17 SEPTEMBER 1881, Page 21

Catalogue of the Manuscripts and Muniments of Dulwich College. By

George F. Warner, M.A. (Longmans.)—Edward Alleys], the founder of the " College of God's Gift," left a great mass of papers in the possession of the College. Among them were documents con- nected with the theatres which he owned and with the Bear Garden, his own correspondence, and the correspondence of his step-father, Philip Henslovre, his Diary, the Registers of Dulwich College, and legal documents concerning the Manor of Dulwich and other property which he acquired. Besides these, there is much else that came into possession of the College by means which it is probably impossible now to trace. The manuscripts make up many volumes ; and there are several hundred muniments in addition. These Mr. Warner has been commissioned to catalogue by the governing body of Dulwich College, more careful, it seems, of their trust than their predecessors, and he has made a quite readable volume in fulfilling his task. His "Introduction" is peculiarly interesting, not the least noticeable part being a very curious account. of forgeries which have found their way into some of these Dulwich MSS. These forgeries seem to have been suggested by what seems an overpowering passion to a certain class of minds,—the desire for "Shakespeare Facts." If these can- not be discovered, and every likely or 'unlikely source has been ransacked for them, then, it seems, they must be invented.