BACON, SHAKESPEARE AND WHITGLET.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In the controversy concerning the Croydon Hospital, founded by Archbishop Whitgift, I observe that attention has not been invited to the fact that Whitgift was Bacon's tutor at Cambridge, and to the great interest taken by him in our early histories. Thus Howes, in editing Stow's Annales in 1615, ten years after the death of Stow, says it represents " twelve years of labour of impartial truth, which, with all faith- fulness, I have composed according to my oath and promise made to the late most Rev. Prelate Dr. Whitgift, Lord-Archbishop of Canterbury."
Whitgift was promoted Bishop the year after Bacon left Cambridge, and was always a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth, whom, when he became " the renowned Archbishop of Canterbury," he entertained, according to Nichols's Pro- gresses, at one of his houses every year, " and in some years twice or thrice." He had a great affection for his mansion house at Croydon, especially " after he had builded his Hospital."
We are celebrating this year the tercentenary of the publi- cation of Bacon's De Augmentis, as well as of the First Folio of the plays of William Shakespeare. It is hardly a year in which to efface memories of either, or of' their times.—I am,
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