Page:An Inquiry into the Authenticity of certain Papers and Instruments attributed to Shakspeare.djvu/20

Rh duction of Shakspeare, or of the other persons to whom they are ascribed.

manner in which these curiosities are said to have been found being extremely material to the present question, that I may proceed in due form, and do no injustice to the editor, I shall give his account of the discovery in his own words:

“ may be expected (says he) that something should be said by the editor, of the manner in which these papers came into his hands. He received them from his son, Samuel Ireland, a young man then under 19 years of age, by whom the discovery was accidentally made at the house of a gentleman of considerable property.

“ a mass of family papers, the Contracts between Shakspeare, Lowine, and Condelle, and the lease granted by him and Hemynge to Michael Fraser, which was first found, were discovered; and soon afterwards the deed of gift to Ireland, (described as the friend of Shakspeare, in consequence of his having saved his life