New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-01
The shnkspeare Ferger,es.

The Illustrated London News of March 18th, in q
review Of o work entitled I. An Inquiry into the
Commences of the Manuscript Corrections in Mr.
Paine Golfers Annotated Shakespeare, Folio, 1852
and of certain Shaksperean Documents likewise
published by Collier. by N. y. S. a. Hamilton,
says:
Mr.. Hamilton's work is devoted to question Of
the highest Importance to the interests of litera
ture, and to the personal honor of an industrious
and well.known writer. The editors of Shakespeare
the late Mr.. Singer, Mr.. Dyce, Mr.. Staunton, Mr.
knight and Mr. Halliwel -npon internal evidence,
were long ago convinced that nearly everything
in these corrections that appeared new was not
good, and what was good was not new; but the
question Of their genuineness can only be deter
mined to the satisfaction Of the world at large on
photographic grounds. e., by the testimony of
persons skilled in ancient writing. For this reason
DR.. Inglebyfs clever little book, which treats OF
pathological anachronsms, and exhibits mass Of
crcumstantial evidence to show that the folio was
!. at least tempered with while in Mr. Golfers
hands, though of the highest value and interest to
scholars is Of less weight in the scale of general
opinion than the more technical opusculum by Mr..
Hamilton. In This we have first an account Of the
circumstances which led to the volume being sent
to the British Museum, from Sir Frederick Mad
denis own hand:
IS had great wish to see the volume, after this
second ayowal of doubts expressed by Mr. Staun-
ton and Dir. Ingleby but my mind was so free from
any bias that did not entertain the least suspicion
Of forgery, and in September, 1858, eagerly awaited
myself of the opportunity afforded me by Mr.. Col
lier (wh0 had sent me a copy of the Hamlet of
1908, Autographed at the expense of the Duke OF
Devonshirel to express to him my wish to see the
annotated folio but not having the honor to be
quainted with the now Duke Of Devonshire, asked
Mr. Collier Il he could manage to gain access to
the volume. To this request Mr.. Collier never
made anyreply.''
Sir Frederic haddenis independent examination
OF the writing soon convinced him of its fictitious
character, and his convictions were at once en-
dorsed by Mr.. Panizz Mr.. Bond and Mr. Hamilton
Of the Museum, as well as by Mr.. T. Duffus Harzy,
the Rev. Joseph Hunter, Professor Brewer, and a
host Of skilful photographers, who had been inyi.
ted 70 inspect the folio It found that, although
evidently written by the same hand, the forms 81
the letters were anamolous. One page exhibited
| words Or letters characteristic of the sixteenth
century, while in close juxtapostion the same
word or letter bore every appearance OF having
been written within the present century. The iDE
employed was discovered to be mere wash Of
paint colored to resemble faded ink, and number.
less partially oblterated pencil corrections cores
ponding with the qnasiantique corrections were
visible throughout the margins. Upon tile applica
ton of microscope II was found, too, in many in
stances, that these pencllings in modern hand
actually underlie the writing in the feigned ole
hand
Again. whole syllables or words were discovered
to occur IN pencil partially rubbed out, but still
legible, while close to them the same syllable OF
word is repeated in the antique writing. The in
evitable conclusion to all which Is that the pencil
writing had been placed on the margins to dreci
the alterations afterwards made in pigment. Mr.
Hamilton next proceeds to consider Mr.. Golfers
oft-repeated assertion that he has published every
letter, syllable, word and line of the corrections
and proves undisputAbiy, by literal collection Of
single play (Hnmlet), that, SO far from this being
the truth, he has not printed onehalf the textual
alterations which are visible upon the margin Of
his folio. We have not space to enter upon the
vexcd question of the folio's pedigree. Upon that
point the reader can consult Mr.. Hamton's book
and an admirably conclusive article by Mr. j. A,
Arnold, The police magistrate, in Frdse,.'s Maga.
evidences against the authenticity of the Correct
Folo,p i632, to close, Mr.. Hamilton goes on TO
say : But the facts am now about to advert to
are ar graFer than the question of the authenticity
OF that Or any other particular volume They have
reference to series of systematic forgeries which
have been perperated, apparently, within the last
half century, and are in connection, generally
with the history Of Shakespeare and Shaksperean
ally been introduced
The first instance adduced is the magnificent
copy Of the folio, 1923, in the possession of Lord
Ellesnlere. In 1912, Mr.. Collier, to whom the late
Lord Ellesmere, then Lord Francis Edgerton, had
lent the volume, announced the discovery of GER
tain MSS. annotations on its margins which he al
tributed to the time of the Commonwealth. Upon
examination Of this book by Sir Frederic Madden.
at. Panlzzi. HI. Bond, and Mr.. Hamilton, the mar.
gnal lamentations were found to have been indi-
be in The same handwriting as the emendations Oh
me corrected Folio,n 1852. The next case &
more surprising STILL IN 1886 Mr. oiIIer discovered
10 lne library of Bridgewater Hnnse some deem
ments regarding the life Of Shakespeare. which he
soulMuhieatea 70 the public through a letter id.