DRYDEN'S "ESSAY UPON SATIRE."

On what evidence does the statement rest, that the Earl of Mulgrave was the author of the *Essay upon Satire*, and that Dryden merely corrected and polished it? As at present advised, I have considerable doubt upon the point: and although, in modern editions of Dryden's *Works*, I find it headed *An Essay upon Satire, written by Mr. Dryden and the Earl of Mulgrave*, yet in the *State Poems*, vol. i. p. 179., originally printed in the lifetime of Dryden, it is attributed solely to him—"*An Essay upon Satyr.* By J. Dryden, Esq." This gets rid of the assertion in the note of "D.," in the Aldine e…