CHAP VII.] POTATOES. 281 



what was aptly enough termed Shakespear-mad. 

 At this very moment an occurrence took place, 

 which must have put an end, for ever, to this 

 national folly, had it not been kept up by 

 infatuation and obstinacy without' parallel. 

 Young IRELAND, I think his name was WIL 

 LIAM, no matter from what motive, though I 

 never could see any harm in his motWe, and 

 have always thought him a man most unjustly 

 and brutally used. No matter, however, what 

 were the inducing circumstances, or the motives, 

 he did write, and bring forth, as being Shakes- 

 pear's, some plays, a prayer, and a love-letter. 

 The learned men of England, Ireland and Scot 

 land met to examine these performances. Some 

 doubted, a few denied; but, the far greater part, 

 amongst whom were Dr. PARR, Dr. WHARTON, 

 and Mr. GEORGE CHALMERS, declared, in the 

 most positive terms, that no man but Shakespear 

 could have written those things. There was a 

 division ; but this division arose more from a 

 suspicion of some trick, than from any thing to 

 be urged against the merit of the writings. The 

 plays went so far as to be ACTBD. Long 

 lists of subscribers appeared to the work. 

 And, in short, it was decided, in the most 

 unequivocal manner, that this young man of 

 sixteen years of age had written so nearly like 

 Shakespear, that a majority of the learned and 



