TO THE EDITOR OF "BACONIANA.” SIR,-Your correspondent "Cantab" has, I think, quite overlooked the object of my little "Outline." This merely seeks to set out, in a very small space, the details of what will appear in full in a large and more serious work which I am contemplating. 1. My larger book will give reference to the exact pages of the learned and most classical writer which appear to me to contain the authority I rely upon. 2. Ben Jonson was, beyond question, a very excellent classical scholar, and he, as undoubtedly, had the degrees both of Cambridge, his own alma mater, and of Oxford also-the latter doubtless as a compliment to his vast and well-known learning. The knowledge of the college he was a member of in Cambridge University is perfectly well-known; and so it also is how Jonson got there, and when and why he was taken away from the University. I, therefore, cannot accept "Cantab's" rather dogmatic assumption that Jonson was never there a student." I will cite the very old authorities to the contrary in my forth. coming book when produced. 3. If "Cantab" turns to page lxxviii. of Judge Willis's published Lecture-the price of which is only two shillings-he will there find the information he wishes as to "Capell College." This college, I may add, is not so called now. 4. The history of the "Mousetrap scene in Hamlet requires too much explanation to set out here. In this case I trust "Cantab" will be patient, and await my larger book to learn at detail. 5. "Cantab" appears quite assured on the point named. Therefore, pages of argument would fail to convince him. If he cares to read this question he can find the attack on Judge Webb in the National Review for July, 1892; and the Judge's reply in the following number of the Review. 6. If "Cantab" will permit it, I shall still prefer to refer to Venus and Adonis. This subject is more conveniently discussed in my larger book than argued here at the length it will require given to it. 7. The larger book, when subsbribed to, will give the reference "Cantab" would like. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, G. PITT-LEWIS. The Bacon Society (Incorporated) Ar the Annual General Meeting of the Bacon Society, held at Hart Street, Bloomsbury, on February 6th, 1905, the President, Mr. Francis Fearon, in the chair, the following officers were elected : President: Mr. G. C. Bompas. Vice-President: Mr. Granville C. Cunningham. Council: Mr. W. T. Smedley, Mr. A. P. Sinnett, Mr. Parker Woodward, Mr. Fleming Fulcher. Hon. Treasurer: Mr. Francis Fearon. Hon. Secretary: Mr. Harold Bayley. The Society has made arrangements for a series of drawingroom meetings, the first of which will be held on March 29th, at the house of Mr. Granville C. Cunningham. At the Sesame Club, on March 8th, Mr. A. P. Sinnett gave an address to a crowded audience in favour of the proposition that the weight of evidence is in favour of Francis Bacon being the author of the Shakespeare plays. Miss Beatrice Forbes Robertson read a paper in support of the Shakespearean authorship. The Biliteral Cipher AS BACONIANA claims to keep its readers "abreast with the latest aspects of the controversy" (January, 1905, p. 67), may I enquire of the Editor, or some responsible correspondent, what is the present attitude of that Magazine to the charge of plagiarism from Pope, brought by Mr. Marston against Mrs. Gallup. This charge of plagiarism has nothing to do with the cipher in Henry VII., which a Committee is understood to be dealing with, and I cannot in my present unenlightened state reconcile the claim above made (p. 67) with the absolute suppression of all mention of so crucial a question for some three years or so! W. THEOBALD. Ilfracombe, January, 1905. [In the following issue we hope to publish the results of the Bacon Society's investigations.-ED. BACONIANA.] Bacon Weed THERE is a plant mentioned in Funk's Dictionary, which reminds me of Shakespeare's line : "Why write I still, all one, ever the same Shewing their birth, and where they did proceed?" Is it a kind of grass? It is called the Bacon Weed. Its provincial name is Pig-weed, and its Latin name is Chiropodum Album. Spear grass? Will any botanist tell me? A. A. L. BACONIANA. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. B ACONIANA is devoted to discussion of the problems underlying sixteenth and seventeenth century literature. Its aim is not restricted to the mere advocacy of the theory that the Shakespeare Plays were written by Francis Bacon, but is rather to record hitherto unrecognised facts, and to promote the general study of the English Renaissance. In the endeavour to throw fresh light upon an obscure period every care will be exercised to avoid, as far as possible, the publication of inaccurate statements. Readers are invited to favour the Editor by communicating any new facts that come under their notice. When quoting extracts it is desirable to follow literatim the spelling and punctuation. The place and date of publication should also, if possible, be invariably stated. Correspondence, Contributions, Books for review, and notices of events should be directed to THE EDITOR OF "BACONIANA," 11, Hart Street, London, W.C. Communications with regard to distribution and advertisements should be addressed to GAY & BIRD, 22, Bedford Street, London, W.C. The ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION to the Magazine is 5/-, post free. Quarterly parts 1/- net, or post free, 1/3. CASES for binding, 16 each, can be had from the Publishers. RECENT PUBLICATIONS. "Bayley (Harold). The Tragedy of Sir Francis Bacon. An Appeal for Further Investigation and Research. Part I.: The Mystery of the Rosicrucians. Part II.: Deciphered Arcana. Sixty Illustratione. Large crown 8vo, 292 pp. 6s. net. (Richards). Bompas (George Cox). The Problem of the Shakespeare Plays. Demy 8vo, 116 pp. 8s. 6d. net. (Low). Gallup (Mrs. Elizabeth Wells). The Biliteral Cipher of Sir Francis Bacon. Royal 8vo, 368 pp. Paper cover. 68. net.; cloth, 15s. net. (Gay & Bird). Harding (Edward). A Baconian Summary. Demy 8vo, 50 pp. 18. (Banks). *Owen (Orville W.). Sir Francis Bacon's Cipher Story. 5 Vols. Royal 8vo. 68. net each volume. (Gay & Bird). Penzance (Lord). A Judicial 58. net. (Low). Summing Up. Demy 8vo, 200 pp. Pott (Mrs Henry). Obiter Dicta of Bacon and Shakespeare on Reed (Edwin). Bacon v. Shakespeare: Brief for Plaintiff. Reed (Edwin). Francis Bacon our Shakespeare. Royal 8vo, 242 pp. 88. 6d. net. (Gay & Bird). Reed (Edwin). Bacon and Shakespeare Parallelisms. Royal 8vo, 442 pp. 10s. 6d. net. (Gay & Bird). Strang (M. W.). The Bacon-Shakespeare Problem. Demy 8vo, 24 pp. 4d. (Banks.) An Essay. Sutton, S. J. (Rev. Wm. A.). The Shakespeare Enigma. Demy 8vo, 208 pp. 38. 6d. (Sealy, Bryers & Walker. Dublin). Theobald (Robert M.). Shakespeare Studies in Baconian Light. Demy 8vo, 512 pp. 10s. 6d. (Low). Webb (Judge). The Mystery of William Shakespeare. A Summary of Evidence. Demy 8vo, 308 pp. 10s. 6d. (Longmans). *Woodward (Parker). The Strange Case of Francis Tidir. Demy 8vo, 118 pp. 2s. 6d. (Banks). *Woodward (Parker). The Early Life of Lord Bacon. 4to, 112 pp. 2s. 6d. net. (Gay & Bird). The above may be obtained of any first-class bookseller, or at the Book Depôt of Messrs. Gay and Bird, 22, Bedford Street, London. The works marked with an asterisk (*) deal with the controversial subject of Ciphers. PRINTED BY ROBERT BANKS AND SON, FLEET STREET, LONDON. |