‘Thy wish,’ etc. 2 Henry IV., Act IV. Sc. 5. Note. Cf. ante, p. 317. [441]. ‘Blown about,’ etc. Cf. Ephesians iv. 14. ‘Infinite agitation of wit.’ Bacon, The Advancement of Learning, Book I. iv. 5. Sir Isaac Newton, etc. Newton published Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John (1733), and Napier of Merchiston A Plaine Discovery of the whole Revelation of St. John (1594). [442]. ‘Masterless passion,’ etc. Cf. The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Sc. 1. ‘Fear,’ etc. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act V. Sc. 1. [443]. January and May. See Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, ‘The Merchant’s Tale.’ [444]. A good remark in ‘Vivian Grey.’ See Book IV. chap. V.
DEFINITION OF WIT
Published in Literary Remains from which it is here reprinted. Cf. the essay ‘On Wit and Humour’ in vol. VIII. (English Comic Writers) pp. 5–30.
PAGE [445]. ‘Wherein,’ etc. See vol. VIII. pp. 18–19. ‘The squandering glances,’ etc. As You Like it, Act II. Sc. 7. [446]. ‘Revive,’ etc. Quoted elsewhere from Scott. [448]. ‘Foregone conclusion.’ Othello, Act III. Sc. 3. ‘Skin,’ etc. Cf. Hamlet, Act III. Sc. 4. [449]. ‘In cut and dye,’ etc. Hudibras, I. I. 243–4. ‘The house,’ etc. Misquoted from Swift’s Vanbrugh’s House. [450]. ‘Turned from black to red.’ Hudibras, II. II. 32. ‘Like jewels,’ etc. Collins, Ode, The Manners, 55. [451]. ‘Pray lend me,’ etc. Farquhar, The Beaux Stratagem, Act V. Sc. 4. [453]. ‘A forked radish,’ 2 Henry IV., Act III. Sc. 2.
PERSONAL POLITICS
Published in Literary Remains, where the author’s son says that it was ‘written during my father’s last illness, immediately after the French Revolution of 1830.’ The essay, which must have been written after the ‘Three Days’ (see post, p. 461, note) is here reprinted from Literary Remains.
PAGE [456]. ‘Ay, every inch a King!’ King Lear, Act IV. Sc. 6. ‘Cooped,’ etc. Cf. Macbeth, Act III. Sc. 4. ‘Himself again.’ Richard III. (Cibber’s version), Act V. Sc. 3. [458]. ‘Solely,’ etc. Macbeth, Act I. Sc. 5. ‘Shall be in him,’ etc. Cf. Othello, Act III. Sc. 3. [459]. ‘Smile,’ etc. Cf. Hamlet, Act I. Sc. 5. ‘Ever strong,’ etc. King John, Act III. Sc. 1. [460]. The late King. George IV. died on June 26, 1830. [461]. Let him go where he chooses. Charles X. arrived in England on Aug. 17, 1830. Note. The Revolution of the Three Days. This began on July 27, 1830.
EMANCIPATION OF THE JEWS
This paper was printed in Leigh Hunt’s The Tatler for March, 1831 (vol. II.), and also, separately, in pamphlet form. Mr. Bertram Dobell kindly showed to the Editors a copy of this pamphlet in his possession which bore the following (anonymous) marginal note: ‘Written by Hazlitt, and a little altered by Mr. Basil Montagu—Mr. Isaac Goldsmid caused this little tract to be written, and defrayed all the expenses of authorship, printing, etc. It was the last production, I think, of Hazlitt’s pen.’ From a proof in the Editors’ possession it is clear that the essay was sent by Hazlitt’s son to The Daily News and set up in type in 1849, but it seems never to have been published by that journal. The essay is here reprinted from the pamphlet. The Tatler and The Daily News proof show only trifling typographical variations. It will be remembered that Macaulay’s maiden speech (April 5, 1830) was in favour of a bill for the removal of Jewish disabilities. The emancipation of the Jews was not effected till 1858.
PAGE [461]. ‘We have reformed,’ etc. Cf. Hamlet, Act III. Sc. 2. [463]. ‘My kingdom,’ etc. S. John xviii. 36. [464]. ‘And pure religion,’ etc. Wordsworth, Sonnet, Written in London, September 1802.