The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-14
A NEW ERA
S II A X S P T. A II +

. II n > L T. "A TX T.
in AMERICA
| The Cheapest and most .Splendidiy Wumi-
mated and Illustrated Edition of The Bard
| Of Aron ever published.
| EDITED RY THE
| HON. GULIAN c. VERPLANCK
ROBT. w. WEIR, ESQ,
will design select, and arrange the illustrations of
which there will be about 400 executed on wood,
in the very best style of the modern school of that
art
In submitting the Prospectus of the Editor to the
public, the publisher has only to add that he will
| spare neither expense pains to make this edition
Of the Worlds Poet superior to any that has hereto
fore appeared-in illustrations, typograpy and paper
The form will be royal octave and will be issued in
weekly parts price l2 cents, which places it within
the means of persons of the most limited fortunes
whilst on account Of its peculiar b, auty it will gain
itself admission into the libraries OF the rch and there
prove to be Of the choicest ornaments
Those who wish ,his work in most perfect state
will only be sure of it by taking the parts they APP
pear which will contain the early proofs of the
cravings.
The Tragedy ofIiamlet is now in press. The first
part will be issued in March,
PROSPECTUS.
The PIcToRiAL and ILLUSTRATED editions of
SHAKESPEARE, lately published in England, are
amongst the most beautiful specimens of the recent
and remarkable improvement of the art Of wood en-
craving, which by combining great excellence of ex.
eculion with economy of price, has given unprece-
denied diffusion to the most useful as well the most
exquisite productions of the arts of Design.
The designs Of KENNY MEADOWS for thesillustra-
tons Of Tyas edition of Shakespeare express the cha
racter oil the several personages and the sp of the
scene, with wonderful truth aud power; whilst the
wood engraving OF Knights Pictorial edition combine
with the highest merits Of art and taste such learn
ed and minute accuracy as to scenery, costume or
chitecure and antiquity, as to make them perpetual
and most instructive commentary upon the Poets
text IL IS now proposed to imbody in an AMERICAN
the admirable illustrations Of both these eJi-
tons engraved with equal excellence of mechanical
execution, to add TO these, other engravincs from
eminent artists, as Reynolds Flu eli, S. Newton, &c.
and to accompany them with a beautifully printed
and correct text
But the publisher, anxious that his country should
pay some part Of the homage due from her to the
greatest of Poets, TO who belongs not solely TO
Eng land but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
could not content himself with mere republication
compilation. He has there fore prevailed upon r.
w. Weir, whose reputation an artist Is already
identified with his country's history TO contribute
series of original designs together with such advice
and assistance in other tails of art as his taste NAV
suggest for the illustration and establishment of this
publication! Fiom the reason the publisher in
stead Of reprinting the text and commentary Of any
popular English impression, DESTROYS that his edi-
ton should have the supervision Of American edi-
u
c. VERPLANCK
The plan proposed to himself by the editor is TO
furnish the reader with fully prepared and ac.
curately printed text unencumbered by any notes or
comments upon the page itself; as however useful
they may be elsewhere they too apt to divert the
mind from the power OF the Poets thought, ana 10
disturb the magic Of his scene Such notes as NAV
be thought useful for the explanation or criticism Of
the text, will be thrown into all Appendix to each
play.
The text Of Shakspeares dramatic works. drawn
from old printed copies in his age ich had never
passed under the authors eye was consequently
dishgured by many errors and obscurtos. 1t passed
during the last century through succession of vary
ing editions until the revision Of Stevens and Malone
whose text, (or rather that OF Stevens has become
the standard from which most Of the English and
American editions have been printed, with various
degrees OF accuracy. But within the last twenty
years more minute and familiar quaintance with
old English idoins, b abts and MODES, Of thought
guided by intense and constantly increasing admi-
ration for Shskspeares x MUS has led TO the strong
| conviction that vry many OF the numerous though
slight devlatiops from the ancient text appearing in
modern editions, are useless or erroneous interpoa-
tons, sometimes weakening the sense and often sub
sttutng arbitrary monotopous metrcal regularity
to the Poets own native melody. Accordingly very
many OF these cancellations have been elected by the
last and best English editors, especially Mr.. Knight
and Mr.. Collier and the readings of the old folos and
quartos have been restored, unefs where error
of the press manuscript was undenably manifest
Yet there are many such passages confessedy cor
rupt, and requiring conjeciural emend ton there
are Do differences Of reading between the several
old Impressions aifording grounds for some diversity
Of text and warm controversy between the more re.
| cent editors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks il due to
the character Of tins edition, to decide for himself
without implicitly following the text Of any one mod
ern edition. As the industry and learning Of prior
editors have furnished the COLLATION. of various read
pgs and the authorities upon which they may be sup
ported the task is longer that Of laborous inves
CATION but as II were of judicial decision enghten-
| ed by contendinr argument.
As many OF these variat ons Of nearly equal
probability, and Of them are doubtless the au-
thors alterations at different periods all the more
important readings will be presented to the rcadcr In
the notes for his own selection. Those will also
| contain 40 much Of commentary as may be useful TO
explain snhqua,ed words and phrases obscurely cx-
pressed passages, and illusions TO obsolete opinions
or the habits history Of the times; the whole in
condensed form as practicable. But any common.
tary upon Shakespeare however brief, would be i'm
perfect II IL did not present view of the higher
criticism employed, not the Interpretation of his
language, but upon his thoughts his character, his
poetry, passions, philosophy The only difficulty here
arises from the abundance, the magnificent variety OF
the materials contributed during the last half century
by the most brilliant minds Of Europe Still il be-
eved that this duty can be satisfactorily perfor med
without swelling the edition to inoonvcnent bulk
II. w. HEWET, Publisher,
2Sl Broadway.
} Any editor giving the above Prospectus 10 or Il
Insertions and occasional notice Of the work du
ring its progress, will be regularly served with the
numbers as they appear, in exchange for tbeirpsp.r
1 Feb 11-f