8 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
of an anachronism in introducing ‘rapier’ into Rickard II, 
IV. i. 40, the editor remarked: “ It is probable that Dr. 
Johnson did not see the necessity of citing any authority for 
a fact so well known, or suspect that any person would de¬ 
mand one.” 12) 
Upon reading these notes one wonders why Eitson should 
have been so wrought up as to feel that he had a personal 
quarrel with the man who wrote them. It is certain that 
imagination and a super sensitive nature played a rather large 
part in exciting his anger. Outside of the two letters that 
have been preserved, the only explanation of his point of view 
is to be found in The Quip Modest. There he admitted that he 
was guilty of a ‘gross blunder’ about King Edward shovel 
boards, but he resented the statement that he had censured 
Farmer, for whom he professed the highest regard, and de¬ 
clared that he had only expressed a difference of opinion. In 
the discussion on the mortality of fairies Eitson knew he was 
in the right, and he steadfastly maintained his ground. It 
was the insinuating nature of this note to which he objected, 
and to the editor’s parting fling he answered in his richest vein 
of sarcasm: “The editor might, without any detriment to 
his work, have omitted the above note; but I cannot think that 
the page has any particular reason to complain of the in¬ 
cumbrance, as it would be no difficult matter to point out 
several hundreds groaning under an equal burthen.” 13) 
In the last note Eitson was incensed at the notion that he 
should be criticised for insisting upon an editor or commentator 
performing his proper function—that of substantiating opinion 
with fact wherever possible. 
Eitson immediately made known his dissatisfaction with 
these notes. He held much store by Eeed’s friendship and 
professed to believe that they came from some ‘friend in the 
dark,’ possibly Steevens, rather than from the ostensible edi¬ 
tor. But when the exchange of several letters failed to bring 
a disavowal from Eeed, Eitson began to think that he had 
probably been mistaken. When he published The Quip 
Modest, it contained an extremely vicious preface (a part of 
which it was thought necessary to tone down before many 
copies had been sold) in which Steevens was wickedly reviled 
M Vol. V, p. 227. 
Quip Modest, p. 14. 
