Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-29
lFoR THE sPEcTAroR.1
LIBRARY OF CHOICE pr.n,N,

Mt READING.
ms series of volumes of truly "cboice road.
ing published by Wiley g. Putnam. seems M,
70 oe receiving, from those who are fond of books.
.hat attention which it deserves l behave tb;a
W oe 'he result OF two causes. The first ia. that
our country mas become OVERLOADED with lipht
ahu IRONY publications, which will perhaps con-
.nue 'or some years to rise and float, like an i'm
pure scum, over the purer, richer, and more sub
s'ahtial publications poured forth. though in a
s.,'aller s'ream' from the great publishing houses
OF our northern cities. The other reason. which
VIII mention, oil the PARTIAL cannot saw entire
Ehegiect OF this valuable collection of books, is
'neif Grains have not been sufficiently brought
10 'he notice OF the readers Of our community.
1t is not my design, nor do l feel ,renared. 70
present 10 The public full discussion of the mer
It's oil each separate work embraced in this Iibrn.
~ Deiieve, however, that it is the intention Of
me publishers, to admit no book TO place among
'heir seiectlons, which has not gone through, to
some extent, the ordeal OF public criticism; and
become entitled TO station on the shelf of s.stand-
ard works. Nv it'll these few general remarksin
leSa'u 10 the whole series, as far as published,
ana without pretending to give list of the
woIks'-most OF which may be seen at Cowan's
oook-store,-l ask indulgence while giving nv
reasons Tor calling attention more especially to
TWO OIL them, by the same author.
CHARACTERS OF SHAKESPEARE, is the title Of a
Voiume by William Hazlitt, whose character az a
writer, ana whose taste and judgment as critic
nave been long known in the world of letters:
IN me work now before us he has pourtrayed the
leading characters OF Shakespeare, in style hich
cannot fail TO interest every sincere admirer Of
the great dramatic poet. Although it is book.
Whlch may serve as well formed mask, which
may DC worn by those desiring to pass in society.
DIS personal acquaintance of the 'sgreatest spec-
nen OF genins;' yet we are not recommending it
s 20 nseo IN that way The extent of some peo-
Ples knowledge of Shakespeare is limited by the
backs OF little volume, protesting on the title
page 10 contain his beauties. 1 will Just remark.
G" PdSsant that whenever see one of those little
DOCKS, "Beautles Of such, or such authors am
iorcioly reminded of the old story of the Sehoias
ihos wishing to sell house. In order that per.
sons inclined TO purchase might be relieved of
the trouble Of going to examine the building. he
carried with him, wherever ne went, a specimen
OF The material of which it was constructed
WINE iiazlItt presents rs with specimens OF the
material he also gives an outline of the d.
lnensaon ions! OF every part-wal and column, floor
anu cehing' win fair representation of each
apartment. But all this is not enough to Give,
any one correct notion of what Shakespeare
Piays are In themselves. Whoever wishes To be-
come July acquainted with the writings of that
great author, must go TO the only true source of
,haI aequantance-h must go often bu,he may
oe I,ucn AIDED ny having with him such a friend
as iiaZiltt, TO direct and assist him.
HE AGE OF ELIZABETH we wish TO notice.
And In the outset Of orr remarks on this work
we may say, In the words of Lord Bacon ait IL
not our purpose to enter into laudative of learn
ing Tor we 60 upon the supposition that every
man, who wishes to pass in society, as man Of
intelligence, feels the Importance Of having soma
acquaintance with English literature. And Ger
talnly no period in the history of the literature of
modern times, is more interesting or important.
than the period Of which this volume Processes
to treat. "fhe age of Elizabeth (using the au-
thor's own language) was distinguished beyond,
perhaps, any other in our English history, by
the number of great men, famous in different
ways, and whose names have come down TO us
with unblemished honours statesmen, warriors.
dIvines, scholars, poets, and philosophers, Ra-
leigh, Drake, Coke, Hooker, and higher and
more sounding still, and still more frequent i'm
our mouths, Shakespeare, Spenser, Sidney, Ba-
con, Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher men whom
lame has eernized in her long and lasting scroll.
and who by their words and acts were benefac.
tors OF their country, and ornaments of human
nature"
The above quotation includes the names of the
most important characters treated Of in eight in
terestlDg lectures, given in the volume now un-
der discussion. 1t is recommendation enough
tor the book TO say that such characters consti-
tuie the subject, and that William Hazlitt is tho
author. r.