FN 384 See his Appeal from the Country to the City for the Preservation of His Majesty's Person, Liberty, Property, and the Protestant Religion.
FN 385 See the article on Apollonius in Bayle's Dictionary. I say that Blount made his translation from the Latin; for his works contain abundant proofs that he was not competent to translate from the Greek.
FN 386 See Gildon's edition of Blount's Works, 1695.
FN 387 Wood's Athenae Oxonienses under the name Henry Blount (Charles Blount's father); Lestrange's Observator, No. 290.
FN 388 This piece was reprinted by Gildon in 1695 among Blount's Works.
FN 389 That the plagiarism of Blount should have been detected by few of his contemporaries is not wonderful. But it is wonderful that in the Biographia Britannica his just Vindication should be warmly extolled, without the slightest hint that every thing good in it is stolen. The Areopagitica is not the only work which he pillaged on this occasion. He took a noble passage from Bacon without acknowledgment.
FN 390 I unhesitatingly attribute this pamphlet to Blount, though it was not reprinted among his works by Gildon. If Blount did not actually write it he must certainly have superintended the writing. That two men of letters, acting without concert, should bring out within a very short time two treatises, one made out of one half of the Areopagitica and the other made out of the other half, is incredible. Why Gildon did not choose to reprint the second pamphlet will appear hereafter.
FN 391 Bohun's Autobiography.
FN 392 Bohun's Autobiography; Commons' Journals, Jan. 20. 1692/3.
FN 393 Ibid. Jan. 20, 21. 1692/3.
FN 394 Oldmixon; Narcissus Luttrell's Diary, Nov. and Dec. 1692;Burnet, ii. 334; Bohun's Autobiography.
FN 395 Grey's Debates; Commons' Journals Jan. 21. 23. 1692/3.;Bohun's Autobiography; Kennet's Life and Reign of King William and Queen Mary.
FN 396 "Most men pitying the Bishop."--Bohun's Autobiography.
FN 397 The vote of the Commons is mentioned, with much feeling in the memoirs which Burnet wrote at the time. "It look'd," he says, "somewhat extraordinary that I, who perhaps was the greatest assertor of publick liberty, from my first setting out, of any writer of the age, should be so severely treated as an enemy to it. But the truth was the Toryes never liked me, and the Whiggs hated me because I went not into their notions and passions. But even this, and worse things that may happen to me shall not, Ihope, be able to make me depart from moderate principles and the just asserting the liberty of mankind."--Burnet MS. Harl. 6584.
FN 398 Commons' Journals, Feb. 27. 1692/3; Lords' Journals, Mar.
4.
FN 399 Lords' Journals, March 8. 1692/3.
FN 400 In the article on Blount in the Biographia Britannica he is extolled as having borne a principal share in the emancipation of the press. But the writer was very imperfectly informed as to the facts.
It is strange that the circumstances of Blount's death should be so uncertain. That he died of a wound inflicted by his own hand, and that he languished long, are undisputed facts. The common story was that he shot himself; and Narcissus Luttrell at the time, made an entry to this effect in his Diary. On the other hand, Pope, who had the very best opportunities of obtaining accurate information, asserts that Blount, "being in love with a near kinswoman of his, and rejected, gave himself a stab in the arm, as pretending to kill himself, of the consequence of which he really died."--Note on the Epilogue to the Satires, Dialogue I. Warburton, who had lived first with the heroes of the Dunciad, and then with the most eminent men of letters of his time ought to have known the truth; and Warburton, by his silence, confirms Pope's assertion. Gildon's rhapsody about the death of his friend will suit either story equally.
FN 401 The charges brought against Coningsby will be found in the journals of the two Houses of the English Parliament. Those charges were, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, versified by Prior, whom Coningsby had treated with great insolence and harshness. I will quote a few stanzas.
It will be seen that the poet condescended to imitate the style of the street ballads.
"Of Nero tyrant, petty king, Who heretofore did reign In famed Hibernia, I will sing, And in a ditty plain.
"The articles recorded stand Against this peerless peer;Search but the archives of the land, You'll find them written there."The story of Gaffney is then related. Coningsby's speculations are described thus:
"Vast quantities of stores did he Embezzle and purloin Of the King's stores he kept a key, Converting them to coin.
"The forfeited estates also, Both real and personal, Did with the stores together go.
Fierce Cerberas swallow'd all."
The last charge is the favour shown the Roman Catholics:
"Nero, without the least disguise, The Papists at all times Still favour'd, and their robberies Look'd on as trivial crimes.
"The Protestants whom they did rob During his government, Were forced with patience, like good Job, To rest themselves content.
"For he did basely them refuse All legal remedy;The Romans still he well did use, Still screen'd their roguery."FN 402 An Account of the Sessions of Parliament in Ireland, 1692, London, 1693.
FN 403 The Poynings Act is 10 H. 7. c. 4. It was explained by another Act, 3&4P.and M.c.4.
