Samuel Ireland

In 1794 he proved the value of part of his collection by issuing "Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth, from Pictures, Drawings, and Scarce Prints in the Author's Possession."

In 1790 Ireland published A Picturesque Tour through Holland, Brabant, and part of France made in the Autumn of 1789, London (2 vols.

It was dedicated to Francis Grose and contained etchings on copper in aquatint from drawings made by the author "on the spot."

The series, which was long valued by collectors, was continued in the same form in Picturesque Views on the River Thames, 1792 (2 vols., 2nd ed.

His household consisted of Mrs Freeman, a housekeeper and amanuensis, whose handwriting shows her to have been a woman of education, a son William Henry, and a daughter Jane.

[2] Ireland was a fervent admirer of William Shakespeare, and in 1793, when preparing his "Picturesque Views of the Avon," he took his son with him to Stratford-upon-Avon, to examine carefully all the sights associated with the dramatist.

The father recorded many local traditions, which he accepted as true, including those concocted for his benefit (according to Sidney Lee) by John Jordan, a Stratford poet, who was his chief guide throughout his visit.

The chief Shakespearean scholars of the day, Edmond Malone and George Steevens, however, unhesitatingly denounced them as forgeries.

(One curious exception was George Chalmers, who made genuine contributions to Shakespeare scholarship, but who was nonetheless taken in by the imposition.)

On 29 October 1796 he was ridiculed on stage at Covent Garden as Sir Bamber Blackletter in Frederick Reynolds Fortune's Fool.

When in 1797 he published his Picturesque Tour on the Wye, its chilling reception and the pecuniary loss to which it led proved how low his reputation had fallen.

In 1799 he had the hardihood to publish both Vortigern and Henry II, whose copyrights his son gave him before leaving home, and made vain efforts to get the latter represented on the stage.

He died in July 1800 and Dr Latham, who attended him, recorded a deathbed declaration "that he was totally ignorant of the deceit, and was equally a believer in the authenticity of the manuscripts as those who were the most credulous.