EJfay on MaJJinger. 123 



This quotation, from fo great an authority 

 as Dr. Prieftley, furnilhes an excellent apology 

 for the imperfeft attempts of 



Dear Sir, 



Your moft obedient humble Servant, 



A. BENNET, 



WIRKSWORTH, * *^x^J.-«J. J-- ■»■ > 



AUGUST 22, 1786. Curate of Wirksworth. 



Essay on the Dramatic Writings of Mas- 

 singer. By John Ferriar, M. D. 



MANCHESTER, OCTOBER 25, I786. 



- - Res antiquae laudis et artis 



Ingredior, fanftos aufus recludere fontes. 



ViRC. 



IT might be urged, as a proof of our pof- 

 felTing a fuperfluity of good Plays in our lan- 

 guage, that one of our bed dramatic writers is 

 very generally difregarded. But whatever con- 

 clufion may be drawn from this faft, it will not 

 be eafy to free the public from the fufpicion of 

 caprice, while it continues to idolize Shake- 

 fpeare, and to negled an author not often much 



inferior. 



