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Arabian Tales: which perhaps not be facient for Jome criticks to prove his ache Arabic! It feems however, at A Fake hould determine the matter." This as Bartolph expreffes it, is a word but I am willing, that the thandart af be fomewhat better afcertained before in be pooled to demonstrative evidence.Upcate ace, I may confider myself as the pro of the commerators: I have removed a deal of ruse, and pointed out to them seat prrels track in the ever-pleating paths of nature. This was necearly a previous inquiry; and I hope I may affume with fome confidence, what one of the £t criticks of the age was pleafed to declare on reading the former edition, that “The queftion is a for ever decided.”

*.* I may juft remark, left they be milken for Errata, that the word Catherine in the 45th page is written, according to the old Orthography for Catharine; and that the parlage in the 48th page is copied from Upton, who improperly calls Harari and Marcellus in Hamlet, "the Centinels.”

ADVERTISEMENT

THE

PREFIXED TO

THIRD EDITION,

1789.

IT may be neceffary to apologize for the republication of this pamphlet. The fact is, it has been for a good while extremely scarce, and fome mercenary publishers were induced by the extravagant price, which it has occafionally borne, to project a new edition without the confent of the author.

A few corrections might probably be made, and many additional proofs of the argument have neceffarily occurred in more than twenty years: fome of which may be found in the late admirable editions of our POET, by Mr. Steevens and Mr. Reed.

But, perhaps enough is already faid on fo light a fubject:-A fubject, however, which had for a long time pretty warmly divided the criticks upon Shakspeare.

ESSAY

ΟΝ THE

LEARNING OF SHAKSPEARE:

ADDRESSED TO

JOSEPH CRADOCK, Esq.

SHA

HAKSPEARE," fays a brother of the craft, " is a vaft garden of criticism:" and certainly no one can be favoured with more weeders gratis. But how often, my dear fir, are weeds and flowers torn up indifcriminately?-the ravaged fpot is replanted in a moment, and a profufion of critical thorns thrown over it for fecurity.

"A prudent man, therefore, would not venture his fingers amongst them."

Be however in little pain for your friend, who regards himself fufficiently to be cautious :-yet he afferts with confidence, that no improvement can be expected, whilft the natural foil is mistaken for a hot-bed, and the natives of the banks of Avon are fcientifically choked with the culture of exoticks.

2 Mr. Seward, in his Preface to Beaumont and Fletcher, 10 Vols. 8vo. 1750.