WCP3303

[1]¹

Feb 11. 1911.

Dear Dr Russell [sic]-Wallace;

Among its "Massive facts", which you think ought to supersede the Baconian Induction (which you most astonishingly call, "peddling as details" — a process that Darwin² and you must have carried on very extensively before you arrived at your wonderful results respecting the origin of species;) — You refer to the "love and admiration ^with which William Shakespere “was regarded by his fellow actors and publishers". This is of course a mere piece of conjecture as there is no evidence existing of anything of this kind. And in reference to this let me refer you to a passage in Spedding's edition of Bacon's work — vol. I, p 519. n. The whole note is too long for quotation; I suggest that you should [2] look upon. The most remarkable passage in it is the following. Spedding quotes Lord Southampton's letter to Lord Chanc^r Ellesmere, — it introduces it thus "That very letter without which he should scarcely have known that Shakespere was personally known to any one in the great world as a distinguished dramatic writer," — proves at the same time how little was known about him by people of that quality? and then he quotes from the letter. And curiously enough it turns out that that letter is one of Collier's forgeries {see Staunton's Shakespeare — introduction)x ^p.ixi So much for the most important of your "massive facts."

I will not publish your letter without your express permission. But I have some idea of publishing its arguments, as given by a very distinguished man of letters, in the columns of Baconiana. I am absolutely persuaded [3] that your belief will be soon compelled & in the mean time, I ask you to consider on what a slender basis it rests.

The fact is that Shakespere hagiography is a almost made up of guesses, conjectures, — assumptions which are trotted out as "doubtless" thus, — while the Baconian case rests on solid facts, which cannot be disputed.

With deepest respect I am, | yours very truly, | Rob M. Theobald³ [signature]

x Staunton gives no less than 8 of these forgeries, and these do not include all.