* * * * *
Replies to Minor Queries.
_Chatterton_ (Vol. vii., p. 189.).--J. M. G. informs N. B. that he is
possessed of the whole of the late Mr. Hazlewood's collection of volumes,
tracts, and cuttings from periodicals, published during the period when the
Rowleian and Chattertonian {268} controversy engrossed so much of public
criticism and dispute.
He has likewise various other articles relating to Chatterton, both in
print and manuscript, collected during many years that he was resident at
and connected with Bristol, which then naturally interested him in the
subject. But what would be of far greater use to N. B. in ascertaining who
was the author of the Rowleian poems, is an essay in manuscript, recently
furnished to J. M. G. by a gentleman now resident in Bristol, whose
ancestors were acquainted with Chatterton's family, and who has in this
document shown, not only great archæological research, but has thrown much
new light upon various disputed points both relative to Chatterton's
relations and friends, which go far to settle the opinion, that the
venerable Rowley, and not the boy Chatterton, was the writer of the poems.
J. M. G. is afraid that this subject is one, the revival of which would
fail to interest the public mind, or he might be induced to publish the
essay, to which he has reason to believe that its author would give his
consent; and should J. M. G. again raise the controversy by sending to "N.
& Q." any detached parts, he is apprehensive that the subjects of them
would not meet with the attention they formerly would have done.