Quarrels of Authors (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 Excerpt: ...Epistolary Correspondence is a Letter, where, with equal anger and dignity, Atterbury avows his having written about half, and planned the whole, of Boyle's attack upon Bentley --With these facts before us, can we read without surprise, if not without in. dignation, the passage, I shall now quote, from the book to which the name of Boyle is prefixed. In raising an artful charge against Bentley, of appropriating some MS. Notes of Sir Edward Sherburne, Boyle, replying to the argument of Bentley, that Phalaris was the work of some sophist, says: --" The sophists are everywhere pelted by Dr. Bentley, for putting out what they wrote in other men's names; but I did not expect to hear so loudly of it, from one that has so far outdone them; for / think 'tis much worse to take the honour of another man's book to one's self, than to entitle one's own book to another man."--P. 16. I am surprised Bentley did not turn the point of his antagonist's sword on himself, for this nourish was a most unguarded one. But Bentley could not then know so much of the book, " made up by contributions," as ourselves. Partial truths flew about in rumours at the time; but the friends of a young nobleman, and even his fellow-workmen, seemed concerned that his glory should not be diminished by a ruinous division.--Rymer, in his " Essay concerning Curious and Critical Learning," judiciously surmised its true origin. " fancy this book was written (as most public compositions in that College are) by a select club. Every one seems to have thrown in a repartee or so in his turn: and the most in The Christ-church party now formed a literary conspiracy against the great Critic; and as treason is infectious when the faction is strong, they were secretly engaging n...