The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-04
A NEW ERA OF
SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICA!
Tile Cheapest and most splendidly Illuminated
and Illustrated Edition Of The Bard
of .9posl, eDer pubiiShed 5 at
Is,JL ~ he

Tile Cheapest and most splendidly illuminated
and Illustrated Edition Of he Bard
of .9poa, eper published. 7
Edited Gg the 4sa r
HOG GULL4.V C. V.ERPLd.vCR.
ROBERT w. WEIR, Esq. win design, select,
and arrange the illustrations, ofwhch 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.
Those who wish this work in the most perfect
state will only be sure OF il by taking the parts as
they appear which will contain the early proofs OF
the Engravngs.
The Tragedy of Hamlet is now in press.-Ihe
first part will he issued in March.
PROSPECTUS.
The PICTORIAL and ILLUsTRATED Editions OF
SHAKESPEARE, lately published in England, are
amongst the most beautiful specimens ofthe recent
and remarkable Improvement of the art OF Wood
Engraving, which by combining great excellence
unprecedented 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
tratious Of Iyas' 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 C.
diion, combine with the highest merits of art and
TASTE such learned and mnueaccuracy as TO see
nery costume, architecture and antiquity, SC as
make them a perpetual and most instructive com
mentary upon the Poets text. 1t is now proposed
to embody in an AMERICAN EDITIoE, the adn-
rable illustrations ofboth these editions, engraved
with equal excellence of mechanical execution, to
add to these, other engravngs from eminent artists,
as Reynolds, Fuseli, S. Newton, &C., and to ac-
company them with beautifully printed and cor
rect text.
Buttlle publisher anxious that his country should
pay some part of the homage due from her to the
greatest of Poets, as TO one who belongs not solely
10 England, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
Could not content himself with mere republca-
ton or compilation He has therefore prevailed
upon ROBERT w. WEIR, whose reputation as an
Artist is already identified with his countrys hsto-
ry, to contribute series of Oriental Designs, to-
gether with such advice aud assistance in other de-
tails ofart, his taste may suggest, for the ustra-
ton and establishment of this publication. From
the same reason, the publisher instead ofreprintlng
the text and commentary of any popular English
impression, was desirous that his Edition should
have the supervision Of an American Editor. This
task has been undertaken by GULIAN G. YER
PLANCK.
The plan proposed to himself by the Editor is to
furnish the reader with carefully prepared and ac-
curaely printed text ,unencumbered by anynotes or
comments upon the page itself; as however useful
they may be elsewhere, they are too apt TO divert
the mind from the power ofthe Poets thought, and
to disturb the magic of his scene Such notes as
may be thought useful for the explanation or crti
cism of the text, will be put into an Appendix TO
each play.
The text Of fShakspcare's dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age, which hadnever
passed under the authors own eye, was conse-
uuently di.tgured by many errors and absurdItles.
1t passed during the lasi century through success
sion of varying editions, uni! the revision OF Ste
yens and Malone. whose text, (of rather that Of
Stevcns) 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 IA
miliar acquaintance with old English idioms, hab-
its aud modes of thought, gudedby an intense and
constantly increasing admiration for Shakspeares
genus, has led TO the strong conviction that very
many Of the numerous though slight deviaions
from the anclcntteNt, appearing IN modern editions,
are useless or erroneous interpretations, sometimes
weakening the sense, and often substituting an ar
bitrary moHOtOnous. metrCal regularity, TO the Po
cts own native melody. Accordingly, very many
Of these cmcndations have been rejected by the 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 or manuscript was undeniaby man
itest. Yet there are many such passages cOncs-
scdIy corrupt, requiring conjectural cancellations;
there are also difference Of reading between the
several old impressions aliording 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
prior 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 contendlng 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 10 explain antiquated words and phrases, OBJ
securely expressed passages and illusions TO obsolete
opinions, or the habits or history of the times; the
whole in condensed form as practicable. But
any commentary upon Shakespeare, however brief.
would be imperfect il il 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 is believed that this duty
can be satisfactorily performed, without swelling
the edition 10 an inconvenient bulk
ii. w. HEWETT, Publisher,
PSI Broadway, New York
SALE OF SECTION SIXTEEN.
NOTICE is hereby given, that in pursuance of