Page "George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham" Paragraph 30

Buckingham wrote occasional verses, pamphlets, lampoons, satires and plays showing undoubted ( but undeveloped ) poetic gifts, a collection of which, containing however many pieces not from his pen, was first published by Tom Brown in 1704 ; while a few extracts from a commonplace book of Buckingham of some interest are given in an article in the Quarterly Review of January 1898.

He was the author of The Rehearsal, an amusing and clever satire on the heroic drama and especially on Dryden's The Conquest of Granada ( first performed on 7 December 1671, at the Theatre Royal, and first published in 1672 ), a deservedly popular play which was imitated by Henry Fielding in Tom Thumb the Great, and by Sheridan in The Critic.

It is believed that S. Butler had a hand in it.

Dryden had his revenge in his picture of Buckingham as Zimri in Absalom and Achitophel.

Buckingham also published two adapted plays: a version of John Fletcher's The Chances ( 1682 ) and The Restoration or Right will take place, from Beaumont and Fletcher's Philaster ( publ.

1714 ); and also The Battle of Sedgmoor and The Militant Couple ( publ.

1704 ).

The latest edition of his works is that by T. Evans ( 2 vols.

8vo, 1775 ).

Another work is named by Wood, A Demonstration of the Deity, of which there is now no trace.