If required to name the most popular English poem of the last century, I
should perhaps fix on the _Elegy_ of Gray. According to Mason, it "ran
through eleven editions in a very short space of time." If he means
_separate_ editions, I can point out six other impressions in the
life-time of the poet, besides those in miscellaneous collections viz.
In _Six Poems by Mr. T. Gray_, London, 1753. Folio--1765. Folio--and in
_Poems by Mr. Gray_, London, 1768. small 8o.--Glasgow 1768. 4o.--London.
A new edition, 1768. small 8o. A new edition, 1770. small 8o. So much
has been said of translations and imitations, that I shall confine
myself to the text.
Of the _first_ separate edition I am so fortunate as to possess a copy.
It is thus entitled:--
"_An elegy wrote in a country church-yard_. LONDON: printed for
R. Dodsley in Pal-mall; and sold by M. Cooper in
Pater-noster-row, 1751. Price six-pense. 4o six leaves.
"Advertisement.
"The following POEM came into my hands by accident, if the
general approbation with which this little piece has been
spread, may be call'd by so slight a term as accident. It is
this approbation which makes it unnecessary for me to make any
apology but to the author: as he cannot but feel some
satisfaction in having pleas'd so many readers already, I
flatter myself he will forgive my communicating that pleasure to
many more.
"The EDITOR."
The history of this publication is given by Gray himself, in a letter to
Walpole, dated in 1751, and needs no repetition; but I must observe, as
a remarkable circumstance, that the poem was reprinted _anonymously_, in
its separate form, as late as 1763.
I have collated the editions of 1751 and 1770, and find variations in
stanzas 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 23, 24, and 27. All the amendments, however,
were adopted as early as 1753, except the correction of a grammatical
peccadillo in the ninth stanza.
I make this communication in the shape of a note, as it may interest men
of the world not less than certain _hermits_.