TO THE

BOOKSELLERS

OF

LONDON.

IN 1791, Mr. MALONE published in 11 Volumes *crown 8vo*. his Edition of the *PLAYS* and POEMS of SHAKSPEARE, with his celebrated Commentary thereon. The Dublin Booksellers, as was their usual custom, while that Country was subject to a Legislature, independent of that of Great Britain, with respect to all Works of character immediately resolved to put it to Press: and it is understood, that Mr. Malone, hearing of their intention, made them an offer to superintend the execution: but they, fearfully that he as the Commentator, might be for introducing alterations or additions, which would too considerably add to the expense; and also, that it might be thereby deprived perhaps in some degree, of the sanction of having been originally a London Publication, declined the offer; adopting, however, two principal improvements recommended by him, and indeed necessary, for removing two material defects in his own Edition; one, that of incorporating with the work, a voluminous Appendix, consisting of additional Notices and Remarks, that had occurred too late to be inserted in their proper places; the other, that of dividing it into *Sixteen* instead of *Eleven* Volumes; by which the thickness of each Volume, which in his Edition was that of a ponderous *Quarto*, became proportioned to its other dimensions which were those of a small *Octavo*. This Edition, from various causes and accidents, one, the destruction by Fire of a Printing-house, in which two Volumes were consumed, was not ready for Publication till the year 1793; a period, when in consequence of the breaking out of the War of the French Revolution, the state of the trading world was more calamitous than it had ever before, or has ever since been; so that out of Nine Booksellers who had joined in undertaking the Work, Eight had either become Bankrupt, or declared themselves unable to fulfil their engagements to the Paper-merchant or the Printers, whose demands, by agreement, were not to be discharged till the Work should be finished. The result, after various discussions and negotiations, was a determination, that one of the Printers, Alderman Exshaw, and the Paper Merchant, the present sole Proprietor should, the first for a third, and the latter for two thirds, pay the whole of the expenses, and take the Work for their reimbursement; which being done, said Exshaw put his imprint to the Book, instead of that of the first undertakers; and it was agreed, that he should have the entire management of the sale, the other not being at all conversant in such matters. But, in about three Years trial, the present Proprietor, finding that no proper exertions had been made for that purpose, and scarcely any copies sold, thought it absolutely necessary, to take the direction of his own share into his own hands; which he could find no means conveniently to do, but by becoming purchaser of the Alderman's share; and thus was compelled as it were, into the sole Proprietorship and sale of this heavy Work, of upwards of 1250 sets of a Sixteen-Volume Book, without any one of the accessory means which Booksellers then possessed, of resort of Readers to their Shops, Customers holding Accounts with them, Exchange of Copies with each other; and above all, Exportation to their Connexions and Correspondents in America, for which the greater part of this Impression had been intended, otherwise it would have been much less numerous; but confined entirely to the chance demand of residents in Ireland, who had neither account, nor dealing with him. The extraordinary merit of the Work however, as the knowledge of it became diffused, counteracted in some degree, those disadvantages; and by the Year 1806, the greater part had been disposed of.

IN

TO THE

BOOKSELLERS

OF

LONDON.

IN 1791, Mr. MALONE published in 11 Volumes *crown 8vo*. his Edition of the PLAYS and POEMS of SHAKSPEARE, with his celebrated Commentary thereon. The Dublin Booksellers, as was their usual custom, while that Country was subject to a Legislature, independant of that of Great Britain, with respect to all Works of character immediately resolved to put it to Press: and it is understood, that Mr. Malone, hearing of their intention, made them an offer to superintend the execution: but they, fearfully that he as the Commentator, might be for introducing alterations or additions, which would too considerably add to the expense; and also, that it might be thereby deprived perhaps in some degree, of the sanction of having been originally a London Publication, declined the offer; adopting, however, two principal improvements recommended by him, and indeed necessary, for removing two material defects in his own Edition; one, that of incorporating with the work, a voluminous Appendix, consisting of additional Notices and Remarks, that had occurred too late to be inserted in their proper places; the other, that of dividing it into Sixteen instead of Eleven Volumes; by which the thickness of each Volume, which in his Edition was that of a ponderous Quarto, became proportioned to its other dimensions which were those of a small *Octavo*. This Edition, from various causes and accidents, one, the destruction by Fire of a Printing-house, in which two Volumes were consumed, was not ready for Publication 'till the year 1793; a period, when in consequence of the breaking out of the War of the French Revolution, the state of the trading world was more calamitous than it had ever before, or has ever since been; so that out of Nine Booksellers who had joined in undertaking the Work, Eight had either become Bankrupt, or declared themselves unable to fulfil their engagements to the Paper-merchant or the Printers, whose demands, by agreement, were not to be discharged till the Work should be finished. The result, after various discussions and negotiations, was a determination, that one of the Printers, Alderman Exshaw, and the Paper Merchant, the present sole Proprietor should, the first for a third, and the latter for two thirds, pay the whole of the expenses, and take the Work for their reimbursement; which being done, said Exshaw put his imprint to the Book, instead of that of the first undertakers; and it was agreed, that he should have the entire management of the sale, the other not being at all conversant in such matters. But, in about three Years trial, the present Proprietor, finding that no proper exertions had been made for that purpose, and scarcely any copies sold, thought it absolutely necessary, to take the direction of his own share into his own hands; which he could find no means conveniently to do, but by becoming purchaser of the Alderman's share; and thus was compelled as it were, into the sole Proprietorship and sale of this heavy Work, of upwards of 1250 sets of a Sixteen-Volume Book, without any one of the accessory means which Booksellers then possessed, of resort of Readers to their Shops, Customers holding Accounts with them, Exchange of Copies with each other; and above all, Exportation to their Connexions and Correspondents in America, for which the greater part of this Impression had been intended, otherwise it would have been much less numerous; but confined entirely to the chance demand of residents in Ireland, who had neither account, nor dealing with him. The extraordinary merit of the Work however, as the knowledge of it became diffused, counteracted in some degree, those disadvantages; and by the Year 1806, the greater part had been disposed of.

IN