l

!88627|

re

2? fdiAA

h

'

REMARKS

ON THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

SIKfltam

WITH A LIST OF

ESSAYS AND DISSERTATIONS

ON HIS

Dramatic

BY

JOHN BRITTON, F.S.A.

JUtrtott :

PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINGHAAf.

J814.

REMARKS

ON

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

BY

JOHN BRITTON, F.S.A.

- For lofty sense

Creative fancy, and inspiration keen

Through the deep windings of the human heart,

In not wild Shakspeare thine and Nature's boast?"

Thomson.

" Heaven-born Genius acts from something superior to rules, and antecedent to rules; and has a right of appeal to Nature herself." Mrs. Montague.

IT has been frequently and justly remarked, that no department in the dignified and almost boundless circle of literature, excites so much general interest as biography. From what cause this arises it is not expedient, in this place, to inquire; but it is unques- tionably true that every man, who pretends to an elevation of mind above the vulgar level, evinces an eager curiosity relative to those who have at any time astonished the world by their exploits, or enlight- ened it by their genius and wisdom. Not contented with the most ample information respecting their public career, the philosopher endeavours to penetrate the

personal appearance, their manners, their habits, their friendships, their amusements, and even their foibles, constitute subjects of solicitude and investigation. Nor ought such inquiries to be rashly stigmatized as B

4 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

puerile, or neglected as unimportant. To judge of an individual through the glare of his public actions only, is to estimate character by a confined and deceptive light. Tt is like determining the natural colour of the skin through the medium of a prism, and under the influence of a single ray.

Every species of literary composition ought to be devoted to some useful end. The legitimate province of the biographer, is to impart that kind of informa- tion which is calculated to inform the understanding and ameliorate the heart. It is his duty to state every illustrative fact connected with the person whose life lie portrays; to rouse the ardent mind to emulation, by the display of such qualities as do honour to human nature, and to point out and reprove those failings which detract from the perfection of human character. It is also his province to trace the progress of genius from the cradle to the grave, to observe the gradations of its developement into bloom, and to mark those peculiarities by which it is distinguished ; those acci- dents by which it is attracted or repelled, incited or repressed. Could such a sketch be drawn of Shak- speare with the unerring pencil of truth, directed by some corresponding mind, what an interesting scene would be unfolded for the contemplation of philosophy.

When we reflect on these circumstances, and con- sider the defective state of biographical knowledge in general, we cannot refrain from expressing the deepest regret that so few illustrious men have thought proper to bequeath to the world memoirs of their own lives. Such legacies, if more frequently bestowed, would be of incalculable benefit to society; and would tend to prevent a vast deal of useless, because for the most part, uncertain and indefinite controversy.

But if the want of faithful biography be a subject of ordinary lament, how greatly is it to be deplored when it regards men endowed Avilh minds of the very highest order. Men who, like the comets of heaven, appear only at distant periods to attract the gaze of admiring nations, and to shed an unusual glory over the intel- lectual system. Of such beings every characteristic

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 5

trait should be recorded with the most scrupulous care; and then, instead of a deficiency of materials from which to draw a full length portrait of their lives, we should be presented with superabundant stores of anecdote and information.

That SHAKSPEARE was one of that class of men who, in relation to their species, deserve to be termed prodigies of intelligence, must be acknowledged by all to whom nature and education have given the capacity of understanding and appreciating his works. Not only does he stand unrivalled as a dramatic author, but in every quality of poetical composition he may chal- lenge the most renowned competitor. In invention he is scarcely equalled by Homer ; and though he seldom attains the suavity and graceful majesty of Maro, he far excels that poet in striking imagery and in origi- nality of conception. Even the genius of Milton, with all the aid which the sublimity of his subject afforded, is not more successful in its boldest flights than the wild and creative fancy of '* our immortal bard." And what renders him peculiarly an object of admi- ration, and an apparent anomaly in the poetical world, is the amazing versatility of his powers. He seems to have been the chief favourite of all the Muses ; the adopted son of Apollo himself. Whether his aim be to move the passions or to assuage their tumult, to excite pity or rouse indignation ; whether he deli- neates scenes of terror or incidents of pleasure ; in fine, whether he wishes to excite grief or joy, to awaken in the breast powerful emotions of anguish or of mirth, he appears to be a perfect master of his inimitable art. Nor does he excel only in commanding and influencing the passions, for in his reflections on men and manners, and on subjects of religion and philosophy, his senti- ments are uniformly appropriate, and are delivered with a force of argument not unworthy of the most profound divine, or the most acute and discriminating moralist.

" Different minds

Incline to different objects ; one pursues

The vast alone, the wonderful, the wild ;

Another sighs for harmony, and grace,

6 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

And gentlest beauty. Hence when lightning fires

The arch of heaven, and thunders rock the ground,

When furious whirlwinds rend the howling air,

And ocean, groaning from his lowest bed,

Heaves his tempestuous billows to the sky ;

Amid the mighty uproar, while below

The nations tremble, Shakspeare looks abroad

From some high cliff, superior, and enjoys

The elemental war." Akenside.

The dramatic writings of Shakspeare, are nume- rous, and are distinguished for the great diversity of characters they include and portray. Some of his plays certainly acquired much popularity during his own life, and were also published by his contempo- raries : yet he must have been regardless of posthumous fame, for he neither prepared any of them for the press, nor gave directions concerning their appropriation in his last will. Equally careless as to the praise or cen- sure of critics and biographers, he either neglected to preserve, or destroyed all records, documents, and memoranda, relating to his own life and writings. Hence the laudable curiosity of the present age is unrewarded by facts, and is held in continued and aggravated suspense, as to the peculiarities of his per- sonal actions and pursuits. His writings have occa- sioned several volumes of comment; and many authors have used them as stilts to publicity. Several also have written conjectures and dissertations on his life: but all have hitherto failed in their design to develope many biographical facts. An extraordinary and asto- nishing degree of mystery envelopes his name ; and it is not without considerable difficulty and doubt that we have drawn up the following narrative, which has been derived from a careful examination of all preced- ing memoirs, aided by the intelligent communications of the historian of Stratford.

Of Shakspeare's remote and immediate ancestors, scarcely any facts are recorded. Only one solitary document has been found to notify his reputed parents, and to display the condition of his father. This is a " grant, or confirmation of arms," dated 1599, by Wil- liam Delhick and William Camden, officers of the Heralds' College, empowering John Shakspeare to

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 7

impale the arms of Arden with his own. After the usual preamble, it proceeds : — " Wherefore being soli- cited, and by credible report informed, that John Shak- speare, now of Stratford-upon Avon, in the counte of Warwicke, gent, whose parent, great grandfather, and late antecessor, for his faithefull and approved service to the late most prudent prince, King Henry "VII. of famous inemorie, was advaunced and rewarded with lands and tenements, geven him in those parts of War- wickshere, where they have continewed by some •descents in good reputation and credit; and for that the said John Shakspeare, having rnaryed the daughter and one of the heyrs of Robert Arden of Wellingcote, in the said countie, and also produced this his auncient cote of arms heretofore assigned to him, whilest he was her Majesties officer and baylefe of that town ; In consi- deration of the premisses, and for the encouragement of his posteritie, unto whom suche blazon of arms and achevements of inheritance from theyre said mother, by the auncyent custome and lawes of arms, maye law- fully descend: We the said Garter and Clarencienlx have assigned," &c. (here follows a description of the arms) "signifying thereby, that it maye and shalbe law- fuH for the said John Shakspeare, gent, to bear and use the same shield of arms, single or impaled, as afore- said ; and that it shalbe lawful 1 for his children, yssue, and posteryte (lawfully begotten) to beare, use, and quarter, and shew forth the same, with their dewe dif- ferences, in all lawfull warlyke facts, and civile use or exercises," &c. By a MS. note to the above grant of arms, John Shakspeare is further stated to possess " lands and tenements in the county of Warwick," valued at 500L These documents serve to show that lie was a man of property and respectability; yet Rowe, Alexander Chalmers, and some other biogra- phers, state that he was poor, or " reduced in the latter part of life," and incapable of supporting his son William at school. They found this opinion on an entry in the books of the corporation of Stratford; whereby it appears, that John Shakspeare and Robert Bruce, in 1579, were excused paying a weekly tax of

I

8 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

4d. which was levied on the other aldermen. In 1586 his name was erased from the list of corporate members, and another substituted in his place, " because he doth not come to the Halls." These facts, however, are not demonstrative either of poverty or disgrace ; for they might arise from personal disputes, or political opi- nions, which too frequently occur in boroughs. By another memorandum in the Heralds' College, and written apparently after the death of the alderman, we are justified in thinking favourably of his circum- stances. '*As for the Spectre in bend, it is a patible difference; and the person to whom it was granted hath borne magistracy, and was justice of peace at Stratford-upon-Avon. He married the daughter and heire of Arderne, and was able to maintain that estate." In the above documents we do not find any allusion to a second wife, or reference to the decease of tlie heiress of Arden : yet Malone, and Wheler (in his use- ful *' History of Stratford") assert that JOHN Shak- speare, the presumed father of the poet, was thrice

married : 1st. to Arden, daughter and co-heir

of Robert Arden, of Wellingcote in Warwickshire, before 1558; 2nd. to Margery Roberts, Nov. 1584;

and Sdly, to Mary , whose maiden name is not

specified, in 1588. Of these marriages we have no other evidence than entries of children, by different mothers, in the Stratford register. These entries, how- ever, merely slate names and dates, without particulars. Hence some doubts arise ; for if the father of William Shakspeare married a third wife, that ceremony must have occurred within seven months after the decease of the second ; and when he applied for the grant of the Arden arms, he is stated in the register to have had three children by this third wife. Yet these children are not alluded to by the college record, nor does it contain any reference to a second or third wife. It is also strange that the armorial coat on the poet's tomb has no quartering, nor is the impalement of the Arden and Shakspeare arms to be found on any public monu- ments. Rowe, who wrote the earliest account of our poet's life, does not mention the name of his mother.

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 9

Thus, is it not extremely probable, that there were two or more persons named John Shakspeare, living at Stratford, or in its immediate vicinity? On this ques- tionable point, however, we must forbear to dilate at present, though it is certainly entitled to particular investigation, in a more extended memoir than can be admitted into this work.

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE, the pride of England and of nature, first drew breath in the town of Stratford- upon-Avon, in the county of Warwick, on the 23rd day of April, 1564. His juvenile habits and early associations are unknown ; but it appears evident from his writings, that he did not receive a very liberal, or as it is commonly called, " learned education." Rowe states, that he was " for some time at a free-school, where it is probable he acquired what Latin he was master of; but that the narrowness of his circumstances, and the want of his assistance at home, forced his father to withdraw him from thence, and unhappily prevented his further proficiency in that language." On this slate- men t Mai one remarks, in a note, "I believe that on leaving school, Shakspeare was placed in the office of some country attorney, or the seneschal of some manor court." The principal reason which this laborious commentator urges for his opinion, is the appearance of legal "technical skill" which is manifested in our poet's plays. But whatever doubts there may be as to his employment on leaving school, it is certain that he early entered into the matrimonial condition, for an entry in the Stratford register mentions, that " Susanna, daughter of William Shakspeare, was baptised May 26, 1583," when he was only nineteen years of age. His wife was Anne Hathaway, who is said to have been the "daughter of a substantial yeoman, then residing at the village of Sholtery," which is distant about a mile from the town of Stratford. This lady, as may be inferred from the inscription (quoted in the sequel) on her tombstone in the church, was eight years older than her husband, to whom she brought three children, Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet: the two last were twins, and were baptized February 2, 1584-5.

10 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

Concerning the domestic economy of Shakspeare after his marriage, and the means by which he maintained his family, neither tradition nor record furnish the most distant hint. Nor is the date of his leaving Stratford better ascertained; but it is conjectured, with much plausibility, that it did not take place till after the birth of his twin children. As to the cause of his flight to the metropolis, the common story is, that being detected in robbing the deer park of Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote, that gentleman, who was one of the county magistrates, prosecuted him with so much rigour, that he found it necessary to escape out of the bound- aries of his influence and jurisdiction. Sir Thomas's spirit of justice, or, as some call it, revenge, is said, on this occasion, to have been stimulated by a ballad writ- ten by Shakspeare, of which the following stanza was communicated to Steevens by Mr. Oldys, Norroy King at Arras :

" A parliemente member, a justice of peace, At home a poore scare-crowe, at London an asse ; If lowsie is Lucie, as some volke miscalle it, Then Lucie is lowsie whatever befall it.

He thinks himself greate,

Yet an asse in his state

We allpwe by his ears but with asses to mate. If Lucie is lowsie, as some volke miscalle it, Sing lowsie Lucie, whatever befall it."

These lines, if really from the pen of Shakspeare, are not calculated to impress his admirers with a favour- able idea of his early powers of composition ; nor, if the circumstances which are said to have occasioned them be true, can any one regard them otherwise than as the effusion of a sarcastic heart, and of a mind insensible to moral propriety. As our bard, however, both imhis writings and in his subsequent life, exem- plifies a very opposite character, we are inclined to regard the whole story as fictitious, and to ascribe his removal to London either to natural inclination or to family disagreement, — perhaps estrangement from his wife. This notion derives some probability from the neglect of her manifested in his will, and the fact of his not cohabiting with her, or at least having any children by her, after 1584. It is curious also, that an entry

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 11

occurs in the Stratford register, recording the burial of a child named "Thomas Greene, alias Shakspeare," in 1589-90. The inference of which this circumstance is susceptible must be obvious.

The inducement of Shakspeare to resort to the theatre, and his first employment after his arrival in London, are matters no less clouded with obscurity, than the previous incidents of his life. Pope, on the authority of Rowe, who has however omitted the anecdote in his published memoir, says that he became acquainted with the players in consequence of waiting at the theatre door to take charge of the horses of those gentlemen who had no servants: but this story is dis- credited by Steevensand by Malone ; the latter of whom suggests an opinion, that Shakspeare was introduced to theatrical connexion by his townsman and relation, ThomasGreen, who was one of the best actors of his day. The office which he first held in the theatre, according to a stage tradition, was that of it call-boy, or prompter's attendant," but this statement is almost as questionable as the legendary tale of Pope. At all events, his continuance in that capacity was of very short duration. Talents like his could not remain long unnoticed or unem- ployed; but we are inclined to think that he was earlier distinguished as a player than as a dramatic writer. He must have made himself conversant with the machinery of the stage, its language, &c. before he composed even the simplest and reast difficult of his plays.

We now come to that era in the life of Shakspeare, when he began to write his immortal dramas, and to develope those powers which have rendered him the delight and wonder of successive ages. At the time of his becoming in some degree a public character, we natu- rally expected to find many anecdotes recorded of his literary history: but by a strange fatality, the same destitution of authentic incidents marks every stage of his life. Even the date at which his first play appeared is unknown; and the greatest uncertainty prevails with respect to the chronological order in which the whole series was exhibited^ or published.

12 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

As this subject was justly considered by Malone to be both curious and interesting, he has appropriated to its examination a long and laborious essay. Chalmers, in his " Supplemental Apology," however, endeavours to controvert Malone's dates, and assigns them to other eras ; as specified in the second column below. Malone savs, the "First Part of King Henry VI." published in 1589, and commonly attributed to Shak- speare, was not written by him, though it might receive some corrections from his pen at a subsequent period, in order to fit it for representation. The ''Second Part of King Henry VI" this writer contends, ought there- fore to be considered as Shakspeare's Jirst dramatic piece; and he thinks that it might be composed about the year 1591, but certainly not earlier than 1590. The other plays of our great dramatist, are placed in the following order of time by him and Chalmers: —

Third Part of King Henry VI 1591 1595

A Midsummer Night's Dream 1592 1598

Comedy of Errors 1593 1591

Taming of the Shrew 1594 1598

Love's Labour's Lost 1594 1592

Two Gentlemen of Verona 1595 1595

Romeo and Juliet 1595 1592

Hamlet 1596 1597

King John 1596 1598

King Richard II 1597 1596

King Richard III 1597 1595

First Part of Henry IV 1597 1596

Second Part of Henry IV 1598 1597

Merchant of Venice 1598 1597

All's Well that Ends Well 1598 1599

King Henry V 1599 1597

Much Ado About Nothing 1600 1599

As You Like It 1600 1599

Merry Wives of Windsor 1601 1596

King Henry VIII '. 1601 1613

Troilus and Cressida 1602 1600

Measure for Measure 1603 1604

The Winter's Tale 1604 1601

King Lear 1605 1605

14 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

his name appears among the actors of Ben Jonson's play of Sejanus. Thus it is evident that he continued to perform many years : but of his merits as a player, we find no positive data to found an accurate estimate, and hence there is much diversity of opinion among his commentators. Performers and dramatic authors were not then so closely watched, and fastidiously criticised as in the present age ; indeed diurnal reviewers were then unknown. From some satirical passages in the writings of his contemporaries, he appears not to have been a favourite actor with the public. His instruc- tions on the subject of acting, however, in Hamlet, are so peculiarly excellent, that we are not a little inclined to suspect that his unpopularity arose rather from the want of taste in his audience, than from the deficiency of theatrical powers in himself. The " science of acting " was then only in its infancy ; and as he that tl strutted and bellowed" most, was probably esteemed the best player, Shakspeare's gentleness would be considered lameness, and his observance of nature ignorance of his art.

At what period our poet gave up all personal con- nexion with the theatre has not been discovered ; but it is probable that he retired from it at least three years before his death. Rowe indeed states, that "the latter part of his life was spent, as all men of good sense would wish theirs may be, in ease, retire- ment, and the conversation of his friends." During his dramatic career, he appears to have acquired a share in the properly of the Globe Theatre, and to have been joint manager of the same, as his name is mentioned in the licence granted by King James, in 1603, for the exhibition of plays in that house, and in any part of the kingdom. This share he probably sold when he finally retired to Stratford, as it is neither alluded to in his will, nor does his name occur in the accounts of the theatre for 1613.

Shakspeare, like most men of pre-eminent talents, is said to have been much assailed by the attacks of envious rivals, notwithstanding that diffidence and good nature were the peculiar characteristics of his personal deport-

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 15

men I. Among; those who are stated to have treated him with hostility, was the celebrated Ben Jonson; but Dr. Farmer departs from the received opinions on this subject, and thinks that though Jonson was arrogant of his scholarship, and publicly professed a rivalship of Sliakspeare, he was in private his friend and associate.

Pope, in his preface, says, that Jonson, "loved" Sliakspeare, "as well as honoured his memory; cele- brates the honesty, openness, and frankness of his temper; and only distinguishes, as he reasonably ought, between the real merit of the author, and the silly and derogatory applauses of the players." Mr. Gilchrist, whose dra- matic criticisms are generally profound and acute, has published a pamphlet, to prove that Jouson was never a harsh or an envious rival of Shakspeare ; and that the popular opinion on this subject is founded in error. The following story respecting these two great dra- matists is related by Rowe, and has been generally credited by subsequent biographers. " Mr. Jonson, who was at that time altogether unknown to the world, had offered one of his plays to the players, in order to have it acted; and the persons into whose hands it was put, after having turnea it carelessly and superciliously over, were just upon returning it to him with an illnatured answer, that it would be of no service to their company, when Shakspeare luckily cast his eye upon it, and found something so well in it, as to engage him first to read it through, and afterwards to recom- mend Mr. Jonson and his writings to the public."

The opposition or rivalship of Shakspeare and Jonson produced, as might naturally be expected, much con- tention concerning their relative merits between their respective friends and admirers ; and it is not a little remarkable, that Jonson seems to have maintained a higher place in the estimation of the public in general than our poet, for more than a century after the death of the latter. Within that period Jonson's works are said to have passed through several editions, and to have been read with avidity, while Shakspeare's were comparatively neglected till the time of Rowe. This

16 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

circumstance is in a great measure o be accounted for on the principle that classical literature and collegiate learning were regarded in those days as the chief crile- rions of merit. Accordingly Jonson's grand charge against Shakspeare was the want of that species of knowledge; and upon his own proficiency in it, he arrogated to himself a superiority over him. That all classical scholars, however, did not sanction Jonson's pretensions is certain ; for among the greatest admirers of Shakspeare, was one of the most learned men of his age, the ever-memorable Hales. On one occasion the latter, after listening in silence to a warm debate between Sir John Suckling and Jonson, is reported to have interposed by observing, " That if Shakspeare had not read the ancients, he had likewise not stolen any thing from them ; and that if he (Jonson) would produce any one topic finely treated by any one of them, he would undertake to show something upon the same subject, at least as well written by Shakspeare." A trial, it is added, being in consequence agreed to, judges were appointed to decide the dispute, who unanimously voted in favour of the English poet, after a candid examination and comparison of the passages produced by the contending parties.

" Shakspeare," observes Rowe, «' had the good for- tune to gather an estate eqjual to his occasion, and in that to his wish ;" but the biographer does not even hint at the amount of the poet's income. Malone, however, judging from the bequests in Shakspeare's Will, thinks it might be about 200/. per year; which at the age when he lived, was equal to 800/. a year at the present time. Subsequent to his retirement from the stage, he resided in a house at Stratford whiclrhe had purchased, according to Wheler, in 1597, from the family of Underbill, and which, previous to that time had been called the Great House, probably from its having been the best in the town, when it was originally erected by Sir Hugh Clopton, in the reign of Henry the Seventh. The poet appears to have made considerable alterations in this house, and changed its name to New-place. Here he appears to have resided a few years in retire-

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 17

inent, but not without devoting some time to dramatic composition ; for Malone asserts, that the play of Twelfth Night was written after his final residence at Stratford. In this house he died, on Tuesday, April 23, 1616, being the anniversary of his 52d year: in two days afterwards his remains were interred within the chancel of the parish church ; where a flat stone and a mural monument were afterwards placed to point out the spot, and com- memorate his likeness, name, and memory.

Such is the substance of the scanty notices of the life of Shakspeare, which we have been enabled to collect from Rowe, and from the various commentators on his works, to Malone inclusive. To these we shall add, in his own words, the following anecdotes recorded by John Aubrey in his MS. collections in the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford. " Mr. William Shakespear was borne at Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of War- wick : his father was a butcher, and I have been told heretofore by some of the neighbours, that when he was a boy he exercised his father's trade, but when he kill'd a calfe he would doe it iii a high style and make a speech. There was at that time another butcher's son in this towne, that was helde not at all inferior to him for a naturall wilt, his acquaintance and coetanean, but dyed young. This Wra- being inclined naturally to poetry and acting came to London, I guesse about 18, and was an actor at one of the playhouses, and did act exceedingly well. Now B. Jonson never was a good actor, but an excellent instructor. He began early to make essayes at dramatique poetry, which at that time was very lowe, and his playes tooke well. He was a handsome well shap't man, very good company, and of a very readie and pleasant smooth witt: the humour of , the constable in a Mid- summer Night's Dreame, he happened to take at Gren- don, in Bucks, which is the roade from London to Stratford; and there was living that constable about 1642, when I first came to Oxon. Mr. Jos. Howe is of that parish, and knew him. Ben Jonson and he did gather humours of men dayly, wherever they came. One time, as he was at the tavern, at Stralford-upon-

18 '^REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

Avon, one Combes, an old rich usurer, was to be buryed, he makes there this extemporary epitaph :

" Ten in the hundred the devill allowes,

But Combes will have twelve, he sweares and vowes :

If any one askes who lies in this torn be,

* Hoh/ quoth the devill, ' 'tis my John o' Combe.'

(l He was wont to goe to his native country once a yeare. I think I have been told, that he left 2 or 300 lib. per annum, there and thereabout, to a sister. 1 have heard Sir Wm. Davenant and Mr. Thomas Shad- well (who is counted the best comoedian we have now), say that he had a most prodigious witt ; and did admire his natural! parts beyond all other dramatical 1 writers. He was wont to say, that he never blotted out a line in his life: sayd Ben Jonson, *I wish he bad blotted out a thousand.' His comoedies will remain witt as long as the English tongue is understood, for that he handles mores hominum : now our present writers reflect so much upon particular persons and coxcombeities that twenty yeares hence they will not be understood.

" Though, as Ben Jonson sayes of him, that he had but little Latine and lesse Greek, he understood Latine pretty well, for he had been in his younger years a schoolmaster in the country." See Letters from the Bodleian Library, &c. Vol. iii. p. 307.

The above account, though apparently sanctioned by good authority, and probably written about thirty years after Shakspeare's death, is treated by almost all his biographers as wholly incredible. Of this opinion is Mai one, in his notes upon the Life of our poet by Rowe ; but in his own u Historical Account of the English Stage," he seems at a loss whether to argue for or against the probability of Aubrey's statement. The same waver- ing and inconsistency, on dubious points, are visible in other parts of the writings of that commentator. Thus in one place he is positive that Shakspeare's father was thrice married; and in another, he is equally confident that he had not more than two wives. In his chro- nology, he slates 1591 to be the year in which our author commenced writer for the stage, and argues throughout the whole essay on that presumption; but

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 19

in his remarks relative to the passage above quoted, he says, " We have no proof that he did not woo the dra- matic muse even so early as 1587 or 1.588 ; and therefore till such proof shall be produced, Mr. Aubrey's assertion, founded apparently on the information of those who lived very near the time, is entitled to some weight."

Shakspeare was interred on the second day after his death, in the chancel of Stratford church, where a monument still remains to his memory. It is con- structed partly of marble and partly of stone, and consists of a half-length bust of the deceased, with a cushion before him, placed under an ornamental canopy, between two columns of the corinthian order, sup- porting an entablature. Attached to the latter is the Shakspeare arms and crest, sculptured in bold relief. Beneath the bust are the following lines :

Judicio Pylivm, genio Socratem, arte Maronem, Terra tegit, popvtvs maeret, (Jlympvs habet. Stay passenger, why goest thov by so fast. Read, if thov canst, whom enviovs death hath plast Within this monvment, Shakspeare, \\ ith whome Qvick natvre dide; whose name doth deck ys tombe Far more than coste ; sieth all yt he hath writt Leaves living art bvt page to serve his witt.

Obiit Ano. Doi. 1616, aetatis 53, die 23 Ap. On a flat stone which covers our poet's grave is this curious inscription :

Good frend for Jesvs' sake forbeare

To digg the dvst encloased heare ;

Blese be ye. man yt spares thes stones,

And cvrst be he yt. moves my bones. The common tradition is, that the last four lines were written by Shakspeare himself; but this notion has perhaps originated solely from the use of the word " my," in the last line. The imprecation, says Malone, was probably suggested by an apprehension *« that our author's remains might share the same fate with those of the rest of his countrymen, and be added to the immense pile of human bones deposited in the charnel-house at Stratford."

Mrs. Shakspeare, who survived her husband eight years, was buried between his grave and the north wall c

20 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

of the chancel, under a stone inlaid with brass, and inscribed thus :

" Heere lyeth interred the bodye of Anne, wife of Mr. Wil- liam Shakespeare, who depted. this life the oth day of Avgvst, 1623, being of the age of 67 yeares.

Vbera, tv Mater, tv lac vitamq. dedisti.

Vae nnhi ; pro tanto mvnere saxa dabo !

Qvam Mallem, amoveat lapidem, bonvs angel'ore*

Exeat vt Christi Corpvs, imago tva,

Sed nil yota valent, venias cito Christe resvrget,

Clavsa licet tvmvlo mater, et astra petet."

The family of Shakspeare, as already mentioned, con- sisted only of one son and two daughters. The son died in 1596; but both the daughters survived their father. The eldest, Susanna, married Dr. John Hall, a physician of Stratford, who is said to have obtained much reputation and practice. She brought her hus- band an only child, Elizabeth, who was married, first, to Thomas Nashe, Esq. and afterwards to Sir John Barnard of Abingdon, in Northamptonshire ; but had no issue by either of them. Judith, Shakspeare's second daughter, married Thomas Quiney, a gentleman of good family, by whom she had three children ; but as none of them reached their twentieth year, they left no posterity. Hence our poet's last descendant was Lady Barnard, who was buried at Abingdon, Feb. 17, 1669-70. Dr. Hall, her father, died NoV. 25, 1635, and her mother, July 11, 1649 : and both were interred in Stratford church under flat stones, bearing inscriptions to their respective memories.

Shakspeare, by his Will, yet extant in the office of the Prerogative Court, and bearing date the 25th day of March, 1616, made the following bequests:

To his daughter Judith he gave 1501. of lawful English money; one hundred to be paid in discharge of her marriage portion, within one year after his decease, and the remaining fifty upon her giving up in favour of her elder sister, Susanna Hall, all her right in a copyhold tenement and appurtenances parcel of the manor of Rowington. To the said Judith he also bequeathed 150/. more, if she or any of her issue were living- three years from the date of his will ; but in the

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 21

contrary event, then he directed that 100/. of the sum should be paid to his niece, Elizabeth Hall, and the proceeds of the fifty to his sister, Joan, or Jone Hart, or life, with residue to her children. He further gave to the said Judith a broad silver gilt bowl.

P fc

To his sister Joan, beside the contingent bequest bove mentioned, he gave twenty pounds and all his wearing apparel ; also the house in Stratford, in which

she was to reside for her natural life, under the yearly rent of twelve-pence.

To her three sons, William Hart, Hart, and

Michael Hart, he gave five pounds a-piece ; to be paid within one year after his decease.

To his grand-daughter, Elizabeth Hall, he bequeathed all his plate, the silver bowl above excepted.

To the poor of Stratford he bequeathed ten pounds ; to Mr. Thomas Corn be, his sword ; to Thomas Russel five pounds ; to Francis Collins, esq. thirteen pounds six shillings and eight-pence; to Hamlet (Hamnet) Sadler twenty-six shillings and eight-pence to buy a ring ; and a like sum, for the same purpose, to William Reynolds, gent. Anthony Nash, gent. John Hemynge, Richard Bur- bage, and Henry Cundell, his "fellows;" also twenty shillings in gold to his godson, William Walker.

To his daughter, Susanna Hall, he bequeathed New- place, with its appurtenances ; two messuages or tene- ments, with their appurtenances, situated in Henley- street (represented in the accompanying print); also all his a barns, stables, orchards, gardens, lands, tene- ments, and hereditaments whatsoever, situate, lying, and being, or to be had, received, perceived, or taken, within the towns, hamlets, villages, fields, and grounds of Stratford-upon-Avon, Old Stratford, Bishopton, and Welcornbe, or in any of them, in the said county of Warwick ; and also all that messuage or tenement, with the appurtenances, wherein one John Robinson dwelleth, situated, lying, and being in the Blackfriars, London, near the Wardrobe; and all my other lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever: to have and to hold all and singular the said premises, with their appurtenances, unto the said Susanna Hall, for and

22 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

during the term of her natural life; and after her decease, to the first son of her body lawfully issuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the said first son, lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, to the* second son of her body lawfully issuing, and to the heirs males of the body of the said second son law- fully issuing*," and so forth, as to the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sons of her body and their heirs males : " and for default of such issue, the said premises to be and remain to rny said neice Hall, and the heirs males of her body lawfully issuing; and for default of such issue, to my daughter Judith, and the heirs males of her body lawfully issuing ; and for default of such issue, to the right heirs of me the said William Shakspeare."

To the said Susanna Hall and her husband, whom he appointed executors of his will, under the direction of Francis Collins and Thomas Russel, esqrs. he further bequeathed all the rest of his " goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuff whatsoever," after the payment of his debts, legacies, and funeral expenses ; with the exception of his " second best bed with the furniture," which constituted the only bequest he made to his wife, and that by insertion after the will was written out.

The houses mentioned above, as being situated in Henley-street, are those represented in the annexed wood cut*. According to tradition, they originally constituted a single mansion, the residence of our poet's father, and the immediate scene of his own birth. This view was sketched by Mr. W. Alexander, in June 1807 ; but the figures, representing the procession at the Strat- ford Jubitee, are inserted from a drawing made by Samuel Ireland.

New-Place, the residence of Shakspeare, was occu- pied after his death by Mr. and Mrs. Hall, the latter of

* This wood cut, which represents the houses in Henley- street, and the Jubilee Procession in 176Q, together with the Portrait described in the following page, are inserted in the embellished edition of Shakspeare, published in Seven Volumes, price LI. 18s. 6d. in boards.

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 23

whom survived her husband several years. During her residence in it in her widowhood, it was honoured by the temporary abode of Henrietta Maria, queen to Charles the First. On the decease of Mrs. Hall, it became the property of her daughter, Lady Barnard, and was sold by her surviving executor, to Edward Nash, Esq. who bequeathed it to his daughter Mary, wife of Sir Reginald Forster. By that gentleman it was sold to Sir John Clopton, a descendant from the original proprietor and founder. Here, under a mulberry tree planted by Shakspeare's own hand, Garrick, Mackliri, and Delane, were hospitably entertained, when they visited Stratford, in 1742, by Sir Hugh Clopton, bar- rister at law, who repaired and beautified the house, instead of (as Malone asserts) pulling it down, and building another on its site. On his death it was sold, in 1752, by his son-in-law, Henry Talbot, Esq. to the Rev. Francis Gastrell, who cut down the mulberry tree to save himself the trouble of showing it to visitors.

With a few remarks on the accompanying Portrait, we must close the present essay. Tnis is taken from the bust of the bard in Stratford church ; and that head is indubitably the most authentic and probable likeness of the poet. It was executed soon after his decease, and according to the credible tradition of the town, was copied from a cast after nature. We also know that Leonard Digges mentions the "Stratford monu- ment," in his lines prefixed to the folio edition of Shakspeare's plays of 1623; whence it is certain, that the bust was executed within seven years of the poet's death. The common practice in that age of executing monumental busts of illustrious and eminent persons, is also in favour of this at Stratford : but we have still a better criterion, and a more forcible argument in its behalf: one that " flashes conviction" to the eye of the intelligent artist and anatomist. This is the truth of drawing with the accuracy of muscular forms, and shape of the skull which distinguishes the bust now referred to, and which are evidences of a skilful sculptor. The head is cut out of a block of stone, and was formerly coloured in imitation of nature: but Mr. Malone pre-

24 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

vailed on the present respectable clergyman of Stratford, to have it re-painted all over with white lead, &c. By this absurd and tasteless operation, the character and expression of the features are much injured : but it is proposed to divest the head of this exterior coat, and preserve it with care and caution in proportion to its value. Mr. Malone characterises the bust, for its "pert- ness of countenance ; and therefore totally differing from that placid composure and thoughtful gravity, so per- ceptible in his original portrait, and his best prints. Our poets monument, having been erected by his son-in-law, Dr. Hall, the statuary probably had the assistance of some picture, and failed from want of skill to copy it." Thus prepossession and prejudice will always pervert facts, and resort to sophistry. In spite of all that has been advanced by Mr. Malone, by Jonson, and by other writers, in behalf of different pictures and prints profes- sing to be the head of Shakspeare, they are all unsatis- factory, and mostly futile : for a bad artist can never produce a good likeness, nor can we place any reliance on the execution of an unskilful engraver, or aVorn-out picture. Whatever comes in "a questionable shape," should be severely and fastidiously investigated ; if not authenticated by proof, or supported by powerful pro- bability, should be banished from the page of history, and from the receptacles of belief.

From what has already been stated, it is evident that the writings of Shakspeare have progressively acquired considerable publicity; and that they now rank as chief, or in the first list, of British classics. This high celebrity is to be attributed to various secondary causes, as well as to their own intrinsic merits. To players, critics, biographers, and artists, a large portion of this fame is to be ascribed ; for had the plays been represented by Garrick, Kemble, &c. as originally published by Condell and Hemynge, or reprinted verbatim from that text, the spectators to the one, and readers of the other, would have been comparatively limited. It is talent only that can properly represent and appreciate talent. The birth and productions of one man of brilliant genius will stimulate the emulation, and call into

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 2;5

action the full powers of a correllative mind. Hence the British theatrical hemisphere has been repeatedly illumined by the corruscations of a Garrick, Henderson, Pritchard, Kemble, Siddons, Coofce, Young, and Kean : and these performers have derived no small portion of their justly acquired fame, from the exquisite and powerful writings of the bard of Avon Whilst the one may be considered as the creator of thought and inventor of character, the others have personified and given "local habitation" and existence to the poetical vision. The painter has also been usefully and honour- ably employed in delineating incidents, and portraying characters from the poet: whilst the engraver has translated these designs into a new language, and given them extensive circulation and permanent record. It may thus be said that the works of Shakspeare have conferred a literary and dramatic immortality on Great Britain, which nothing less than annihilation can destroy.

It may be both useful and amusing to close this essay with an account of the principal editions of Shak- speare's plays and poems, and also with an enumeration of the most considerable volumes and pamphlets that have been expressly devoted to comment on, elucidate, or perplex the original writings.

The first collection of Shakspeare's plays Avas pub- lished in 1623, with the following title: "Mr. William Shakspeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Published according to the true original copies. Lon- don : printed by Isaac Jaggard and Ed. Blount, 1623," folio. This volume was edited by John Hemynge and Henry Condell, and was dedicated to " the most incom- parable pair of brethren" William, Earl of Pembroke, and Philip, Earl of Montgomery. In the title page is a portrait, said to be a likeness of the author, with the engraver's name, "Martin Droeshout, Sculspit, Lon- don ;" and on the opposite page are these lines by Ben Jonson, addressed " To the Reader."

" This figure that thou here sees't put, It was for gentle Shakspeare cut, Wherein the graver had a strife With nature to outdoo the life :

26 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND

O, could he but have drawne his wit

As well in brasse, as he hath hit

His face ; the print would then surpasse

All, that was ever writ on brasse.

But, since he cannot, Reader, looke

Not on his Picture, but his Booke. B. I.

The above volume was carefully reprinted in close imitation of the original, a few years back, by J. Wright, for Vernon and Hood, London.

A second edition of Shakspeare's plays was published in folio, in 1632; a third in 1664, and a fourth in 1685. These several impressions are usually denominated *' ancient editions," because published within the first century after the death of the poet, and before any comments or elucidations were employed to expound the original text.

Of those editions which are distinguished by the title modern, the earliest was published by Nicholas Limve in 1709, in 6 vols. 8vo. This was followed by an edition in 12mo. by the same author in 1714 ; and to both were prefixed a biographical memoir of the illus- trious bard. In 1725 Pope, who first introduced cri- tical and emendalory notes, published his edition in 6 vols. 4to. wilh a preface, which Johnson characterizes as valuable alike for composition and justness of remark. A second edition by the same editor was published in 10 vols. 12mo. with additional notes and corrections, in 1728. The successor of Pope was Theobald, who produced a very elaborate edition in 7 vols. 8vo. in 1733; and a second, with corrections and additions, in 8 vols. 12ino. in 1740. Sir Thomas Hanmer next turned his attention to the illustration of Shakspeare, and in 1744 gave the world an edition of his plays in 6 vols. 4to. Warburton published his edition in 8 vols. 8vo. in 1747 ; from which time no critic attempted the task, till the year 1765; when Dr. Johnson's first edition made its appear- ance, in 8 vols. 8vo. It was preceded by an able and ingenious preface, in which the character of Shakspeare's writings, and the merits of his commentators, are dis- cussed wilh that perspicuity and critical judgment for which this renowned author was so much distinguished. In 1766, Steevens's edition was published in 4 vols. 8vo.

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 27

This was followed in 1768, by an edition in 10 vols. crown 8vo. by Mr. Capell. Next came out, in 1791, a second and improved 4to. edition by Sir Thomas Hanmer, which was succeeded by an edition in 10 vols. 8vo. in 1773, by Johnson and Steevens, conjoint!}'. Of this last, a second edition was published in 1778 ; a third, revised and corrected by Reed, in 1785. In the year following1 was produced the first volume of the dramatic works of Shakspeare, with notes by Joseph Rann, A. M. which work was completed in 6 vols. 8vo. 1794. In 1784 was published, in 1 vol. royal 8vo. an edition printed

into the world, in 10 vols. crown 8vo. In 1793 a fourth edition, by Johnson and Steevens, &c. "revised and augmented," in 15 vols. 8vo. was edited by Reed. A fifth edition, in 21 vols. 8vo. was published in 1803; and another edition, with corrections, &c. appeared in 1813.

Many other impressions of our author's plays have been published by different booksellers, in different sizes, and of various degrees of typographic merit. Most of them however are unauthenticated reprints: but many of them have the popular attraction of embel- lishments. The most splendid of this class was published by Boy dell, in 9 vols. folio, embellished with 100 engravings, executed by, and from artists of the first eminence. The same work was also printed in 4to. In 1805, was published an edition of Shakspeare's plays in 10 vols. 8vo. with a prefatory essay, by Alexander Chalmers, F.S. A. and a print to each play from a design by Henry Fuseli, Esq. R. A.

LIST OF DETACHED ESSAYS AND DISSERTATIONS

ON THE

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE.

1. A short View of Tragedy; its original Excellency and Corruption; with some Reflections on Shakspeare and other Practitioners for the Stage. By Mr. Rymer, Servant to their Majesties. 8vo. 1693.

2. Remarks on the Plays of Shakspeare. By C.Gil- don, 8vo. Printed at the end of the seventh volume of Rowe's edition, 1710.

3. An Essay on the Genius and Writings of Shak- speare, with some Letters of Criticism to the Spectator. By Mr. Dennis. 8vo. 1712.

4. Shakspeare Restored : or a Specimen of the many Errors, as well committed as unamended, by Mr. Pope, in his late Edition of this Poet. Designed not only to correct the said Edition, but to restore the true Read- ing of Shakspeare in all the Editions ever yet published. By Mr. Theobald. 4to. 1726.

5. An Answer to Mr. Pope's Preface to Shakspeare, in a Letter to a Friend ; being a Vindication of the old Actors, who were the Publishers and Performers of that Author's Plays. Whereby the Errors of their Edition are further accounted for, and some Memoirs of Shakspeare and the Stage History of his Time are inserted, which were never before collected and pub- lished. By a Strolling Player (John Roberts.) 8vo. 1729.

6. Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, written by William Shakspeare. Printed for W. Wilkins. 8vo. 1736.

7. Explanatory and critical Notes on divers Passages of Shakspeare's Plays. By Francis Peck. Printed with his new Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Mr. John Milton. 4to. 1740.

8. An Essay towards fixing the true Standards of Wit and Humour, Raillery, Satire, and Ridicule : to

DETACHED ESSAYS, ETC. 29

which is added, an Analysis of the Characters of a Humourist, Sir John Falstaflf, Sir Roger de Coverley, and Don Quixote. (By Corbyn Morris.) 8vo. 1744.

9 Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth, with Remarks on Sir Thomas Hanrner's Edition of Shakspeare. To which is affixed, Proposals for a new Edition of Shakspeare, with a Specimen. (By Dr. Samuel Johnson.) I2mo. 1745.

10. A Word or two of Advice to William Warburton, a Dealer in many Words. By a Friend (Dr. Grey). With an Appendix, containing a Taste of William's Spirit of Railing. 8vo. 1746.

11. Critical Observations on Shakspeare. By John Upton, Prebendary of Rochester. 1st edition, 8vo. 1746; 2d. edition, 1748.

12. An Inquiry into the Learning of Shakspeare ; with Remarks on several Passages of his Plays. In a Conversation between Eugenius and Neander. By Peter Whalley, A. B. Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. 8vo. 1748.

13. A free and familiar Letter to that great Refiner of Pope and Shakspeare, the Rev. Mr. William War- burton, Preacher of Lincoln's-Inn ; with Remarks upon the Epistle of Friend A. E. In which his unhandsome Treatment of this celebrated Writer is exposed in the Manner it deserves. By a country Curate (Dr. Grey). 8vo. 1750.

14. The Beauties of Shakspeare; regularly selected from each Play: with a general Index, digesting them under proper Heads. Illustrated with explanatory Notes, and similar Passages from ancient and modern Authors. By William Dodd, B. A. late of Clare Hall, Cambridge. 2 vols. 12mo. 1st edition, 1752; 2d edition, 1757 ; 3d edition, 3 vols. 12rno. 1782.

15. Remarks upon a late Edition of Shakspeaie; with a long String of Emendations, borrowed by the celebrated Editor from the Oxford Edition without Acknowledgment. To which is prefixed, a Defence of

30 DETACHED ESSAYS, ETC. ON THE

the late Sir Thomas Hanmer, Barl. addressed to the Rev. Mr. Warburton, Preacher of Lincoln's-Inn, &c. 8vo. No Date.

16. An Answer to certain Passages in Mr. W 's

Preface, in his Edition of Shakspeare ; together with some Remarks on the many Errors and false Criticisms in the Work itself. 8vo. 1748.

17. Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark : with a Preface, contain- ing some general Remarks on the Writings of Shak- speare. 8vo. 1752.

18. Shakspeare Illustrated ; or the Novels and His- tories on which the Plays of Shakspeare are founded, collected and translated from the original Authors, with critical Remarks. 2 vols. By Mrs. JLennox. 12mo. 1753. A third Volume, with the same Title, was pub- lished in 1754.

19. Critical, historical, and explanatory Notes on Shakspeare ; with Emendations of the Text and Metre. By Zachary Grey, LL. D. 2 vols. 8vo. 1755.

20. The Canons of Criticism and Glossary ; being a Supplement to Mr. Warburtoii's Edition of Shakspeare. Collected from the Notes in that celebrated Work, and proper to be bound up with it. By the other Gentle- man of Lincoln's-Inn (Mr. Edwards). 1st. edition, 1748 ; 7th edition, with additions, 8vo. 1765. Remarks on Shakspeare, by Mr. Roderick, are printed at the end of this edition.

21. A Revisal of Shakspeare's Text, wherein the Alterations introduced into it by the more modern Editors and Critics are particularly considered. Bj Mr. Heath. 8vo. 1765.

22. A Review of Dr. Johnson's new Edition of Shak- speare, in which the Ignorance and Inattention of that Editor is exposed, and the Poet defended from the Persecution of his Commentators. By W. Kenrick. 8vo. 1765.

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE, 31

23. An Examination of Mr. Kenrick's Review of Mr. Johnson's Edition of Shakspeare. 8vo. 1766.

24. A Defence of Mr. Kenrick's Review of Dr. Johnson's Shakspeare; containing a Number of curious and ludicrous Anecdotes of literary Biography. By a Friend. 8vo. 1766.

25. Observations and Conjectures on some Passages of SJiakspeare. By Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq. 8vo. 1766.

26. An Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare. By the Rev. Dr. Richard Farmer. 8vo. 1767; 2d edition y 12mo. 1767.

27. A Letter to David Garrick, Esq. concerning a Glossary to the Plays of Shakspeare, on a more extensive Plan than has hitherto appeared. To which is added, a Specimen. By Richard Warner, Esq. 8vo. 1768.

28. An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shak- speare compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with some Remarks upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire. By Mrs. Montagu. 8vo. 1770 ; 2d edition, 1776 ; 6th edition, corrected, to which are added, Three Dialogues of the Dead, 8vo. 1810.

29. The Morality of Shakspeare's Drama Illustrated. By Mrs. Griffiths. 8vo. 1775.

30. Notes and various Readings to Shakspeare. By Edward Capell. 3 vols. 4lo.

31. A second Appendix to Mr. Malone's Supplement to the last Edition of the Plays of Shakspeare ; con- taining additional Observations by the Editor of the Supplement. 8vo. 1783.

32. Essays on Shakspeare's Dramatic Characters; with an Illustration of Shakspeare's Representation of National Characters in that of Fluellen. The Sixth Edition. By William Richardson, M.A. F.R.S. E. Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow. London. 1812. 8vo. The above Essays were published at different times. The first portion appeared in 1774,

32 DETACHED ESSA\S, ETC. ON THE

under the title of « A Philosophical Analysis and Illus- tration of some of Shakspeare's Dramatic Characters," In 1784 were published, " Essays on Shakspeare's Dra- matic Characters of Richard the Third, King Lear, and Timon of Athens." To which were added, " An Essay on the Faults of Shakspeare, and additional Observa- tions on the Character of Hamlet." Soon after were published, " Essays on Shakspeare's Dramatic Charac- ter of Sir John Falstaff; and on his Imitation of Female Characters." To which were subjoined, " Observations on the chief Objects of Criticism in the Works of Shak- speare." These various performances were originally collected into one volume, with one uniform title, in 1797. The Essay on the Representation of National Characters illustrated in that of Flnelleti, with two original Letters from the late Edmund Burker Esq. were added to the edition 1812.

33. Essay on the Dramatic Character of Sir John Falslaff. By Mr. Maurice Morgan. 8vo. 1777.

34. A Supplement to the Edition of Shakspeare's Plays, published in 1778. Containing additional

35. Remarks, critical and illustrative, on the Text and Notes of the last Edition of Shakspeare (Steevens, 1778). By Mr. Kitson. 8vo. 1783.

36. Dramatic Miscellanies ; consisting of critical Observations on the Plays of Shakspeare, &c. By Thomas Davies. 3 vols. Crown 8vo. 1784.

37. Comments on the last Edition of Shakspeare's Plays. By John Monck Mason, Esq. 8vo. 1785.

38. Macbeth Reconsidered: an Essay intended as an Answer to Part of the Remarks on some of the Cha- racters of Shakspeare. By J. P. Kemble. 8vo. 1786.

WRITINGS OF SHAKSPEARE. 33

39. An Inquiry into the Authenticity of certain Miscellaneous Papers, published Dec. 24, 1795, and attributed to Shakspeare, Queen Elizabeth, and Henry Earl of Southampton : illustrated by Fac-similes of the genuine Hand-writing of that Nobleman and of her Majesty; a new Fac-simile of the Hand-writing of Shakspeare, never before exhibited; and other authen- tic Documents. By Edmund Malone, Esq. 8vo. 1796. London.

40. A Concordance to Shakspeare : suited to all the Editions, in which the distinguished and parallel Pas- sages in the Plays of that justly admired Writer are methodically arranged. To which are added, Three Hundred Notes and Illustrations entirely new. (By H.Twiss.) 8vo.l787.

41. Cursory Criticisms on the Edition of Shak- speare, published by Edmund Malone. By Mr. Ritson. 8vo. 1792.

42. Specimen of a Commentary on Shakspeare; con- taining, 1. Notes on As You Like It ; 2. An Attempt to explain and illustrate various Passages on a new Principle of Criticism, derived from Mr. Locke's Doc- trine of the Association of Ideas. By the Rev. Walter Whiter. 8vo. 1794.

43. An Apology for the Believers in the Shakspeare- papers, which were exhibited in Norfolk Street. Lon- don. (By Geo. Chalmers.) 8vo. 1797.

44. A Supplemental Apology for the Believers in the Shakspeare-papers ; being a Reply to Mr. Malone's Answer, which was early announced, but never pub- lished ; with a Dedication to George Stevens, F.R.S. S. A. and a Postscript to T. J. Mathias, F.R.S. S.A. the Author of the Pursuits of Literature. By George Chalmers, F.R.S. S.A. 8vo. 1799.

45. Comments on the Commentators of Shakspeare, with preliminary Observations on his Genius and Writ- ings, and on the Labours of those who have endeavoured to elucidate them. By Henry James Pve, London, 8vo. 1807.

34 DETACHED ESSAYS, ETC.

46. An Account of the Incidents from which the Title and Part of the Story of Shakspeare's Tempest were derived, and its true Date ascertained. By Edmund Malone. London. 1808. This pamphlet was not published j only eighty copies of it were printed and distributed by the Author.

47. Remarks on Shakspeare's Tempest: containing an Investigation of Mr. Malone's. Attempt to ascertain the Date of that Play, and various Notes and Illustra- tions of abstruse Readings and Passages. By Charles Dirrill, Esq. (i. e. Richard Sill.) 8vo. 1797.

48. Comments on the Plays of Beaumont and Fletcher: with an Appendix, containing some further Observa- tions on Shakspeare, extended to the late Edition of Malone and Sleevens. By the Right Honourable J. Monck Mason. 8vo. 1798

49. The Shaksperian Miscellany. Bv F. G. Waldron. 4to. 1802.

50. Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of ancient Man- ners ; with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspeare; on the Collection of popular Tales, entitled Gesta Romanorutn ; and on the English Morris Dance. By PVancis Douce. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1807.

51. An Examination of the Charges maintained by Messrs. Malone, Chalmers, and others, of Ben Johnson's Enmity towards Shakspeare. By O. Gilchrist. 8vo.

52. A Letter to the Rev. Richard Farmer, D.D. relative to the Edition of Shakspeare, published in 1790, and some late Criticisms on that Work. By Ed- mund Malone, Esq. 8vo. 1792.

53. Remarks, critical, conjectural, and explanatory, upon the Plays of Shakspeare ; resulting from a Col- lation of the early Copies with that of Johnson and Steevens, edited by Isaac Reed, Esq. Together with some valuable Extracts from the Manuscripts of the late Right Honourable John Lord Chedworth. By E. H. Seymour. 2 vols. royal 8vo. 1805.

IOAN DEPT

>w,or

L?D!l«&S2

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY