10 JULY 1830, Page 15

THE EXILE OF ERIN, MR. CAMPBELL, AND THE SLIGO OBSERVER.

EVERY one has heard the story of the quarrelsome Irishman, who, at the performance of Othello, disputed its Shaksperian author- ship ; insisting, " It was my friend, Mr. Terence O'Shoucgnesey, what writ that play." The Sligo Observer has lately obtained notice by denying Mr. CAMPBELL'S title to the "Exile of Erin ;" and protesting it was the late GEORGE NUGENT REYNOLDS, Esq. "what writ that song." We have no doubt that the charge of plagiary is preferred in perfect good faith, and with that impetuous wilfulness of belief which so often appears in our brethren of the Green Isle. Regard to probabilities seems generally wanting in the Irish judgment ; and an allegation is adopted, not because it has been proved, but because the supposition of its truth serves for excitement, or gives object to a mood, and ground for generous feats of chivalry, a tilt at a potent wrong-doer, or vindication of injured right.

The Sligo Observer will have it that Mr. REYNOLDS wrote the song called the " Exile of Erin," because (we quote the Editor's Nvords)— " We have this moment lying before us, and supplied by Mrs. Macna- mara, of Letterfine, one of Mr. Reynolds's sisters, two manuscript books of his miscellaneous poems and songs, one of which is copied in that lady's handwriting. The first or titlepage of the book, in her handwriting, is dated ' 20th April 1783,' just forty-seven years ago ; and in this book we find the contested Exile ! It is thus rendered clear that Mr. Reynolds had written the song at least seventeen years before 1800, the alleged date of Mr. Campbell's visit to Altona."

To any but a very good Irish partisan, it would occur that the date at the beginning of a manuscript book of poems does not fix the date of the performances copied into it. Many of our fair readers have albums commenced and dated a dozen years back, into which the last year's ballad of BAYLY is transcribed ; but it were hard, or stupid, if twenty years hence, on the score of such date, the property of Mr. .BAYLY-iri his pleasing performances were disputed.' It seems at least as likely that Mr. REYNOLDS, in the obscurity of his private circle, may have claimed what.does not belong to him, as that Mr. CAMPBELL has publicly attempted the same fraud. Of the deceased Mr. REYNOLDS or his friends, we know nothing ; of Mr. CAMPBELL, we know that he has the character of a high-minded man, with those whose opinion is biassed by no personal partialities. All the other considerations of probability are favourable to Mr. CAMPBELL.

The first ballad-writer of his age, the author of " Hohenlinden,' and " Lord Ullin's Daughter," his capacity for the composition of the " Exile of Erin " is not to be doubted ; nor is there in it any merit so far superior to the flight of his genius, as to have tempted him to prefer a hazardous claim to it, supposing his morality level to such a meanness. The case of Mr. CAMPBELL could not be that of the daw bedizened with a borrowed plume, for his feathers are richer than that he is charged with having stolen. How, on the other hand, stands the claim for Mr. REYNOLDS ? By what undis- puted productions are we to judge of his capacity for writing the " Exile of Erin ? " and if an obscure person had made so lucky a hit, would not the title to the composition have been eagerly vindicated for him, at the time when the authorship was claimed by another ? They who have little to boast are most tenacious of the little ; and the single success is the success which most largely fills the mind, and excites it to the most jealous watchfulness of its unique claim. What parents feel for an only child, authors feel for an only success. The fame of a GEORGE NUGENT REYNOLDS, Esquire, would have been made by the " Exile of Erin ; " the fame of a CAMPBELL could spare it. Set- ting all other considerations of probability aside, therefore, there is a stronger motive for plagiary on the side of obscurity than on that of celebrity.

The subject may not seem to have deserved the words we have given to it ; but we abhor detraction or idle imputation, and hold nothing indifferent which affects the honour of any man of letters, who has ministered largely to the world's pleasure, and whose guerdon is his good fame.