The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-13
A NEW ERA OF
SHAKESPEARE IN A MERlCA!
The Cheapest and most sptendidiy Illuminated
and Illustrated Edition Of ihe Bard
Of f.4u0n, ever published.
Edited bU The


Of .4u0n, ever published.
Ediied by The
HON. GULL4JN c. VERPL.dNCR.
ROBERT w. WEIR, Esq will design, select,
aud arrange the illustrations, (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 nor pains to make this edition
Of the Worlds Poet, superior TO any that has here
tofore appeared-in illustrations, typography and
paper The form will be royal octave, and will be
issued in weekly parts, Price II and half cents,
which places it within the means of persons OF the
most limited fortunes, whilst account ofits pecu
liar beauty it will gain itself admission into the IL
brares of the rich, and there prove to be one OF the
choicest ornaments.
Tho.e who wish this work in the most perfect
state, will only he sure of il BY taking the part, as
they appear, which viii contain the early proofs OF
the Engravings.
The Tragedy of tlamIe, is now in press.-The
first part will be issued ~ March.
PROSP PDCIUS.
The Pictorial aHd ILLUsTR ATED Editions OF
SHAKESPEARE. lately published ia England, are
amongst the most beautiful specimens Of the recent
and remarkable Improvement of the art Of Wood
Engraving, which by combining great excellence
of execution with economy of price, has give an
un recedeuted diffusion to the most useful as well
as the most exquisite productions of the Arts OF
Design.
The designs of KENNY MEADOWS for the illus.
traous of Tyas' edition Of Shakespeare, express the
character of the several personages aud the spirit
of the scene, with wonderful truth and power;
whilst the wood engraving of Knights Pictorial C.
dion, combine with the highest merits of art and
taste, such learned and minuteaccuracy 10 see
n
make them perpetual and most instructive com
mentary upon the Poets text. Ii is now proposed
10 embody in an AMERICAN EDITIoN, the admi-
rabIe illustrations of both these editions. engraved
with equal excellence of mechanic execution, TO
add to these, other engravings from eminent artists
as Reynolds, Fuscli, ). Newton, &C., and to ac.
company them with beautifully printed and cor.
rect text.
But the publisher anxious that his country should
pay some part Of the homage due IRON her TO the
greatest OF Poets, as TO one who belong. not solely
10 England, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himself with mere republiea-
ton or compilation. He has therefore prevailed
upon ROBERT w. WEIR, whose reputation as All
Artist is already identified with his country'S histo
ry, to contribute a series of Oriental Designs, to-
gelher with such advice and assistance in other de-
tails of art as his taste may suggest, for the ustra
ton and establishment of this publication. From
the same reason the publisher, instead oireplintIg 9
the text and commentary of any popular English
Impression, was desirOuS that his Edition should
have the supervision of an American Editor. Thi,
task has been undertaken by GULIAN c YER.
PLANCK
The plan proposed to himself by the Editor is to
furnish the reader with a carefully prepared aud
curalely printed text XtuEencumbrred by any notes OF
comments upon the page itself; as however useia
they may be elsewhere, they are too apt 10 divert
the mind from the power of the Poets thought, and
to disturb the mag, of his sce.e. Such notes as
may be thought useful for the explanation or criti
cism of the text, will be put into an Appendix tc
each play.
The text of Shak>peare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had Hercr
passed under the authors own eye, was coEse.
quently dsligured by mary errors aud absurdilies
1t passed during the last century through success.
sion of varying editions, unti! the revision OF Ste.
vens 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 accuraoy.--Bul
within the last twenty years, more minute and ia.
miiar acquaintance with old English idIoms, hab.
its and modes of thought, guided by All intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's
genus has led to the strong conviction that very
many of the numerous though slight deviatious
from the ancient text, appearing in modern editions
are useless erroneous interpretations, sometimes
weakening the sense, and often substituting an ar
bitrary monotonous, metrica regularity, to the Po-
cts own native melody. Accordingly, ysr;., many
of these encndations have been rejected by PIE last
and best English editors, especially Mr.. knight and
Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios and
quartos have been restored, unless where some er-
rOr of the press manuscript was uudeEiably man.
Hest. Yet there are many such passages conics-
sedly corrupt, requiring coniectural emendations;
there are also difference.of reading between the
several old impressions affording grounds for some
diversity Of text and warm controversy, between
the more recent editors
Upon these, the American editor thinks it due TO
the character Of this edition, to decide himself,
without implicitly following the text of any one
modern edition. AS the industry and learning OF
prier editors have furnished the collation. of various
readings, and the authorities upon which they may
be supported, the task is no longer that oflaborous
investigation, but, as it were, of judicial decision,
enlightened by contending argument.
As many Of these variations are Of nearly equal
probability. and as some ofthem are doubtless the
authors own alterations at different periods, all the
more important readings will be presented to the
reader in the notes. for his selection. Those notes
will also contain so much Of commentary as may be
useful to explain antiqnated words and phrases, OBJ
scurely expressed passages and illusions to obsolete
opinions, or the habits or history ofthe times; the
whole 10 as condensed form as practicable. But
any commentary upon Shakespeare, however brief.
would be imperfect il it did not present some view
of the higher criticism employed, not on the inter.
probation Of his language, but upon his thoughts,
his character, his poetry, passions. philosophy The
only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the
the magnificent variety of the materials contributed
during the last half century, by the most brilliant
minds of Europe. Still lis believed iha; this duty
can be satisfactorily performed, without swelling
the edition to an inconvenient bulk.
H. w. HEWETT, Publisher,
2sl Broadway, New York.