performance. Errour and inadvertence are imputed, as natural effects, to haste; and even ignorance itself finds a convenient shelter under the pretence of rapidity of composition. A very different fate attends on those works, whose publication, having been long promised and frequently deferred, is supposed to be delayed only to render them by so much the more valuable when they appear, as their appearance may have been procrastinated.

Under this difadvantage lies the present edition of Shakespeare; a poet, who least requires, and most deserves, a comment, of all the writers his age produced. We cannot help thinking it, therefore, a misfortune almost as fingular as his merit, that, among fo many ingenious scholiasts that have employed themselves in elucidating his writings, hardly one of them hath been found in any degree worthy of him. They all seem to have mistaken the route, in which only they could do honour to themselves, or be useful to the reader. Engaged in the piddling tafk of adjusting quibbles, and restoring conundrums, they have neglected the illustration of characters, sentiments and situations. Inftead of afpiring to trim the ruffled bays that have a little obscured his brow, they have been laboriously and servilely employed in brushing the dirt from his shoes. Instead of strewing flowers, and planting fresh laurels, on his tomb, they have been irreve rently trampling down the turf, that had otherwise covered his dust with perpetual verdure. From the present Editor, it is true, we hoped better things. But what shall we say? when he himfelf confeffes, that, as to the poetical beauties or defects of his author, he hath not been very diligent to observe them: having given up this part of his design to chance and caprice.' This is furely a strange conceffion to be made by the author of the propofals for printing this work by fubscription! We were by them given to understand, that the Editor would proceed in a manner very different from his predeceffors; and were encouraged to hope that Shakespeare would no longer be commented on, like a barren or obsolete writer; whose works were of no other ufe than to employ the fagacity of antiquarians and philologers. But perhaps our Editor found the task, of commenting on Shakespeare as a poet, much more difficult than he had conceived it to be. It might found as harsh in the ear of the public, to tax a writer whom it hath so much honoured by its approbation, with want of capacity for writing fuch a commentary, as it doubtless would, in the ears of Dr. Johnson, to hear himself charged with want of application to it, when he acknowledges the great encouragement he has had the honour of receiving for that purpose. We should be very tender, be the occasion what it would, of laying any writer of acknowledged merit under the necessity of pleading guilty either to the charge of ignorance or indolence. But we cannot help fubfcribing to the opinion of a very ingeious critic*, when he affirms, that every writer is justly chargeable with want of knowledge when he betrays it on the fubject he is treating of, let him be ever so capable of treating other subjects, or however justly founded may be his reputation for learning in general. It hath been observed, in some remarks already published + on this occafion, that our Editor's notes, few and exceptionable as they are, lay claim to our admiration, if we reflect on the extreme indolence of the Writer; who is naturally an idler. How far such a plea may be fatisfactory to the purchasers of this edition, we know not; but we have too high an opinion of the Editor's character, to think he will more readily acquiefce under the imputation of ingratitude than under that of incapacity. At the same time, however, we cannot but express our apprehenfions, that every judicious reader, who may accompany us through a fair and impartial review of his preface and commentary, will think, with us, that there are many evident marks of the want of ingenuity or industry in the Com

mentator.

We find little in the first five pages of our Editor's preface, but trite and common-place reflections, on our veneration for antiquity, and on the general talents of Shakespeare; delivered in that pompous style which is so peculiar to himself, and is fo much admired by fome kind of readers. In some places, however, he is less verbose; and then he is generally sensible, instructive and entertaining.

• Shakespeare, says he, is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirrour of manners and of life. His characters are not modified by the customs of particular places, unpractised by the rest of the world; by the peculiarities of studies or professions, which can operate but upon small numbers; or by the accidents of tranfient fashions or temporary opinions: they are the genuine progeny of common humanity, fuch as the world will always supply, and observation will always find. His persons act and speak by the influence of those general paffions and principles by which all minds are agitated, and the whole system of life is continued in motion. In the writings of other poets a character is too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.

It is from this wide extenfion of design that so much instruction is derived. It is this which fills the plays of Shakespeare with practical axioms and domestic wisdom. It was faid of Euripides, that every verse was a precept; and it may be faid of Shakespeare, that from his works may be collected a iystem of civil and oeconomical prudence. Yet his real power is not shewn in

• The author of the Canons of Criticism. James's Chronicle.

U 4

+ In the St.

performance. Errour and inadvertence are imputed, as effects, to haste; and even ignorance itself finds a con shelter under the pretence of rapidity of composition. different fate attends on those works, whose publication, been long promised and frequently deferred, is suppose delayed only to render them by so much the more valuabl they appear, as their appearance may have been procrat

Under this disadvantage lies the present edition of Shake a poet, who least requires, and most deserves, a commen the writers his age produced. We cannot help thin therefore, a misfortune almost as fingular as his meri among fo many ingenious scholiasts that have employec selves in elucidating his writings, hardly one of them ha found in any degree worthy of him. They all feem mistaken the route, in which only they could do ho themselves, or be useful to the reader. Engaged in the tafk of adjusting quibbles, and restoring conundrums, th neglected the illuftration of characters, sentiments and fit Instead of afpiring to trim the ruffled bays that have a l scured his brow, they have been laboriously and servilelyer. in brushing the dirt from his shoes. Instead of strewing and planting fresh laurels, on his tomb, they have been rently trampling down the turf, that had otherwife cou dust with perpetual verdure. From the present Editor, i we hoped better things. But what shall we fay.? when felf confeffes, that, as to the poetical beauties or defec author, he hath not been very diligent to obferve them given up this part of his design to chance and caprice.' furely a strange conceffion to be made by the author of pofal's for printing this work by fubscription! We were given to understand, that the Editor would proceed in a very different from his predeceffors; and were encou hope that Shakespeare would no longer be commented a barren or obsolete writer; whose works were of no than to employ the fagacity of antiquarians and phi But perhaps our Editor found the task, of commenting o speare as a poet, much more difficult than he had concei be. It might found as harsh in the ear of the public, writer whom it hath so much honoured by its approbatio want of capacity for writing fuch a commentary, as it would, in the ears of Dr. Johnson, to hear himself with want of application to it, when he acknowledges t encouragement he has had the honour of receiving for t pose. We should be very tender, be the occasion what i of laying any writer of acknowledged merit under the of pleading guilty either to the charge of ignorance or in But we cannot help fubfcribing to the opinion of a ve pias critic", when he affirms, that every writer is juftly bageable with want of knowledge when he betrays it on the kiyed he is treating of, les ham be ever so capable of treating her fingers or however suitiv founded may be his reputation krising in general It hath been observed, in some remarks katy poithes on this occafion, that our Leitor's notes, few asd eacmimible as they are, lay claim to our admiration, if we med at the extreme indolence of the Writer; who rland. How far fuch a plea may be fatistaciory to the par'the edmon, we know not; but we have tooth 20ger the Editor's character, to think he will more reafaquece under the imputation of ingrattade then unse

apiny. At the fame time, however, we calc ne apprenentions, that everyone w Kapre trout a ar and parts, review of marr. w mns with a that there aτε πώς ο μα letmals of the war of ingenuity of

ble is to ller; he his way, alignant Whatether he r he be ence, let ork unwill al, ion. A it, that propri tra for

fferted,

performance. Errour and inadvertence are imputed, as natural effects, to haste; and even ignorance itself finds a convenient shelter under the pretence of rapidity of compofition. A very different fate attends on those works, whose publication, having been long promised and frequently deferred, is supposed to be delayed only to render them by so much the more valuable when they appear, as their appearance may have been procraftinated.

Under this disadvantage lies the present edition of Shakespeare; a poet, who least requires, and most deserves, a comment, of all the writers his age produced. We cannot help thinking it, therefore, a misfortune almost as fingular as his merit, that, among fo many ingenious scholiafts that have employed themselves in elucidating his writings, hardly one of them hath been found in any degree worthy of him. They all feem to have mistaken the route, in which only they could do honour to themselves, or be useful to the reader. Engaged in the piddling tafk of adjusting quibbles, and restoring conundrums, they have neglected the illustration of characters, sentiments and fituations. Inftead of afpiring to trim the ruffled bays that have a little obscured his brow, they have been laboriously and fervilely employed in brushing the dirt from his shoes. Instead of strewing flowers, and planting fresh laurels, on his tomb, they have been irreve rently trampling down the turf, that had otherwise covered his dust with perpetual verdure. From the present Editor, it is true, we hoped better things. But what shall we fay? when he himfelf confeffes, that, as to the poetical beauties or defects of hi author, he hath not been very diligent to observe them: havin given up this part of his defign to chance and caprice.' This furely a ftrange conceffion to be made by the author of the pre pofals for printing this work by fubscription! We were by the: given to understand, that the Editor would proceed in a mann very different from his predeceffors; and were encouraged hope that Shakespeare would no longer be commented on, I a barren or obsolete writer; whose works were of no other than to employ the sagacity of antiquarians and philolog But perhaps our Editor found the task, of commenting on Sha speare as a poet, much more difficult than he had conceived it be. It might found as harsh in the ear of the public, to ta: writer whom it hath so much honoured by its approbation, w want of capacity for writing fuch a commentary, as it doubt would, in the ears of Dr. Johnson, to hear himself char with want of application to it, when he acknowledges the encouragement he has had the honour of receiving for that pose. We should be very tender, be the occasion what it wo of laying any writer of acknowledged merit under the nece of pleading guilty either to the charge of ignorance or indole But we cannot help fubfcribing to the opinion of a very i