reater sum of money
might be got than could be by that plaything of Sir Thomas,
which shines in all its splendour in the Dunciad; but this
project did not suit Hanmer, whose life seemed greatly to
depend on the magnificent Oxford edition, which "was not to go
into the hands of booksellers." On this, Warburton, we are
told by Hanmer, "flew into a great rage, and there is an end
of the story." With what haughtiness he treats these two
friends, for once they were such! Had the Dey of Algiers been
the editor of Shakspeare, he could not have issued his orders
more peremptorily for the decapitation of his rivals. Of
Theobald and Hanmer he says, "the one was recommended to me as
a poor man, the other as a poor critic: and to each of them at
different times I communicated a great number of observations,
which they managed, as they saw fit, to the relief of their
several distresses. Mr. Theobald was naturally turned to
industry and labour. What he read he could transcribe; but as
to what he thought, if ever he did think, he could but ill
express, so he read on: and by that means got a character of
learning, without risking to every observer the imputation of
wanting a better talent."--See what it is to enjoy too close
an intimacy with a man of wit! "As for the Oxford Editor, he
wanted nothing (alluding to Theobald's want of money) but what
he might very well be without, the reputation of a critic,"
&c. &c.--_Warburton's Preface to Shakspeare._

His conduct to Dr. GREY, the editor of Hudibras, cannot be
accounted for by any known fact. I have already noticed their
quarrels in the "Calamities of Authors." Warburton cheerfully
supplied Grey with various notes on Hudibras, though he said
he had thought of an edition himself, and they were gratefully
acknowledged in Grey's Preface; but behold! shortly afterwards
they are saluted by Warburton as "an execrable heap of
nonsense;" further, he insulted Dr. Grey for the _number_ of
his publications! Poor Dr. Grey and his "Coadjutors," as
Warburton sneeringly called others of his friends, resented
this by "A Free and Familiar Letter to that Great Preserver of
Pope and Shakspeare, the Rev. Mr. William Warburt