_Marvell's Life and Works_ (Vol. v., pp. 439. 513.).--I thought the
question proposed by J. G. F. had been answered to the satisfaction of all
unprejudiced minds by the remarks on this subject published long ago. (See
_Gentleman's Magazine_, vols. xlvi. & xlvii.; _Retrospective Review_, vol.
xi., &c.) I say all _unprejudiced_ minds; for I confess that, although I am
strongly prejudiced in favour of Marvell, yet the internal evidence of the
poems in question is so strongly against Marvell, that I am compelled to
resign them to their rightful owner. Any careful reader of poetry must
acknowledge that every feature in the style is Addison's. Captain
Thompson's having found them in MSS. in Marvell's own hand, is no proof of
parentage, as in the same MSS. is one which undoubtedly belongs to Mallet,
and another which has been proved to be from the pen of Dr. Watts.
My chief reason, however, for intruding on your space is for the purpose of
correcting a mistake into which all the biographers of Marvell have fallen,
as to the time and place of his birth. It is again and again stated,
without any correction, that he was born at Hull, on the 15th November,
1620. That he was not born at Hull I am at length reluctantly compelled to
believe; and that the date of his birth is "March 2, 1621," I can prove
from authorised documents in my own possession, copied from MS. in his
father's hand-writing.
With reference to MR. CROSSLEY'S hope that a new edition of his works might
soon be published, I may say that a new biography of Marvell, with a
selection from his works by a townsman, is already in the press.