The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-11-27

4 nose WIN Ms llle OIk III ANG mOSl DGIlttL a
only be sure of it by taking the parts as they ap-
pear, which viii contain the early proOfa fthe engra-
wings.
The Tragedy Of Hamlet is now in press, The first
partwiIl be issued in March.
PROSPECTUS.
The PICTORIAL and ILLUSTRATED editions of SHAKS-
PEARE, lately published in Z ngland, are amongst the
most beautiful specimens ofthe recent and remarkable
improvement of the art of wood engraving, which by
combining great excellence OF execution with economy
of price, has given an unprecedented diffusion to the
most useful as well as the most exquisite productions OF
the arts ofDesign,
The designs Of KENNY MEADOWS for the illustrations
of Tyas' edition of Shakespeare express the character of
the several personages, and the spirit of the scene, with
wonderful truth and power: whilst the wood engraving
of knights Pictorial edition combine with the highest
merits ofart and taste such q learned and minute accu-
racy as to scenery, costume, architecture and antiquity
as to make them a perpetual and most instructive conl-
mentary upon the Poets text. 1t is now proposed to
embody in an american edition, the admirable iHustra
ton of both these editions, engraved with equal excel
lence of mechanical execution, to add to these, other en-
cravings from eminent artists, as Reynolds, Luseli, s.
Newton, &C.. and to accompany them with a beauh-
fully printed and correct text.
But the publisher, anxious that his country should
pay some part of the homage due from her to the great
est Poets. as to one who belongs not solely to England
but to all
-who speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
could not content himselfwith O mere republication OF
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon X. w.
WEIR, whose reputation as an Artist is already identi-
fed with his country's history, to contribute a series or
original designs, together with such advice and assis-
lance in other details o. art as his taste may suggest for
the illustration and establishment Of this publication.
From the same reason the publisher, instead ofreprinting
the text and commentary OF any popular English i'm
preston, was DESTROYS that his edition should have the
supervision ofan American editor. This task has been
undertaken, by CUBAN c. VERPLANCK.
The plan proposed to h~imselfby the editor, is to fur
nish the reader with a carefully prepared and accurate
ly printed text, u~nenoumbered by any notes or com
ments upon the page itself; as however useful they may
be elsewhere, they are too apt to divert the mind from
the power of the Poets thought, and to disturb the ma
gic ofhis scene. Such notes as may be thought nseful
for the explanation or criticism Of the text,will be
thrown into an Appendix to each play,
The text of Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which had never pas
sd under the authors own eye, was consequently dis
figured by many errors and obscuritics. 1t passed du-
ring the last century through a succession of varying
editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone, whose
text (or rather that o Stevens) has become the STAN
dard from which most Of the English and American e.
ditions have been printed, with various degrees of Rps
curacy. But within the last twenty years, a more mi
mute and familiar acquaintance with old English idioms
habits and modes of thought, guided by an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeare's ge-
MUS, has led to the strong CONVICTION that very many OF
the numerous though slight deyiations from the ancient
text appearing in modern editions, are useless or erro-
neous interpretations, sometimes weakening the sense
and often substituting an arbitrary monotonous metrical
regularity for the Poets own native melody. Accord
ingly very many of these emandations have been rejec-
ted by the last and best English editors, especially Mr..
knight and Mr.. Collier, and the readings Of the old TO-
hos and quartos have been restored, unless where some
error oTthe press or manuscript was undeniably mani
fest. Yet there are many such passages coniessedly
corrupt, and requiring conjectural emendation; there
are also differences threading between the several old
impressions, a~ifording 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 for himself without
implicit. following the text of any one modern edition
AS the industry and learning of prior editors have fur
nished the collation. ofVarious readings and the authori-
ties upon which they may be supported, the task is no
longer that oflaborious investigation, but, as it were, Of
judicial decision enlightened by contending argument
AS many ofthese variations are ofnearly equal prob.
ability, and as some of them are doubtless the authors
own alterations at different periods, all the more impor
tant readings will be presentedt to the reaGerin thenote.
] for his own selection. Those notes will also contain SC
much documentary as may be useful to explain anti
quated words and phrases, obscurely expressed passages
!, and illusions to obsolete opinions or the habits or his
tory of the times; the whole in as condensed a form a
) practicable, But any commentary upon Shakespeare
however brief, would be imperfect if it did not presen
Y some view of the higher criticism employed, not on thu
f Interpretation of his language. but npon his thoughts
his character, his poetry, passions, philosophy, Ih'
' only difficulty here arises from the abundance, the mag
: %nifcent variety, of the materials contributed during tn
last half century by the most brilliant minds of Europe
8 Still it is believed that this duty can be satisfactoril,
!. performed without swelling the edition to an inconve
nient bulk. II. w. HEWET, Publisher,
2sl Broadway, New York.
E IN ~ T VI IL E