The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-24
A NEW ERA
s II A X S Z Il A II K

a
rated and Illustrated Edition of he Bard
Of Aron erer published.
EDITED RY THE
HON GULIAN G. 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
oil the Worlds Poet superior to any that has hereto
fore sppeared-in illustrations, typograpy and paper,
The form will be royal octave, and will be issued in
weekly parts price II. cents which places il within
the means OF persons of the most limited fortunes
whilst on account of its peculiar auty will gain
itself admission into the libraries Of the rch and there
prove to be one Of the choicest ornaments.
Those who wish this work in a most perfect state
VIII only be sure OF it by taking the parts they APP
pear, which will contain the early proofs of the en-
cravings.
The Tragedy Of Hamlet 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.
ecuion with economy Of price has given an unprece-
dehted diffusion TO the most useful well the mos,
exquisite productions of the arts of Design
The designs Of KENNY MEApou for the ill,rstra-
tons OF Tyas' edition of Shakespeare express the cha
racer OF the several personage and the sp il of the
scene, with wonderful truth and 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, ar
chltecture and antiquity, TO make them perpetual
and most instructive commentary upon the Poets
text IL Is now proposed to imbody in an AMERic AN
EDITION the admirable illustrations Of both these ed-
tons, engraved with equal excellence Of mechanical
execution, TO add TO these, other engravings from
eminent artists as Reynolds Fu,eli, s. Newton, sc,
and to accompany them with 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 as TO one who beorss not solely 10
England, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake
could not content himself with mere republication
or compilation. lie has therefore prevailed upon r.
w. Weir, whose reputation as an artist is already
identified with his country's history TO contribute
series oil original designs, together with such advice
and assistance in other details Of art his taste may
suggest for the illustration and establishment OF this
publication. FIom the same reason the publisher in
stead OF reprnting the text and commentary Of any
ton should have the supervision Of American ed-
tor. This tai has been undertaken by GULIAN
C. vERPLANCK
The plan proposed to himself by the editor is TO
furnish the reader with care fully prepared and ac
curltely printed text unencumbercd 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 TO
disturb the magic of his scene. Such notes as may
be thought useful 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, ch had never
passed under the authors own eye was consequently
dishgured by many errors and obscuritios Ii 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 aud familiar a. quaintance with
old English doims, h abIts and modes Of thought
guided by an intense and constantly increasing admi-
ration for Shakspeares Mus has led to the strong
conviction that very many of the numerous though
slight deviaions from the ancient text appearing in
modern editions, are useless erroneous interpola-
tons, sometimes weakening the sense and often sub
shutting an arbitrary monoonous merica regularity
TO the Poets own native melody. Accordingly very
many Of these cancellations have been rejected by the
last and best English editors, especially Mr. Knight
and Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios nd
quartos have been restored unIels where some error
OF the press or manuscript undeniably manifest
Yet there are many such passages confessedly cor
rupt, and requiring conjectural emeDd alton there
are also differences of reading between the several
old impressions, afording grounds for some diversity
OF text aud 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
erD edition As the industry and learning of prior
editors have furnished the collation. Of various read.
Dgs and the authorities upon which they NAV be sun
ported, the task longer that of laborous nyesi
CATION, but as IT were, OF judicial decision enligben-
ed by contending argument.
As many Of these variations are of nearly eouaI
probability aud as some OF them doubtless the ar
thors own alterations at different periods all the more
important readings will be presented TO the reader in
the notes for his own selection. Those notes will also
contain so much Of commentary as may be useful Ia
explain antqusted words and phrases, obscureIy ex.
pressed passages and illusions TO obsolete op,nion
or the habits or history OF the times the whole in as
condensed a form as practicable. But any common
tary upon Shakespeare, however brief, would be i'm
periecth II did not present some view of the higher
criticism employed, not on the Interpretation OF his
language, but upon his thoughts his character hi,
poetry, passions philosophy The only difficulty here
arises from the abundance the magnificent variety OF
the materials contributed during the last half c.ptr,
by the most brilliant minds Of Europe Still il Is be-
licved that this duty be satisfactorily performed
without swelling the edition to an inconyenien bnk
II. w fIEWET, Publisher,
2sl Broadway.
Any editor giving the above Prospectus 10 or 70
Insertions and occasional notice of the work du-
ring It's progress, will be regularly served with the