The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-21

Winding Engines, Tonnage, Shot, Shells, Steam and
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Engineer U. 3. Navy Pulup in Pocket Book form.
Just published, AID this day received for sale by
feb q f. TAYLOR
S 81 X PIE ARE
IN AMERICA:
The Cheapest and most Spiendidiy Hlumi-
mated aud Illustrated Edition of The Bard
Of Aron ever 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 nor pains to make this edition
Of the Worlds Poet superior any that has hereto
fore appeared-in illustrations, typograpy and paper.
The form will be royal octave and will be issued in
weekly parts, price l2 cents, which places it within
the means of persons Of the most limited fortunes,
whist on account of its peculiar b, auty it will gain
itself admission into the Libraries of the rich and there
prove to be one Of the choicest ornaments.
Those who wish this work in a most perfect state
will only be sure of by taking the parts as they ap
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 PlcToRIAL 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
eculion with economy of price, has given unprece
debted diffusion to the most useful as well as the most
exquisite productions of the arts of Design
The designs of krSNY MEADOWS for the illustra-
tions OF Iyas' edition Of Shakespeare express the cha
racter 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
chiecture and antiquity, as TO make them perpetual
and most instructive commentary upon the Poets
text II is now proposed to imbody in an American
the admirable illustrations of both these ed-
tons engraved with equal excellence of mechanical
execution, 10 add TO these other epgravings from
eminent artists, Reynolds, FueIi S. Newton, sc,
and to accompany them with beautifully printed
and corrccttext
But the publisher, anxious that his country should
pay some part Of the homage due from her TO the
greatest OF Poets as 10 who belongs not solely 10
England, but to all
WHO speak tne tongue
That Shakespeare spakc,
could not content himself with mere republication
or compilation. Tie has therefore prevailed upon r. !
w. Weir. whose reputation as am artist is already
Identified with his country's history 10 contribute
series Of 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. From the reason the publisher in
stead OF repriDtng the text and commentary of any
popular English impression, was DESTROYS that his edi-
ton should have the supervision Of American edi-
tor. This tax has been undertaken by GULIAN |
c. VERPLANCk.
The plan proposed to himself by the editor is to
furnish the reader with fully prepared and ac
curltey printed text uoencumbered by any notes or
comments upon the page itself; 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 Such notes as NAV |
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, ch had never
passed under the authors own eye, consequently
dis6gured by many errors aud obscuritics 1t 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 and familiar quaintance with |
old English idoins, b abIts and modes Of thought
guided by an intense and constantly increasing adm-
ration for Shakspeare Mus, has led to the strong
conviction that very many Of the numerous though |
slight deviaons from the ancient text appearing in
modern editions, useless erroneous inerpola-
tons sometimes weakening the and often sub |
shutting an arbitrary monotonous metrica regularity
TO the POETS own native melody. Accordingly very |
many Of these cancellations have been rejected by the
last and bet English editors especially Mr. knight
and Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios and
quartos have been restored unless where some error
of the press or manuscript undeniably manifest |
Yet there are many such passages coniessedly cor
upt, and requiring conjectural emend ton there |
also differences Of reading between the several
old impressions, afordng grounds for some diversity
of text and warm controversy between the more re.
cent editors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks il due TO |
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 auiho tiles upon which they NAV be sun
ported, the task is longer that of aborious nyest-
CATION but as 1t were, OF Judicial decision eDlghten.
ed by contending argument.
As many Of these variat ons are Of nearly equal |
probability and as some Of them doubtless the a,-
thors aliera lions 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 ahuquated Worus ana phrases obscurely ex-
pressed passages, and illusions TO obsolete opinions
the habits history Of the times; the whole in as
condensed form as practicable. But any common
tary upon Shakespeare, however brief, would be i'm |
perfect If II DID not present some view Of the higher
criticism employed, not on the Interpretation of his
language but upon his thoughts, his character his
poetry, PASSIONS philosophy. The only difficulty here
arises from The abundance the magnificent variety Of
the materials contributed during the last half century
by the most brilliant minds Of Europe. Still il is be-
ioved that this duty can be satisfactorily performed
without swelling the edition TO an inconvcnient bulk