P. May 6 Poetical Works, ed. by D. Masson, 3 v., 1874 Dobell, S. Mar. 14 Reason for Church Government, 1st Edn., 4to, cf., g. e., 1611 Maggs, £6 Treatise of the Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes (dedication to Parliament with name in full), 1st Edn., orig. cf., in slip case, 1659 Pickering, £6 15s Bull, 6s S. Dec. II S. Apr. 20 S. Jan. 28 S. Mar. 12 Works (Prose), 1st Edn., o'd cf. (1orn), fo., 1697 Works in Verse and Prose, with Life by Mitford, 8 v., port. and facs., cf. gilt, g. e., 1863 So heran, £4 6s Mingaud (M.) Noble Game of Billiards, cold. front. and diagrams, orig. hf. bdg., fo., 1833 Miniature Museum of Scotch Songs, front., 4 parts in 2 v., cf. gilt, Edinb., N. D. Maggs, 14s Mirabeau. Erotika Biblion, orig. Edn., mor. ex., blind tooled, doublé with Mirabilis, se Prophetiæ. Mirrour for Magistrates: The Falls of the Unfortunate Princes; The The same, b. I., sm. 4to, old cf., 1610 Miscellany Poems, centaining a new Translation of Virgil's Eclogues, &c., Missale Secundum Consuetudinem Romanæ Curiæ (cum Calendario), I. g., double columns, 30 lines, without marks, begins with the Calendar (without title, wants 4 11.), otherwise good copy, oaken boards, clasp, sm. 4to, Nurmbergæ, G. Stuchs de Sultzbach, 1484 S. Apr. 20 Leighton, £6 S. Mar. I Missa'e Romanum (cum Calendario) cum multis missis ac benedictionibus noviter additis et in locis suis positis, &c., I. g., musical notes, large cut before Canon, and woodcut initials (coloured), wants fol. I-II, MS. prayers in end fly-leaves dated 1526, old cf. (rebacked), sm. 4to, Venet. P. de Pincis, 1495 Bull, 2 16s S. Dec. 8 Mis ale Speciale (Augustense), cum Calendario, I. §., red and black, double columns, woodcuts, the Canon (4 11.) on vellum, full-page woodcut, cont. oaken boards, stamped pigskin, r. e., fine copy, fo., Finit Missale suma diligētia emendatu, impressum Venetiis, per Lucam Anthonium de Giunta, Impensis Christophori Thurn Civis Augustensis 1504, nonas Augusti Leighton, 11 IOS S. Dec. 8 |