Random-ise: Congreve's The Way of the World, -ize and -ise verbs

This is part of an investigation I've been doing into the use and spelling of -ize suffix verbs and their spelling (-ize or -ise) in British English. For more details, related posts and the methods I've used, see the -ize / -ise page.

I'm also interested in the development of the use of -ize suffix verbs (eg realize/realise), compared with the use of French-based -ise verbs (eg surprise). And in the extent to which there was consistency in the spelling of these verbs, or a lack of it, in early publishing.

William Congreve - The Way of the World 1756

• Wikipedia
• Project Gutenberg
• Google Books - First Edition, London 1756
• Google Books - Methuen, London 1895
• List of Congreve works online at Online Books, the University of Pennsylvania

Notice how all three instances of surprised are spelt with a z in the First Edition. They are also spelt with an apostrophe - surpriz'd. Neither the spelling nor the apostrophe are unusual for the period.

In the First Edition all the -ize suffix verbs are spelt with z, but in the 1895 Methuen edition, which the Project Gutenberg version is taken from, as well as correcting surprised, all -ize verb endings have changed to -ise

Click on the numbers to see the verbs at Google Books

		1756	1895
		-ize	-ise
authorised	(1)	1	1
catechised	(1)	1	1
monopolise	(1)	1	1
tantalised	(1)	1	1

French -ise verbs - 6 instances of 4 verbs

		1756	1895
		-ise	-ise
despise	(1)	3	3
despised	(1)	1	1
disguised	(1)	1	2
		-ize	-ise
surprised	(3)	3	3

All

	1756
repartee: since you monopolise the wit that	-ize
now come to despise 'em; the next	-ise
since I have despised him, he's too	-ise
MRS. MAR. I'm surprised to find your	-ize
know; I'll be surprised. I'll be taken	-ize
start and be surprised, and rise to	-ize
to genuine and authorised tea-table talk, such	-ize
person, I am tantalised on the rack,	-ize
brought Mr. Mirabell disguised to Madam Millamant	-ise
to have been catechised by him, and	-ize