Edinburgh, July 18. 1851.
Gooseberry Fool (Vol. iii., p. 496.).
—The editorial note is sufficiently satisfactory; but what is the etymology of gooseberry? Clearly "gorseberry," the fruit of the prickly shrub or bush.
JAMES CORNISH.
Dryden and Oldham (Vol. iv. p. 36.).
—Whether Oldham or Dryden had the prior claim to the thought, is a very interesting question, but very easily settled in favour of the much greater poet of the two, for—
"The dedication to the Earl of Orrery was addressed to him in the year 1664, when The Rival Ladies, which was Dryden's second play, was first printed."—Malone's Dryden, vol. i. part 2. p. 3.
Whereas the poem of Oldham states itself to have been written in July, 1678.
C. B.