20th." and the figures 16-- marking
the century, were really tolerably distinct. Accordingly, Sir John wrote
a brief notice of Butler's Life, dwelling much upon his well-known
poverty, and quoting his epitaph, with the allusion to his indigence
underscored, "lest he who living wanted all things, should, when
dead, want a tomb," and placed these remarks opposite the letter of
our starving poet, which was registered in the volume in conspicuous
characters as an "Autograph of Samuel Butler, author of Hudibras,
showing to what distress he was at one time reduced."
{Samuel Butler (1612-1680), another English author popularly
believed to have died in great poverty; he is best known for his long
satiric mock-epic poem, "Hudibras" (1663-1678)}
Here the sheet remained several years, until at length it chanced
that Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a
gentleman who had recently read Mr. Lumley's MS. Life of Otway. The
identity of this letter, with that copied by Mr. Lumley, immediately
suggested itself; and now the first sparks of controversy between
the Otwaysians and the Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library.
>From thence they soon spread to the four winds of heaven, falling on
combustible materials wherever they lighted on a literary head, or
collecting hands.
By the bye, the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased
of late years is really alarming; who can foresee the state of things
likely to exist in the next century, should matters go on at the same
rate? Reflect for a moment on the probable condition of
distinguished authors, lions of the loudest roar, if the number of
autograph-hunters were to increase beyond what it is at present.
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