life was virtuous, and his end was pious. Theophilus Cibber, then a prisoner for debt, imparted, as I was told, his name for ten guineas. The manuscript of Shiels’, he adds, ‘is now in my possession.’
In some of its details this account has been amended and corrected. Cibber, it appears, did actually supervise and edit the work, striking out the Jacobite and Tory sentiments which Shiels had plentifully interspersed in the Lives that he contributed. For this labour of revision Cibber received twenty guineas. Shiels, on the other hand, wrote the chief part of the book, and received almost seventy pounds. Cibber and Shiels, as might be expected, quarrelled, and Shiels, who was for a time one of Johnson’s dictionary amanuenses, doubtless communicated to Johnson his version of the affair.[1]
That Shiels is entitled to the chief credit of the work cannot be doubted. Internal evidence, as it is called, would alone be sufficient to establish his claim. Here, for instance, is a description of Edinburgh society,
- ↑ Mr. J. J. Champenois, who is investigating the history of the Monthly Review, has found in the Bodleian Library (Add. MSS. C. 89. 328), and has very kindly communicated to me, the articles of agreement between Shiels and Griffiths. They run as follows:—
Articles relating to the property & conducting a work entitled the Lives of the Poets, from Chaucer to Pope; to be printed in three volumes in Twelves. Mr. Robt Shiells author.
1. It is proposed by the underwritten Proprietors, to publish this work in weekly Nos at 3 Sheets each. R. Griffiths to be the publisher.
2. Fifteen Nos to Complete the whole, at 6d each.
3. The no to be printed is 1000.
4. Mr. Shiells to have 15/ p. Sheet.
5. The whole Expence of this work to be Jointly defrayed by the proprietors, whose Shares are consequently to be Equal.
- London Wm Johnston
- LondonDan. Browne
- LondonNovr 6th 1752Ra. Griffiths.
