The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-03-06
A NEW ERA
s ii A X S p T. A II f.
in AMERICA:


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,
in the very best styl 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 hereto
fore dppeared-n 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,
whilst on account of its peculiar beauty it will gain
itself admission into the libraries of the rich and there
prove to be Of the choicest ornaments
Those who wish This work in most perfect state
will only be sure of 1t by taking the parts they ap.
pear which will contain the early proofs Of the en-
cravings.
The Tragedy o: Hamlet is now in press The first
part will be issued in March
PROSPECTUS.
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
ecu'on with economy OF price, has given unprece-
denied diffusion to the useful as well as the most
exquisite productions of the arts Of Design
The designs of KENNY MEADOWS for the ilIustra-
tons OF Tyas 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 to scenery costume, ar
chitecture and antiquity as to make them perpetual
and most instructive commentary upon the Poets
text 1t is now proposed to imbody in an AMERIc AN
the admirable illustrations of both these edi-
NaI anf,,. Il
execution, TO add to these, other engravngs from
eminent artists, Reynolds, Flu eli, s. Newton sc
and to accompany them with beautifully printed
and correct text.
But the publisher, anxious that his county should
pay some part of the homage due from her to the
greatest OF Poets, to who belongs not solely to
Eng land, but to all
WHO speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake,
could not content himself with mere republication
compilation. He has therefore prevailed upon r.
w. Weir, whose reputation an artist is already
identified with his country's history to 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 same reason the publisher in
stead of reprnting the text and commentary of any
popular English impression DESTROYS that his edi-
ton should have the supervision of American eji-
tor. This IA k has been undertaken by GULlAN
The plan proposed to himself by the editor is to
furnish the reader with a carefully prepared and &C
curlely printed text, unencumbered 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 Appendix to each
play.
The tex, of Shakespeare dramatic works, drawn
from old printed copies in his age ich had never
passed under the authors eye, was nsequently
disfgured by many errors and obscuritcs II passed
during the last century through 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 variou,
| degrees Of accuracy. But within the last twenty
years q more minute and familiar a, quantance witt
| old English idoins, abts and moces Of thought
guided by intense and constantly increasing ADM
ration for Shakspeares g MUS has led to the strong
conviction that very many OF the numerous though
slight deviatons from the ancient text appearing IL
modern editions, useless erroneous interpola
tons sometimes weakening the sense and often sub
stituting arbitrary monoonous merlca regularit,
to the Poets own native melody. Accordingly yer,
many Of these cancellations have been rejected by TN
| last and best English editors especially Mr. kngh
and Mr. Collier and the readings of the old folios an'
quartos have been restored, unless where some erro
OF the press or manuscript was undeniaby manifest
Yet there many such passages confessedy cor
| rlpt and requiring conjectural emendation Their
are also differences of reading between the severs
old impressions, afording grounds for some dvers
Of text and warm controversy between the more re
cent editors.
Upon these, the American editor thinks il due 4
the character of this edition, to decide for hmsel
without implicitly following the text OF any one mod
ern edition. As the industry and learning of pro
editors have furnished the collation. Of various read
inrs and the authorities upon which they may be SUP
ported the task is longer that Of laborous invest
gation but as IT were, of judicial decision ghter
ed by contendipg argument.
As many of these variations are of nearly egui
probability, and as Of them are doubtless the a,
ihors own alterations at different periods, all the NOR
important readings will be presented to the reader
the notes for his own seec ion. Those notes ill ais
contain so much of commentary as may be useful
explain antquated words and phrases, obscurey c,
pressed passages, and illusions 10 obsolete opinion
or the habits or history of the tines the whole in
condensed form practicable But any CONNER
tary upon Sbak, peare, however brief, would be in
perlect If did not present some view OF the hgh'
criticism employ ed, not the Interpretation OF h
language, but upon his thoughts, his character, h
poetry passions, philosophy. The only difficulty heI
arises from the abundance the magnificent variety
the materials contributed during The last half centur
by the most brilliant pnds of Europe. Still Il Is b.
lieycd tha, this duty can be satisfactorily performs
without swelling tue edition to an announcement ball
H. w. HEWET, Publisher,
ISL Broadway.
> Any editor giving the above Prospectus 10 or
!, Insertions and an occasional notice OF the work d
ring lis progress, will be regularly served with u
numbers as they appear in exchange for heirpaper