The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-13
A NEW ERA
S II AK S Pc A II L
The Cheapest and most Spiendidiy Nfumi
rated aud Illustrated Edition Of he Bdrd
Of Aeon erer published.
EDITED ny THE
HON. GULIAN G. VERPLANCK.
ROBT. W. WEIR ESQ


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
art.
In submitting the Prospectus Of the Editor TO tho
public, the publisher has only TO add that he will
spare neither expense pains to make this edition
OF The Worlds Poet superior 10 any that has hereto
fore appearedin illustrations, typogrspy and paper.
The form will be royal octave, and will be issued in
weekly parts price ID cents which places il within
The tneans OF persons of the most limited fortunes,
whilst ON account of its peculiar b, auty II will gam
se admission into the libraries oil the rich, aud there
prove To be one of the choicest ornaments
Those who wish Ibis work in most perfect state
will only be of il by taking the parts they APP
pear, which will contain the early proofs Of the
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 unprece-
exquisite productions Of the arts Of Design
The designs OF KENNY MEADOWS for the illus,ra-
lions OF Iyas edition OF Shakespeare express the cha
racer 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 of art and taste such learn
ed and minute accuracy as to scenery costume, ar
chitecture and antiquity, as to make them perpetual
and most instructive commentary upon the Poets
text II rs now proposed to imbody in AN AMERICAN
EDITION the admirable illustrations Of both these ed-
tons engraved with equal excellence of mechanical
execution, TO add TO these, other eDgravings 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 tina, his country should
pay some part OF the homage due from her to the
greatest OF Poets TO VINO belongs not solely TO
Eng land, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake
could not content himself with a mere republication
compilation. lie has therefore prevailed upon r.
w. Weir. whose reputation as an artist is already
Identified with his counrys history, to contribute
series OF original designs, together with such advice
and assistance in other details of art his may
suggest for the Illustration and establishment of this
publication. F,om the same the publisher in
stead OF reprntng the text and commentary of any
popular English impre soD DESTROYS that his edi-
ton should have the supervision of American edi-
tor. This ia X has been undertaken by GULIAN
G. VERPLANCK
The plan proposed to himself by the editor is to
furnish the reader with carefully prepared and &C
curately printed text unencumbered by any notes or
comments upon the page itself; however useful
they may be elsewhere, they to apt to divert the
mind from the power Of the Poets thought ana TO
disturb the magic of has scene. Such notes as may
be thought useful for the explanation or criticism of
the text, Will be thrown into Appendix to each
play.
The text OF Shakspeare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, W ich had never
passed under the authors own eye was consequently
dstsured by many errors and obscurtics 1t passed
during the last century thr ough succession Of vary
ing editions until the revision of Stevens and Malone
whose text Tor 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 a rquantance with
old English id0ins, b abts and moGes Of thought
guided by an intense and constantly increasing admit
ration Tor Shakspeares e MUS has led TO the strong
conviction that y,ry many Of the numerous though
slight deviaons from the ancient text appearing in
modern edltIons, are useless erroneous interpola
tons, sometimes weakening the sense and often sub
shutting an arbitrary monotUnous metrcal regularity
TO the Poets own native melody. Accordingly very
many OF these emendations have been rejected by the
last and best English editors, especially MIR. Knight
and Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios md
quartos have been restored unles where some error
OF the press or manuscript undeniaby manifest.
Yet there are many such passages confessedy cor
rupt aud requiring conjectursl cmend stion there
are also differences oil reading between the sew raj
old impressions, affording grounds for some diversity
Of text and warm controversy between the more re
cent editors.
Upon these the American editor thinks IL due 20
the character Of this 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
ngs and the authorities upon which they may he sup
ported, the task is nolonger that Of aborous inves-
CATION, but, a II were, OF judicial decision enghten
ed 10y contendinV argument.
As many OF these variations are Of nearly equal
probability, and Of them doubtless the au
thors own altera ions at different periods all the more
important readings will be presented the reader in
the notes for his selection. Those notes i'll also
contain so much OF commentary may be useful TO
explain antquaed words and phrases, obscurely ex-
pressed passages and illusions 10 obsolete opinions
or the habits or history OF the times the whole in as
condensed form as practicable. But any common
tsry upon Shak -pcare however brief would be i'm
perfect If did not present view Of the higher
criticism employed, not on the Interpretation of HI.
language, but upon his thoughts, his character his
poetry, passions, philosophy The only difficulty here
arises from he abundance, the magnificent variety Of
the materials contributed during the last half century
by the most brilliant ninds OF Europe Still il is be-
lieved that this duty can be satisfactorily performed
without swelling the edition TO an nconyenent bu X
II. w. HEWET, Publisher,
25l Broadway.
Any editor giving the above Prospectus 10 or -
T. sertons, and occasional notice Of the work du
ring its progress will be regularly served with the
numbers as they appear in exchange for their papers
Feb 1877
Posr OrrcG DEPARTMENT,
n,.,