CHAPTER VI. Proposed new library-Bentley's club-Alsop's publication of Æsop-Boyle's Examination of Bentley's Dissertation-Dr. William King-Sir Edward Sherburn's frivolous complaint-Absurd charges against BentleyMerits of the Christ Church book—Instances of its mistakes-Examination of Æsop-Witty proof that the Dissertation was not written by Bentley-Charge of plagiarism-Affronting Index-Causes of the great popularity of Boyle's book-Temple's reception of the book-Boyle's own sentiments-Outcry against Bentley-Keill-Milner-Garth— Aldrich-Caricature-Rymer's Essay-Swift's Battle of the BooksBentley's behaviour-Bentley prepares a reply-Dodwell's ChronologyBentley's enlarged Dissertation on Phalaris-Attractive nature of the work-Defence against the accusation of pedantry-Retorts Boyle's raillery-Short Account of Dr. Bentley's Humanity and Justice-Refutation of this pamphlet—Another anonymous tract—Bishop Lloyd's publication-Death of Bishop Stillingfleet-His Library-Bentley's complete victory. 1697. WHILE the storm was gathering from various quarters, CHAP. VI. Bentley's mind was directed to an object of a different description, the erection of a new royal library, which Proposed might be worthy of the nation, and of the noble col- new library. lection of books entrusted to his charge. It had formerly been intended to convey the books to the Roman Catholic chapel at Whitehall, a fine room which the abdication of James II. had left unemployed; but this scheme was defeated by the fire which destroyed the Palace and most of the adjoining buildings. The design upon which Bentley had fixed his heart has been already mentioned, the building a room of appropriate size and magnificence in St. James's Park: for this work the sanction of the Lords of the Treasury had actually been obtained; but it was found that an Act of Parliament was requisite, to procure which every exertion was made by himself and his friends. In promoting this as well 1697. CHAP. VI. as his other views, we find Mr. Evelyn the foremost ; but the violence of party disputes at that moment, and the financial embarrassments of the country, proved obstacles too great for all his zeal to overcome 1. Bentley's club. 1698. Alsop's pub Æsop. About the same time Bentley formed a club, or evening meeting of a few friends, who happened to be among the greatest intellectual characters that the history of mankind can produce: this society, which met once or twice a week in the librarian's apartments in St. James's, consisted at its foundation of Sir Christopher Wren, Mr. John Evelyn, Mr. Isaac Newton, Mr. John Locke, and Dr. Richard Bentley : names sufficient in themselves to render illustrious the age in which they lived, and the country which gave them birth 2. The attack from Christ Church commenced with lication of the new year. The honour of leading the assault was given to Alsop, who published a selection of Æsop's Fables, as the Dean's present to his students. In the preface he treats Bentley in a manner which betokened what might be shortly expected; terming him Richardum quendam Bentleium, virum in volvendis lexicis satis diligentem; and describes his supposed refusal of the manuscript to Boyle, by giving the fable of the Dog in the manger' in neat latinity; where 6 1 Evelyn's Letter to Bentley, of Dec. 25, 1698. Evelyn's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 284. Also Bentley's manuscript letters to Evelyn, Oct. 21, 1697, and Feb. 27, 1698. In the latter he says, "I did receive your very kind letter about your conversation with Mr. Edwards, and give you a thousand thanks for the favour; but I fear the quarrels of the House of Commons, the unfortunate burning of Whitehall, the public necessities, and the general decay of honour and virtue, will scarce permit our bill to be brought in, at least not in this session. But, however, we are resolved not to despair, till we are actually defeated. You know my useful motto, Possunt quia posse videntur.” 2 The foundation of this society is mentioned in a manuscript letter of Bentley to Evelyn, Oct. 21, 1697. the ironical words singularis humanitas, fix the allu- CHAP. VI. upon the offending librarian 3. sion 3 1698. March. Boyle's exa Bentley's At length appeared the performance of the confederate wits, which was to extinguish for ever the mination of fame and pretensions of our critic: it was a book of Dissertaabout 300 pages, entitled ، Dr. Bentley's Dissertations tion. on the Epistles of Phalaris and the Fables of Esop, examined by the Honourable Charles Boyle, Esq.' with a motto sufficiently menacing: Remember Milo's end, Wedg'd in that timber which he strove to rend. This work, which once enjoyed an extravagant popularity, is now little known, except through the fame of him whom it was intended to crush; since few will take the trouble of reading a controversial piece so immeasurably inferior to its opponent. But if we consider that the view of each several question which it discussed is the wrong one, it is impossible to deny to its arguments the praise of address and ingenuity. Bentley declared that the only merit of 3 Fabularum Æsopicarum Delectus. Oxoniæ, 1698. The fable deserves to be given at length. VOL. I. 66 CANIS IN PRESEPI. Bos post laboris tædia reversus domum, Pro more stabulum ingreditur, ut famem levet; 1698. CHAP. VI. the book was banter and grimace:' but this is not a fair statement; no where could we find a specimen of more cleverness and adroitness shown in encountering logic and erudition with the weapons of sophistry. Against every part of the Dissertation ingenious cavils are raised, of a nature quite sufficient to delude the half-learned among its readers: the style is elegant and scholar-like, and a vein of wellsustained humour and lively raillery runs through the whole performance. Regarded in another point of view, this book deserves severe reprehension: the spirit of hostility and persecution which it breathes is so bitter and so disproportioned to the alleged offence, that every candid mind feels disgusted. Not content with denying Bentley all credit for ability or learning, his opponents were resolved to dispute his honour and veracity in every action and word, and to represent him as a person unfit for the society of gentlemen. The object constantly kept in view is not the pursuit of truth or detection of error, but the ruin of an individual's character; and to accomplish this no methods are thought unfair or degrading. The facts adduced to the disparagement of Bentley's reputation, even admitting the statement of the accusers, would not justify the shocking reflections cast upon him. The affair of the bookseller and the manuscript is related upon Bennet's authority, in exaggerated terms. But, after hearing Boyle's own account, every candid person must condemn him for commencing a quarrel in resentment of a supposed slight, before he had taken any measure to ascertain that it was intended as such. His friends felt this to be the weak part of his cause; and accordingly they laboured to prove, upon certain other testimony, that their adversary's general behaviour was uncourteous. King. Dr. William King, a civilian, well known as a witty CHAP. VI. writer both in prose and verse, happened to be in 1698. Bennet's shop during one of the conversations about Dr. William the manuscript; being an old Westminster and Christ Church man, and a friend of Atterbury, he readily furnished some recollections of the brusque language which he had overheard. The foundation of his tale was this: Bentley, immediately upon his appointment to the library, had exerted himself to recover from the booksellers a copy of all their respective publications, to which the King's library was entitled, as well as the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but which they had of late failed to deliver. Among the rest he called upon Bennet for his share; who thereupon complained of the hardship of the demand, questioned the right of Parliament to give away his property, and talked of the booksellers being a rich body, with a common purse, and able to resist and litigate the question. Bentley checked his talk by explaining the advantages derived by publishers from the existence of such libraries, to which therefore it was equitable that they should contribute, and mentioned as an instance the manuscript of which he was at that moment soliciting the use; telling him in jest that he ought to make a present of a book to the library in return, since the value of the manuscript after its collation would be diminished; and to make him comprehend this, he said, it would then become like a squeezed orange.' Dr. King, who overheard this discourse, could recollect no particular except Dr. Bentley's remark, that the manuscript when collated would be worth nothing for the future:' he testified indeed that there was 'pride and insolence' in his discourse, but suppressed the cause which had excited it; wishing it to be inferred by the |