932, Ml76 UC-NRLF 3M5 1674- 10 ^r o SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS : A NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION; BY H. T. HALL, Author of " Shaksperean Fly Leaves" " The Plays of Shaksfiere" " The May Queen" &c. ft Shall we not believe books in print ? " BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, The Night Walker. Act III., s. i. CAMBRIDGE : PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY H. WALLIS, BOOKSELLER, SIDNEY STREET. 1874. PRICE TWO SHILLI SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS: A NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION; BY H. T. HALL, M Author of " Shaksperean Fly Leaves'' "The Plays of Shakspere" " The May Queen " &c. Shall we not believe books in print ? " BEAUMONT & FLETCHER. The Night Walker. Act III., s. i. CAMBRIDGE : PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY H. WALLIS, BOOKSELLER, SIDNEY STREET. 1874. 7J2 NOTE. THE present edition has grown considerably in the course of revision, so much so, that it is double the bulk of its predecessor. It contains notices of Shakspere by his contemporaries and successors ; life, and chronology of his works ; a list of every edition of his works pub- lished in English, the number of separate editions of his plays and poems ; with an account of his progress in Germany and France, together with other information, which it is hoped will prove interesting to Shaksperean readers. July, 1874. 675 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. THESE Statistics have been partly derived from the article Shakspere y to be found in Bonn's Edition of Lawndes' Bibliographer's Manual, from Wilson, Halliwell and Thinn's Shaksperianas, from an article which appeared in the Athenaeum during the year 1864; also from the article Shakspere in Allibone's Dictionary of Authors, from the Catalogue of the Shakspere Memorial Library at Birmingham,* and from a register kept of all editions of Shakspere that have been published since 1 847, and also of all works that have been published relating to Shakspere and the new editions of his Plays published separately. They have been compiled, not to serve the * This is unquestionably the largest and most complete Shak- sperean Library, not only in England, but the world ; and it certainly redounds to the credit of the Birmingham people, who in seeking to do honour to our own and the world's poet, who was a native of their county, they have also done honour to themselves. This Library was first suggested by Mr. Samuel Timmins in 1858, was first publicly advocated by Mr. George Dawson in 1861, and was finally established on April 23rd, 1864, when an address, with a deed of gift of a great number of Shaksperean volumes, were accepted by the Mayor (Mr. William Holliday), on behalf of the Town and Corporation. "The Library now, December 1872, contains 4,713 vols., of which the English number 3,109; French, 226; German, 1,125 ; Bohemian, 37 ; Danish, 60 ; Dutch, 53 ; Frisian, 2 ; Greek (modern), 2 ; Hungarian, 12 ; Italian, 43 ; Polish, 5 ; Russian, 13 ; Spanish, 2 ; Swedish, 22 ; Wallachian, i ; Welsh, i." 6 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. purpose of the book-hunter as to the monetary value of scarce editions, for the prices of none of the editions are given, excepting the first four folios and some of the early quarto editions, but they have been compiled for the use of the general reader, to show, by the number of editions, the immense popularity of Shakspere's writings. But few persons are aware of the numerous editions which have been published, the number of works written upon Shakspere, and the extent and variety of languages in which his works have been translated. The follow- ing statistics will give the desired information upon each and all of these points ; the number of editions being brought down to the middle of the year 1874, and the numerous works on Shakspere, and in elucidation of his works during the last few years have been also added to the number of Shaksperiana. No fairer way can be devised of judging of an author's popularity, than by taking the number of editions which have been published of his works, and the works which have appeared, seeking critically to explain and illustrate the meaning of his writings. If this test is applied to Shakspere, we shall find him above all other authors. Supreme amongst human kind stands the Titan of Stratford. Not in his own country alone, -but "the wide world" is fully cognizant of his worth, for in almost all European languages, and even in some , 2 .. .. 3175 Richard III. . . . . . . 3609 Henry VIII. . . . . 2806 Troilus and Cressida . . . . 3329 Coriolanus . . . . 3285 Titus Andronicus .. .. 2517 32 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Romeo and Juliet . . . . 2982 Julius Csesar . . . . 2436 Timon of Athens , . . . 2289 Macbeth . . . . . . 2093 Hamlet . . . . . . 3661 King Lear . . . . . . 3208 Othello . . . . . . 3229 Antony and Cleopatra .. .. 3014 Cymbeline . . - . . . . 3265 Pericles .. .. .. 2329 Venus and Adonis . . . . 1194 The Rape of Lucrece . . . . 1855 The Sonnets .. .. 2156 A Lover's Complaint . . . . 329 The Passionate Pilgrim . . . . 442 The Phcenix and the Turtle . . 67 108,016 The tragedy of Hamlet contains the greatest number of lines, 3661 ; Richard III. the next greatest number, 3609. The Comedy of Errors contains the least number, 1752. The longest act in any of the plays is found in Richard III., the first act containing 1061 lines. The longest scene is in Love's Labour Lost, scene II., act 2, containing 918 lines. 33 DATE OF THE PLAYS WHEN FIRST PRINTED. 1594. Henry VL, part 2. 1595. Henry VI., part 3. 1597. Romeo and Juliet. Richard II. Richard III. 1598. Love's Labour Lost. Henry IV., part i. 1599. Henry IV., part 2. 1600. Henry V. The Merchant of Venice. Titus Adronicus. Much Ado about Nothing. A Midsummer Night's Dream. 1602. The Merry Wives of Windsor. 1603. Hamlet. 1605. King Lear. 1609. Troilus and Cressida. Pericles. 1622. Othello. 1623. The following were first printed in the collected edition of Hemings and Condall : All's Well that Ends Well ; Antony and Cleopatra ; As You Like It ; Comedy of Errors ; Coriolanus ; Cymbeline ; Henry VI., part i ; Henry VIII. ; Julius Caesar ; King John ; Macbeth ; Measure for Measure ; The Taming of the Shrew ; The Tempest ; Timon of Athens ; Twelfth Night ; Two Gentlemen of Verona ; and The Winter's Tale. I 34 ) THE FOUR FOLIOS AND THE EARLY QUARTO EDITIONS* WITH THEIR RELATIVE VALUES. THE FIRST EDITION, 1623. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Published according to the true original copies. London : Printed for Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, folio, price i . This edition contains 36 plays, for Pericles was not printed in any collected edition until the third. The price of this volume has materially increased since the commencement of the present century. During the latter half of the eighteenth century some 20 copies or more were sold by auction, realising prices ranging from 1 8 to 50. Most of these copies were wanting in some little particular, such as a perfect title, the verses of Ben Jonson, or, occasionally, the last leaf, which was supplied in fac-simile. One fine and perfect copy was sold for ^85, which, when re-sold in 1847 produced 155- Within the last twenty years the price has gone up con- siderably, and sums, varying from ^250 to ^400 have been paid for a fine, tall copy. The highest price ever given for this precious volume was at the sale of Mr. George Daniel's Shakspere library, in August, 1864, when his copy fetched ,716, and was bought for Miss Burdett Coutts, now Baroness Burdett Coutts. This copy was said to be a marvellous volume of unrivalled beauty, and unquestionably the finest one that had been offered for sale. At the sale of the Earl of Charlemont's SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 35 library by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, in 1865, a fi ne copy of this edition, with the exception of the last figure in the date of the title, was knocked down to Mr. Ellis, the bookseller, for ^455. THE SECOND EDITION, 1632. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Published according to the true ori- ginal copies. The second impression. London : printed by Thomas Cotes, for Robert Allot, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Black Beare, in St. Paule's Churchyard, folio. In the printing of this edition there were several booksellers mixed up with the transaction, so that each one had separate titles worked off with their own names, thus accounting for the various publishers who had a place on the title, such as Hawkins, Smethwick, Aspley and others. The price of copies of this edition is steadily rising. The great demand for the early folios by Shaksperean critics at home, and also the demand which has arisen among the Americans, who hold the works of Shakespere in very high estimation, combined with the inevitable wear of time, has effected a great change. Good copies thirty years ago could be purchased at prices varying from ^10 to ^20, but now a fine copy would fetch at least ,50, and it is not an unfrequent occurrence to find that price set to a copy in a bookseller's catalogue. In 1 848, Mr. Thorpe bought a copy at Neville Holt's sale, which he sold to Mr. George Daniel, at whose sale in 1864 it fetched the remarkable sum of ^148. THE THIRD EDITION, 1663-4. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and 6 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Tragedies. Published according to the true original copies. The third impression. London : printed for P. C., folio. This edition contains seven more plays than the first or second folios, both those editions omitting Pericles and the six plays now received as spurious, viz. : The London Prodigal ; The History of Thomas, Lord Cromwell ; Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham ; The Puritan Widow; A Yorkshire Tragedy ; and the Tragedy of Locrine. Two distinct impressions exist of this edition, the one bearing date 1663, without the seven plays, printed for Philip Chetwinde, and the other bearing date 1664. Copies of this edition are said to be very scarce, owing to a large number being destroyed in the great fire of London ; but this statement is by no means universally believed in. Some of the variations which occur in the text of this edition, have been attributed to Ben. Jonson and John Milton, but this is purely conjecture. Formerly copies of this edition could be bought for j or ^8, till within the last twelve years, and now a good perfect copy is worth at least 40. Mr. Daniel's copy, a very good one, at his sale realized THE FOURTH EDITION, 1685. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies, published according to the true original copies. Unto which is added seven plays, never before printed, in folio, viz. : Pericles, Prince of Tyre. The London Prodigal. The History of Thomas, Lord Cromwell. Sir John Oldecastle, Lord Cobham. The Puritan Widow. A Yorkshire Tragedy. The Tragedy of Locrine. London : printed for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, R. Chiswell and R. Bentley, at the Anchor, SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 37 in the New Exchange ; the Crane, in St. Paul's Church- yard ; and in Russell Street, Covent Garden. This edition is but a reprint of the third, with this difference, that it is distinguished by a greater number of errors in its text and by its title. The original portrait of Shakspere was used for this edition, being re-touched, and was printed on a leaf preceding the title with the verses of Ben. Jonson placed below it. Like the other folio editions, this one has also rose in price, for twenty years ago copies could be bought for 4. or ^5. which would now be asked 16. to 20. for. Mr. Daniel's copy at his sale realized 20. IDS. " The Tragedie of King Richard the Second, as it hath beene publicly acted, by the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlaine, his seruants." First edition, 4to., 1598, was sold at Mr. Daniel's sale for 351. 5$.* A copy of the second edition, the same year, fetched 108. 3*. " The Tragedie of King Richard the Third, containing his treacherous plots against his brother Clarence ; the pittieful murder of his innocent nephews ; his tyrannical usurpation, with the whole course of his detested life and most deserved death. As it hath beene lately acted by the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants." First edition, 4to., 1597. Only two or three perfect copies known. "A Pleasant Concerted Comedie, called Love's La- bor's Lost, as it was presented before her Highness this last Christmas, newly corrected and augmented by W. Shakespere." The first edition, 4to., 1598. The finest copy known ^346. los. "The History of Henrie the Fourth, with the * The prices given for each copy are those realized at Mr. George Daniel's sale, in 1864, unless otherwise specified. 38 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Battell at Shrewsburie betweene the King and Lord Henry Percy, surnamed Henry Hotspur of the North, with the humororous conceits of Sir John Falstaffe," 4to., 1598. A copy of the second edition, 4to., 1599, 115. los. " The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, continuing to his death, and Coronation of Henrie the Fifth, with the humours of Sir John Falstaffe, and swaggering Pistoll. As it hath been sundrie times publicly acted by the right honourable, the Lorde Chamberlaine, his seruants." The first edition, 4to.,^4O. "The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet, as it hath bene sundry times pub- liquely acted, by the Right Hon. the Lord Chamber- laine, his seruants." The first complete edition, 4to., 1599, 52. xos. "The Chronicle History of Henry the Fifth, with his Battell fought at Agin Court in France, togither with Auntient Pistoll, as it hath beene sundry times played by the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlaine, his seruants." The first edition, 4to., 1 600, ; 23 1 . "The Most Excellent Historic of the Merchant of Venice, with the extreame crueltie of Shylocke, the Jew, towards the sayd merchant, in cutting a just pound of his flesh, and the obtayning of Portia by the choyse of three chests. As it hath beene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine, his seruants." The first edition, a very fine copy, 4to., 1600, ,94. IQS. " Much Adoe about Nothing, as it hath been sundrie times publicly acted by the Lord Chamberlaine, his ser- uants." The first edition, 4to., 1600,^267. 15^. "The Midsommer Night's Dreame, as it hath beene sundry times publickely acted by the Lord Chamberlaine, his seruants." The first edition, 4to., 1600, ^241. 10^. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 39 A second edition of the above, printed by James Roberts, and published in the same year, 4to., 36. "A most pleasant and excellent conceited Comedie of Syr John Falstaffe and the Merrie Wives of Windsor, entermixed with sundrie variable and pleasing humours of Syr Hugh, the Welch Knight, Justice Shallow, and his wise cousin, Mr. Slender. With the swaggering vaine of Auncient Pistoll and Corporall Nym. As it hath bene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants, both before Her Majestie and elsewhere." The first edition, 4to., 1602,^346. los. Only three perfect copies are known to exist of this Comedy in the original state that it was placed before her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle. " The True Chronicle Historic of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters, with the vn- fortunate life of Edgar, sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humour of Tom of Bedlam. As it was played before the King's Majestie at Whitehall, vpon S. Stephan's night in Christmas Hollidayes, by his Majestie's seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe on the Banckside." The first edition, 4to., 1608,^29. &s. " The late and much admired Play, called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. With the true relation of the whole History, Adventures, and Fortunes of the said Prince ; as, also, the no lesse strange and worthy accidents in the birth and life of his daughter Mariana, as it hath bene divers and sundry times acted by his Majestie's seruants, at the Gloabe, on the Banckside." The first edition, 4to., 1609,^84. "The Famous History of Troylus and Cresseid. Excellently expressing the beginning of their loves, with 40 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. the concerted wooing of Pandarus of Licia." 77/6' first edition, 4to., 1609,^114. gs. "The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. As it hath beene diverse times acted by his Highnesse servants in the Cittie of London ; as also in the two Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford, and elsewhere." The first edition, 4to., 1 603, 1 20. This copy was bought by Mr. HalliwelL of Mr. Boone, a bookseller in Dublin, and it is wanting in the title- page. But one other copy is known to be in existence, and that is in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire. This copy is wanting in the last leaf. " The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much again as it was, according to the true and perfect copy." The fifth edition, 4to., 1611,^28. 75. "The most lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus. As it hath sundry times beene playde by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembroke, the Earle of Darbie, the Earle of Sussex, and the Lord Chamber- laine, their seruants." The second edition, 4to., 1611. A second copy of the third edition at Mr. Daniel's sale fetched ^3 1. los. " The Tragedy of Othello, the Moore of Venice, as it hath beene diverse times, acted at the Globe, and at the Blackfriers, by his Maiesties servants." The first edition, 4to., 1622, 155. " Venus and Adonis," the second edition, 4to., 1594, 240. The third edition, 4to., 1 596, 3 1 5 . "Lucrece," the first edition, 4to., 157. ios. "The Sonnets," the first edition, 4to., ^225. 15^. "The Passionate Pilgrim," i6mo., 1599. But one copy is known to be in existence, and that is among the SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 41 Capell collection. Of the second edition no copy is known. In 1612 a third edition was printed by W. Jaggard, in i6mo., to which was added "Two Love Epistles, the first from Paris to Hellen, and Hellen answere backe againe to Paris." THE OTHER COLLECTED EDITIONS. Rowe's, 7 vols., 8vo., plates . . . . 1709 Unfortunately the text of this edition is based upon the fourth folio, the worst text of all the folios, nor did Rowe correct but very few of its errors. To this edition Rowe prefixed a life of Shakspere, with an account of his writings. The seventh volume contains the Poems, with Critical Remarks upon each of the plays ; to which also is prefixed an Essay on the Art, Rise, and Progress of the Stage in Greece, Rome, and England, by C. Gildon. Rowe's, 9 vols., 1 2mo., second edition y plates 1714 Volume nine contains the same matter in this edition as volume seven of the first. Pope's, 6 vols., 4to. .. .. .. 1723-25 To this edition a seventh volume was added, with the following title: "The Works of Mr. William Shakespear. The seventh volume containing Venus and Adonis, Tarquin and Lucrece, and Mr. Shakespear's Miscellany Poems. To which is prefix'd, An Essay on the Art, Rise, and Progress of the Stage, in Greece, Rome, and England. And a Glossary of the Old Words us'd in these Works. The whole Revis'd and Corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell. London : Printed by Darby for Bettesworth." Pope's, second edition, iovols., i2mo., plates 1728 Pope's, third edition, 9 vols., 1 8mo., plates . . 1731 Theobald's, 7 vols., &vo. y plates . . . . 1733 The plates to this edition are very curious and valuable, for they display the costume of the period and the mode of dressing the characters upon the stage. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 43 Pope's, fourth edition, 8 vols., 121110., plates . . i?35 Theobald's, second edition, 8 vols., i2mo., plates 1740 Hanmer's, 6 vols., 4to., plates 1740 The text of Hanmer's edition is based upon that of Pope's, and it is even more wild in its conjectural criticism. Hanmer's, second edition, 6 vols., 4to., plates . . 1 743 Hanmer's, third edition, 6 vols., 4to. 1744-46 Hanmer's,/^;'/^ edition, 6 vols., 8vo. . . 1745 Hanmer's, fifth edition, 9 vols., i8mo., plates . . 1747 Warburton's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . .. 1747 The text of this edition, like that of Hanmer's, is also based upon that of Pope's, and is of but little value from a critical point of view. Pope and Warburton's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . 1747 Oxford edition, 8 vols., 241110. . . . . 1747 Hanmer's, sixth edition, 9 vols., i2mo. . . 1748 Hanmer's, seventh edition, 9 vols., i2mo. . . 1750-51 Theobald's, third edition, 8 vols., i2mo., plates 1752 Theobald's, fourth edition, 8 vols., I2mo. t plates 1752 Blair's, 8 vols., 1 2mo. .. . .. 1753 Hanmer's, eighth edition, 9 vols., i8mo. . . 1760 Blair's, 8 vols., 1 2mo. .. .. .. 1761 Theobald's, fifth edition, 8 vols., \2rnv., plates 1762 Johnson's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1765 With this edition appeared Johnson's ponderous preface for the first time. At the date of its publication it was universally admired and looked upon as a remarkable effort of Shaksperean criticism. Its popularity has now passed away, for the learned doctor evidently by his work misunderstood the poet, nor had he shaken off the trammels of the classic school. There is but little in the preface to compensate the reader for his trouble. Pope's, fifth edition, 8 vols., i2mo. . . 1766 Johnson's, second edition, i o vols., 8 vo. .. 1766 44 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Theobald's, sixth edition, 8 vols., 121110., plates 1767 Edinburgh, 10 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1767 Capell's, 10 vols., crown 8vo. . . . . 1767 The text of this edition is said to be printed from that of the first folio and the quartos, for the title runs " Mr. William Shakspere, his Comedies, Histories and Tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players in folio, and now faithfully republished from these editions, in 10 volumes, octavo ; with an Introduction. Whereunto will be added in some other volumes, Notes, critical and explanatory, and a body of various readings, entire, by E. Capell." These notes and readings were not published till the year 1779, when they were brought out in quarto. Hartshorne thus remarks on Capell's Introduction: "There is not even among the various publications of the present literary era, a more singular composition than this Introduction. Its style and manner is actually more obsolete and antique than that of the age of which it treats. Taken in com- bination with the title-page, it gives us, however, a perfect index to the contents of the work : and it began to rouse the attention of scholars, and to interest them in Shaksperean studies." Pope's, sixth edition, 9 vols., 12 mo. . . 1768 Johnson's,* second- edition, 8 vols., 8vo. .. 1768 * The prices which the London booksellers have paid to the dif- ferent editors of Shakspere are not generally known. Up to the date of the second edition of Johnson, the prices prove that the poet had enriched those who had impoverished him. Mr. Rowe was paid . . . . ^36 10 o Hughes 2870 Pope 217 12 o Fenton . . . . . . 30 14 o Gay 35 17 6 Whalley , . . . . . 12 o o Theobald . . . . . . 652 10 o Warburton . . . . . . 560 o o Capel .... ,, .. 300 o o Dr. Johnson, ist edition .. .. 375 o o 2nd edition .. ., .. 100 o o ^2348 10 6 Besides this amount very considerable sums have been paid to critics without criticism, and commentators without a name. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 45 Blair's, 8 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1769 Balfour's, 8 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1769 Hanmer's, ninth edition, 6 vols., 4to., plates . . 1770 Blair's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1771 Ewing's, 7 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1771 Theobald's, seventh edition, 12 vols., 12 mo. . . 1772 Theobald's, eighth edition, 12 vols., i2mo. . . N.D. Theobald's, ninth edition, 8 vols., i2mo., plates 1773 Johnson and Steevens, 10 vols., 8vo. . . 1773 " This edition, in which were united the native powers of Dr. Johnson, with the activity, sagacity, and antiquarian learning of George Stevens, superseded all previous editions and became the standard for future editors and publishers." Bell's, Stage Edition, with scene and character plates, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1777-75 This edition is said to be "the worst ever published " ; never- theless it had more success than any of its predecessors, 8,000 copies being sold in one week. It was edited by the authors of the Dramatic Censor, and contained Notes, Illustrative and Critical, and an Essay on Oratory and Dramatic Performances. Bell's, 9 vols., 12 mo., plates .. .. 1774 Johnson and Steevens, second edition, 10 vols., 8vo. 1778 Bathurst's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1778-80 Ayscough's, royal 8vo. .. .. .. 1784 Johnson and Steevens', third edition, edited by Reed, 10 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1785 Nicols', 7 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1786 Rann's, 6 vols., 8vo. .. . . . . 1786-94 Bell's, second edition, n vols., i8mo., with scene and character plates .. .. 1786-8 t Sell's, third edition, 20 vols., i8mo., with scene and character plates .. .. 1788 Vyscough's, 2 vols., royal 8vo. . . 1790 46 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Malone's, 10 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1790 This edition was reputed to be the best at the time of its pub- lication. It contained the corrections and illustrations of other commentators who had preceded Malone. The text was carefully revised from the most authentic copies. It also contained an essay on the chronological order of Shakspere's plays ; an essay relative to Shakspere and Ben Jonson ; a dissertation on the three parts of King Henry VI., and an historical account of the English Stage. The reputation which Malone acquired in his time of being a careful and painstaking editor, if not a brilliant one, has been briskly attacked by Dr. Symonds, a recent biographer of Shakspere. The learned doctor says of Malone, " Neither the indulgent fancy of Pope, nor the fondness for innovation in Hanmer, nor the arrogant and head- long self-confidence of Warburton, has inflicted such cruel wounds on the text of Shakspere as the assuming dulness of Malone. Bar- barism and broken rhythm dog him at the heels wherever he treads." Bellamy and Harrison's, 8 vols., 8vo., plates . . 1791 Ayscough's, 2 vols., royal 8vo. . . . . 1792 Johnson and Steeven's, fourth edition, edited by Reed, 15 vols., 8vo. .. .. .. 1793 Malone's, 10 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1794 Blair's, 8 vols., 8vo., Edinburgh .. . . 1795 Blair's, 8 vols., 8vo., Glasgow .. . . 1795 Johnson's, Philadelphia, first American edition, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1 795-6 Bellamy and Robert's, 8 vols., 8vo., with 74 character and scenic engravings and 6 allegorical plates, by various artists . . 1796 Edinburgh, 8 vols., 1 2 mo. .. .. 1797 Robinson's, 7 vols., imperial 8vo. .. .. 1797 Longman's, 6 vols., 8vo. .. .. .. 1797 Steevens', 8 vols., i2mo. .. .. .. 1797 Nichols', 9 vols., i8mo. .. .. .. 1798 Ogilvie's, 9 vols., i2mo. .. .. .. 1798 Baldwin's, 9 vols., 1 2mo. .. .. .. 1798 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 47 Nichols', with prefaces to each play, 9 vols., i2mo., . . . . . . 1798 Reed's, Basel's, 23 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1799 Brunswick, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1799 with prefaces to each play, 9 vols., i8mo. . . . . . . . . 1800 Bensley and Harding's, plates, by T. Stothard, R.A., 12 vols., i8mo. . . . . 1800 Sharpens, miniature edition, 9 vols., 241110. . . 1800 Reed's, with 'woodcuts, 12 vols., i2mo. . . 1800 Zurich, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1801 Boydell's, illustrated, 9 vols., atlas folio, 2 vols. of plates extra .. ,. .. 1802 This edition is illustrated by 101 engravings from pictures of the most eminent British artists of the period. The brushes of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Fuseli, Romney, Northcote, Smirke, Peters, Hodges, Hamilton, Stothard and others were employed in the designs for this edition. A smaller edition in folio, the plates reduced to a corresponding size, was afterwards published. Boydell's, small folio, 9 vols., plates . . 1802 Johnson and Stevens', fifth edition, edited by Reed, 21 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1803 Sharpe's, 9 vols., 241110. . . . . . . 1803 Steevens', Glossarial Notes, 20 vols., 8vo. . . 1803 Johnson and Steevens', 9 vols., i2mo. . . 1803 Scholey's, with woodcuts, by Thurston, 10 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1804 Bell's, 20 vols., i8mo., plates . . . . 1804 Steevens', Leipzig, 20 vols., i2mo. . . 1804 Turnbull, Edinburgh, 9 vols., i2mo. . . 1804 Chalmers', 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1805 Chalmers', 10 vols., i8mo. .. .. 1805 Miller's, Edinburgh, 2 vols., royal 8vo. . . 1806 48 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Manley Wood's, 14 vols., 8vo., illustrated with 72 plates . . . . . . . . 1806 Ayscough's, third edition, 2 vols., royal 8vo. 1807 Scholey's, second edition, woodcuts, 10 vols., 8vo. 1807 Ballantyne's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1807 Stockdale's, 6 vols., 4to. . . . . . . 1807 A reprint of the first folio . . . . 1 807 This edition was printed by J. Wright, St. John's Square, London, and the paper was made specially, having the word " Shakespeare" in the water-mark, in addition to the maker's name and the date (1806). Crutwell's, 4 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1807 Boston, U.S,, 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1807 Longman's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1807 Reed's, Philadelphia, 17 vols., 8vo. . . 1807 Reed's, Hood and Vernor, 12 vols., i2mo., wood- cuts . . . . . . . . 1809 Sharpe's, 9 vols., 241110. . . . . . . 1810 Chalmers', 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1 8 1 1 Chalmers', Glossarial Notes, 10 vols., i8mo. . . 1811 Reed's, Cowrie and Co., 12 vols., i2mo. . . 1811 Steevens', 8 vols., i2mo. . . . . 1811 Walker's, 8 vols., i2mo. . . . . 1811 Reed's, 9 vols., 1 2 mo. .. .. .. 1811 Steevens', Nichols and Son, 8 vols., 241110., il- lustrated with 1 6 engravings after T. Uwins 1 8 1 1 Chalmers', 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1812 Reed's, Tegg, 12 vols., i2mo. ,//#/? .. 1812-15 Johnson, Steevens, Reed and Malone's, 2 1 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1813 Reed's, Boston, U.S., 6 vols., i2mo. . . 1813 Reed's, Cowie, 12 vols,, 12 mo. . . . . 1814 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 49 Steevens', Vienna, 20 vols., i2mo. . . 1814 Whittingham, 7 vols., i8mo., with 230 woodcuts by Thurston . . . . . . 1814 Malone's, 16 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1816 Reed's, Edinburgh, 9 vols., i2mo. . . 1817 Reed's, New York, 10 vols., i2mo. . . 1817 Chalmers', 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1818 Rowe's, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1818 Whittingham's, 7 vols., i8mo., woodcuts . . 1818 Whittingham's, 9 vols., i8mo. . . . . 1818 Bowdler's, Family Edition, 10 vols., i8mo. . . 1818 This is the first complete edition of Shakspere's works in which those words and expressions are omitted which might cause pain or embarrassment while reading aloud to the family circle. The Quar- terly Review thus speaks of the merits of this edition : " Among the most extraordinary attempts at moral improvement, none, perhaps, is better calculated to excite a sarcastic smile than the publication of a " Family Shakspere," from which all objectionable passages are expunged. This is Jack tearing off the lace from Lord Peter's coat, with a vengeance." Bowdler's, 8vo. . . . . ... 1818 Rowe's, with Life, 8vo. . . . . . . 1819 Reed's, Hurst, i2mo. . . . . . . 1819 Reed's, Hurst, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1819 Allason's, 9 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1819 Bowdler's, Family Edition, *io vols., i8mo. . . 1820 Bowdler's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1820 Bell's, 20 vols., i8mo. . . . . . . 1820 Reed's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1820 Johnson, Steevens, Reed and Malone's, seventh edition, edited by Boswell, 21 vols., 8vo. 1821 Black and Go's., 3 vols., i2mo., vignettes . . 1821 Reed's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1821 Bowdler's, Family Edition, 8 vols., 8vo. . . 1822 o 50 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Bowdler's, ditto, 10 vols., i2mo. . . . . 1822 Pickering's, 9 vols., 48010. , plates after Stothard 1822 Mason's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1822 Chalmer's, 8 vols., 8vo., plates . . . . 1823 Steeven's, 10 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1823 Johnson and Steevens, 9 vols., i8mo., Thurstoris illustrations . . . . . . 1823 Steevens', 8vo. . . . . . . 1823 Whittingham's, i2mo. . . . . 1823 Sherwin's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1823 Mason's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1823 Reed's, 12 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1823 Johnson's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1823 Steevens', 10 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1824 Wheeler's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1824 Harness', 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1825 Harvey's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . 1825 Singer's, n vols., 8vo. . . . . 1825 Bowdler's, 10 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1825 Pickering's, 9 vols., 48mo., plates after Stothard 1825 Pickering's, foolscap 8vo., plates after Stothard 1825 Balne's, 8vo., woodcuts .. .. 1825 Reed's, 8 vo., woodcuts .. .. .. 1825 Chalmers', 8vo. .. . .. 1826 Chalmers', 8 vols., 8vo. .. . . 1826 Singer's, 10 vols., foolscap 8vo., 60 woodcuts . . 1826 Steevens', 8 vo. .. .. .. 1826 Steevens', Leipzig, royal 8vo., with Life by Skottowe .. .. .. 1826 Sir W. Scott's, Constable, 8vo., vols. 2, 3 and 4 1826 The above volumes are in the Public Library at Boston, United States, and they form part of an edition of Shakspere's works, which Sir Walter Scott, in 1822, undertook to edit at the suggestion of SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 51 Constable, his publisher. The edition was to have been in twelve or fourteen volumes, only three of which were printed before the failure of the great house of Constable took place. The sheets of these volumes were afterwards sold in London for waste paper. The in- troductory volume upon which the labours of Sir Walter were to be principally confined was never printed. These volumes have no title pages nor general introduction. The second volume contains The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors, Love* s Labour Lost, and The Merchant of Venice; the third, A Midsummer Nighfs Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, As you. Like //and Much Ado about Nothing ; the fourth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure, All's Well that Ends Well, and Twelfth Night. Bowdler's, 8 vols , 8vo. . . . . .. 1827 Wheeler's, 8 vo. .. .. ., 1827 Tegg's, 8vo., 1827 .. .. .. 1827 Carpenter's, 8 vols., i2mo., vignettes . . 1827 Steevens', Philadelphia, 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1828 Whittingham's, 8 vols., 321110., vignettes . . 1828 Whittingham's, 12 mo., woodctits . . . . 1828 Bowdler's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1828 Singer's, Frankfort, 10 vols., i2mo. .. 1828 Wheeler's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . . . 1829 Reed's, Frankfort, 8vo. . . . . . . 1830 Whittingham's, i2mo., woodcuts . . . . 1830 Tieck's, Leipzig, royal 8vo. . . . . 1830 Harness', 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1830 Wheeler's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . . . 1830 Pickering's, i2mo. . . . . . . 1831 Reed's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1831 Bowdler's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . . . 1831 Bowdler's, New York, 8vo. . . . . N.D. Johnson and Steevens', 8vo. .. .. 1831 Johnson and Steevens', i2mo. . . . . 1831 Wheeler's, 8 vo., plates .. .. .. 1832 Jones', with Rowe's Preface and Life, 8vo. . . 1832 52 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Steevens', 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1832 Valpy's, Cabinet Edition, 15 vols., foolscap 8vo., 171 illustrations . . . . . . 1832 The text of this edition is a very faulty one. Chalmers', 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1833 Harness', imperial 4to., plates . . . . 1833 Wivell's, royal 8vo., plates . . . . N.D. Wheeler's, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1833 Scott's, 8 vols., 8vo., plates . . . . 1833 Harness', Select Notes, &c., 8 vols , 8vo. . . 1833 Reed's, with Supplement by Tieck, imperial 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1833 Singer's, Halle, 10 vols., 1 2 mo. .. 1833 Wheeler's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1834 Clark's, Magnet edition, 5 vols., i8mo. . . 1834 Singer's, New York, 2 vols., 8vo., woodcuts . . 1834 Johnson's, medium 8vo. . . . . . . 1835 Reed's, Paris, 8vo. . . . . . . 1835 Conner's, New York, 8vo., woodcuts . . 1835 Valpy's, Cabinet Edition, 15 vols., foolscap 8vo., 171 illustrations . . . . . . 1835 Harness', 8vo., 40 plates .. .. .. 1835 Tegg's, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1836 Tilt's, 1 2 mo., illustrations . . . . . . 1836 Cunningham's, 1 2mo. ,//#/&$ .. .. 1836 Chalmers', 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1837 Symon's, Leipzig, royal 8vo., 270 woodcuts . . 1837 Symon's, Berlin, 8vo,, 60 plates .. .. 1837 Mason's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1837 Reed's, 8vo., plates . . . . . . 1837 Chalmers', 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1838 Campbell's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1838 Shortrede's, Edinburgh, 1 2mo., plates .. 1838 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 53 Longman's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1838 Tilt's, 8 vols., 3 2 mo., woodcuts . . . . N.D. Symons', Berlin, 8 vols., 321110. . . . . 1838 Harness', 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1838 Reed's, %\o., plates . . . . . . 1838 Knight's Pictorial, 8 vols., royal 8vo., with illustrations, historical and topographical 1838-43 The text of this edition is founded upon the first folio, to which Mr. Knight was too exclusively attached. At the date of its pub- lication, it was, however, looked upon as being the best edition published. It was enriched with illustrations, a Life of Shakspere, the whole of the doubtful Plays, and a History of opinion relative to Shakspere. The object of its editor was to produce an edition, " That should address itself t the popular understanding in a spirit of enthusiastic love, and not of captious and presumptuous cavel- ling ; with a sincere zeal for the illustration of the text, rather than a desire to parade the stores of useless learning ; and offering a sober and liberal examination of conflicting opinions among the host of critics, in the hope of unravelling the perplexed, clearing up the obscure, and enforcing the beautiful, instead of prolonging those fierce and ridiculous controversies, which, always offensive, are doubly disagreeable in connexion with the works of the most tolerant and expansive mind that ever lifted us out of the region of petty hostilities and prejudices." Knight's Original Prospectus. Bogue's, 8 vols., 32mo., woodcuts . . 1839 Maunder's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1859 Fisher's, 8vo., plates .. .. .. 1839 Barry Cornwall's, illustrated by Kenny Meadows, 3 vols., imperial 8vo. . . . . 1839-43 Valpy's, 15 vols., foolscap 8vo., plates .. 1840 Maunder's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1 840 Chalmer's, Leipzig, royal 8vo. . . 1840 Bonn's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1840 Pierre's, Frankfort, with historical and gram- matical Notes, 8 vols., 12 mo. .. 1840 Whittingham's, i2mo. . . . . 1841 54 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Lewis*, 14 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1841 Glasgow, 8vo. . . . . . . 1841 Glasgow, Bonestein, i2mo. . . . . 1841 Collier's, John Payne, 8 vols., 8vo. . . 1841 This edition contains a History of the Stage to the time of Shakspere, a Life of the Poet, Introductions to each of the plays, notes and new readings. The substance of the notes is derived from preceding editors, whose labours relative to the text have been wholly disregarded by Mr. Collier. The text is partly founded upon the first folio, that volume, for one-half the plays, furnishing the most authentic text, while the other half is derived from a careful examination and collation of the early quartos. Harness', royal 8 vo., 40 plates .. .. 1842 Johnson's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1842 Maunder's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1842 Harness', 8vo. . . . . . . 1842 Knight's Library Edition, 12 vols., 8vo., woodcuts 1842 The text of this edition has the benefit of Mr. Knight's collation of the matchless collection of quarto copies in the Bodleian Library and British Museum. Paris, Baudry, 10 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1842 Reed's, Leipzig, 2 vols., 8vo., steel and wood en- gravings . . . . . . 1842 Schumann, Leipzig, 8 vols., i6mo. .. 1842 Bowdler's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1843 Chittley's, 8vo. .. .. .. 1843 Singer's, Halle, 10 vols., 12 mo. . . 1843 Knight's, Cabinet Edition, n vols., i8mo., with Portraits and other Illustrations . . 1843 Collier's, Leipzig, 7 vols., i8mo. . . 1843 Knight's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . 1844 Peabody's, Boston, U.S., 7 vols., 8vo. . . 1844 Verplanch's, New York, 3 vols., 8vo., woodcuts 1844 Knight's, Cabinet Edition, 1 2 vols., 1 8mo., with Portraits and other Illustrations The last SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 55 volume contains a History of opinion relative to Shakspere . . . . 1844 Chalmer's, i2mo., plates .. .. 1845 Knight's, Pictorial Edition, second edition , 8 vols., royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1845 Stebbing's, royal %vo. y plates .. .. 1845 Pitman's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1845 Chalmer's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1846 Barry Cornwall's, illustrated by Kenny Meadows, second edition, with 36 extra etchings, 3 vols., royal 8vo. . . . . 1846 Orr's, i2mo. . . . . . . . . 1846 Chalmer's, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1847 Bowdler's, royal 8vo. .. .. 1847 Johnson's, Steevens and Malone's, with Glos- sarial Notes, a Sketch of the Author and Introductory Observations to each Play, 8vo. . . . . . . 1847 Nelson's, Edinburgh, 8vo. . . . . 1847 Verplanch's, New York, 3 vols., royal 8vo., woodcuts . . . . . . 1847 Knight's, Standard Edition, 7 vols., 8vo. . . 1847 Steevens', 8vo. . . . . . . 1847 Knight's, Cabinet Edition, 12 vols., i8mo. . . 1847 Routledge's, with Life, by Rowe, 8vo. . . 1848 Campbell's, royal 8vo. . . . . 1848 Chalmers', Diamond Type, i2mo., with 40 outline engravings . . . . 1 848 Steevens', Burns, i2mo. . . . . 1848 Chalmer's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1849 Barry Cornwall's, illustrated by Kenny Meadows, third edition, 3 vols., imperial 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1849 Steevens', Philadelphia, 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1849 56 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Bowdler's, 8vo. .. .. .. Campbell's, royal 8vo. .. .. Steevens', 8vo. . . . . . . HalliwelFs, 4 vols., imperial 8vo., illustrated by i oo plates and photographs .. 1850-51 This edition contains historical and analytical introductions to each play, notes, critical and explanatory, a Life of the Poet, and the text is based upon a careful revision of the original editions. Knight's, National Edition, 6 vols., 8vo., woodcuts 1851 Nelson's, Edinburgh, 8vo. . . . . 1851 Knight's, Cabinet Edition, 12 vols., i8mo. . . 1851 Halliwell's, New York, 8vo. . . . . 1851 Lansdowne's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1851 Steevens', 8vo. . . . . . . 1851 Hudson's, Boston, U.S., n vols., 8vo., vignettes 1851 Phelps', 2 vols., royal 8vo., plates . . 1851 Hazlitt's, 4 vols., i2mo. . . . . 1851 Steevens', Philadelphia, i2mo. . . 1851 Maunders', 8vo. . . . . . . 1851 Johnson's, 8vo. .. .. .. 1851 Nelson's, Edinburgh, 8vo. . . . . 1851 Lembird's, with Life and Notes by Rowe, 8vo., portrait and vignette . . . . . N.D. Smith's, Philadelphia, 8vo., plates . . 1852 Cunningham's, Daly, 12 mo., plates .. 1852 Cunningham's, Daly, 8 vols., 32mo. . . 1852 Bowdler's, 6 vols., i2mo. . . . . 1852 Campbell's, royal 8vo. . . . . 1852 Knight's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1852 Barry Cornwall's, with a part of the illustrations by Kenny Meadow s y 2 vols., imperial 8vo. 1852 Lansdowne's, 8vo., printed in red and black 1852 This, like the Bowdler edition, is an expurgated one, the sup- posed naughty words and sentences being left out by its over delicate editor. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 57 Phelps', illustrated with thirty-eight engravings, by T. H. Nicholson, 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1852 Chalmers', 8vo. .. .. .. 1853 Knight's, National Edition, 6 vols., 8vo., second edition, woodcuts . . . . 1853 Barry Cornwall's, 8vo. . . .. 1853 Bowdler's, 6 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . 1853 Collier's, 8 vols., 8vo, .. .. .. 1853 A supplemental volume was published in the same year to the this edition, containing the Notes and Emendations from early manuscript corrections in a copy of the folio of 1632, in the possession of the editor. These corrections formed the basis of the celebrated Collier controversy, which for some years raged with no small amount of temper and spleen between the disputants. The number of emendations was nearly 20,000, many of them had been made before, and very few were accepted as genuine. Collier's, New York, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1853 Collier's, New York, 8vo. . . . . . . 1853 Collier's, Whittaker, 8vo. .. .. .. 1853 Colliers, Leipzig, 4to. . . . . .. 1853 Simpkins, Halifax, 8vo. .. .. 1853 Bohn's, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1853 Lansdowne, 8vo., printed in black and red . . 1853 Hazlitt's, 5 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1853 The fifth volume contains the doubtful plays. Jewitt's, New York, 8vo. .. .. .. 1853 Halliwell's, 4 vols., imperial 8vo., plates .. 1853 Halliwell's, 15 vols., folio .. .. 1853-61 The text of this edition is formed from a new collation of the early editions, to which is added the original novels and tales on which the plays are founded : copious Archaeological Annotations on each Play, an Essay on the Formation of the Text, and a Life of the Poet. The illustrations are by F. W. Fairholt. Only 150 copies were printed of this edition, some few thereof being proof impressions of the plates on India paper. The plates and blocks were all destroyed after the above number was printed. H 518 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Chalmers, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1854 Dale's, 8 vols., 8vo. .. ,, .. 1854 Delias, Elberfield, 7 vols,, 8vo. . . . . 1854 Philadelphia, 8 vo. .. .. .. 1854 Rowe's, Routledge, 8vo. . . . . . . 1854 Knight's, Stratford Edition, iovols., i2mo. . . 1854-56 New York, 4to., portraits of actors . . . . 1855 Steevens', Tegg, 8vo. . . . . . . 1855 Singer's, iovols., foolscap 8vo., woodcuts . . 1855-6 In this edition the text has been most carefully revised. A Life of the Poet and Critical Essays on each Play written by W. W. Lloyd, have been added. Chalmers, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1856 Nelson, London, 8vo. . . . . . . 1856 Rowe's, Routledge, 8 vo. .. .. .. 1856 Knight's, Cabinet Edition, 12 vols., 1 8mo. .. 1856 Griffin's, London, 8vo. . . . . .. 1856 Halliwell's, 8vo. .. .. .. 1856 Valpy's, 15 vols., foolscap 8vo., plates . . 1857 Knight's, Companion Edition, 3 vols., crown 8vo. 1857 Knight's, Student Edition, 6 vols., 8vo. . . 1857 Phelps', 2 vols., 8vo., plates . . . . 1857 Ward and Lock, 8vo. . . . . . . 1857 Knight's, 8vo., woodcuts . . . . .. 1857 Knight's, Stratford Edition, 10 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1857 Dyce's, 6 vols., 8vo. . . . . .. 1857 White's, Boston, U. S., 12 vols., crown 8vo. . . 1857-66 The plays in this edition are edited from the folio of 1623, with various readings from other editions, including 117 emendations from J. P. Collier's corrected folio of 1632. It also contains introductory remarks to each play, an historical sketch of the text and a Life of the Poet. Campbell's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1858 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 59 Knight's, National Edition, 6 vols., 8vo., wood- cuts . . . . . . . . 1858 Barry Cornwall's, illustrated by Kenny Meadows, 3 vols., imperial 8vo. . . 1858 Hallivvell's, imperial 8vo. . . . . 1858 Collier's, 6 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1858 Phelps', 2 vols., royal 8vo., plates . . . . 1858 Lansdowne's, printed in red and black, 8vo. 1858 Lansdowne's, with Stothard's plates . . 1858 Reed's, Tegg and Griffin, 8vo. . . . . 1858 Halifax, Milner and Sowerby, 8vo. . . 1858 Staunton's, 3 vols., imperial 8vo., illustrated by Sir John Gilbert, A.R.A. . . 1858-60 Bowdler's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1859 Johnson's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1850 Knight's, Pictorial Edition, 8 vols., royal 8vo., woodcuts . . . . . . . . 1859 Knight's, royal 8vo., woodcuts . . . . 1859 Hazlitt's, 5 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1859 Steevens', Tegg, i2mo. . . . . . . 1859 Johnson's, Bohn, 8vo. .. .. .. 1859 Phelps', in 38 numbers, 8vo. . . . . N. D. Bowdler's, royal 8vo , woodcuts . . . . 1860 Bowdler's, 6 vols , i2mo. . . . . . . 1860 Knight's, Stratford Edition, 6 vols., i2mo. . . 1860 Griffin and Co., 8vo. . . . . . . 1860 Campbell's, Routledge, royal 8vo. . . 1860 Clarke's, Mrs. Mary Cowden, Appleton, New York, imperial 8vo., with illustrations of the principal female characters by Kenny Mea- dows, Hayter, Bostock, Fisher, Stephanoff, C. Leslie, R.A., Corbould, Herbert, R.A., Chalons, R. A., Fields and Parris; also/^- trait and vignette . . . . . . 1860 60 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Delius, Elberfield, 7 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1860 Collier's, Boston, U.S., 8 vols., 8vo. . . 1860 Hazlitt's, 5 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1860 Griffin and Co., Family Edition, 8vo. . . 1860 Bell's, Manchester, 8vo. . . .. . . 1861 Griffin and Co., 8vo. . . . . . . 1861 Johnson's, with observations on each play, 8vo. 1861 Steevens', Tegg, 1 2 mo. .. .. .. 1861 Griffin and Co., Family Edition, 8vo., plates . . 1861 Knight's, Stratford Edition, 6 vols., i2mo. . . 1861 Carruther's and W. Chambers', 10 vols., crown 8vo., illustrated by Keeley Halswelle . . 1861-3 This is another of the moral and delicate editions of Shakspere, in which the whole of the so-called objectionable words and passages are omitted. Pitman's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1862 Steevens and Malone's, 8vo. . . . . 1862 Campbell's, Routledge, imperial 8vo., illustrated 1862 Knight's, Stratford Edition, 6 vols., 12 mo. . . 1862 Macmillan's, i2mo. . . . . . . 1862 Steevens', Rivington's, 8vo. . . . . 1862 Phelps', with coloured illustrations, by Hablot K. Browne, 2 vols., royal 8vo. . . . . N.D. Staunton's, Library Edition, 4 vols., 8vo. . . 1863 Clarke's, Mr. and Mrs. Cowden, Library Edition, 4 vols,, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1863 Clarke's, Mr. and Mrs., royal 8vo. . . . . 1863 Nelson's, with Life and Glossary, 8vo., illustrated 1 863 Bowdler's, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1863 Hudson's, Boston, U.S., n vols., i2mo. . . 1863 London, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1863 Staunton's, illustrated by Sir John Gilbert, A.R, A., 3 vols., imperial 8vo. . . . . 1863-6 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 6 1 Clarke and Wright's, Cambridge Edition, 9 vols., 8vo. .. .. .. .. .. 1863-6 The editors, of this edition have made it a useful one by the feature they have introduced of giving the various readings and emendations that have been suggested, at the foot of every page. This is a source of advantage to the general reader, who can thus obtain in a ready manner a complete acquaintance with the many critics whose " study evermore is overshot." Of the value of the text of this edition, the Quarterly Review, thus remarks : " Considering the circumstances of its publication and the learning and critical accomplishments of the editors, it is a kind of literary problem indeed, how it comes to pass that the text of this edition is so extremely defective." Dyce's, 9 vols., royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1863-7 The text of this edition is probably the best extant. Its editor possessed a complete knowledge of Shaksperean literature, and was thoroughly familiar with all the essentials to illustrate and correct the text. It is a great improvement upon his former edition, and completely demonstrates the soundness of his judgment and the fulness of his critical sagacity. Clarke's, Mr. and Mrs. Cowden, illustrated by Selous y 3 vols., imperial 8vo. . . . . 1864-8 ManselPs, i2mo. . . . . . . . . 1864 Knight's, Stratford Edition, 6 vols., i2mo., illustrated . . . . . . . . 1864 Ireland's, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1864 Dick's, crown 8vo., 'woodcuts . . . . 1864 Upwards of 300,000 copies of this edition have been sold. Chalmers', Cincinnati, 8vo., plates .. .. 1864 Barry Cornwall's, 3 vols., 8vo., plates . . 1864 Nimmo's, small 8vo. . . . . . . 1864 Knight's Pictorial Edition, corrected and revised, 8 vols., 8vo., illustrated . . . . 1864 The Reference Shakspere, edited by J. R. Marsh, small 4to. . . . . . . . . 1864 This is the first Reference Shakspere ever published, and con- 62 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. tains 372 subjects, illustrated by 6,504 separate passages, which are connected by a total of 11,600 references. Nimmo's, 2 vols., 8vo., woodcuts . . . . 1864 Nimmo's, 2 vols., 8vo., red line edition . . 1864 Keightley's, 6 vols., i6mo., Elvezir edition . . 1864 Keightley's, super-royal 8vo. . . . . 1864 Lea's, 8 vols., small 8vo. . . . . . . 1864 Delius', Elberfield, 7 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1864 Dick's, crown 8vo., woodcuts . . . . 1864 Bell's, H. G-, 6 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . . . 1864 Bell's, H. G., imperial 8vo., plates . . . . 1864 Gall and English, Edinburgh, 8vo., plates . . 1864 Gall and English, 2 vols., i2mo., plates . . 1864 Steevens', Tegg, 8vo., plates . . .. 1864 Clarke, Mr. and Mrs., 4 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1864 Clarke, Mr. and Mrs., 8vo. . . . . . . 1864 Hazlitt's, 5 vols., i2mo. .. .. .. 1864 Dick's, Edinburgh, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1864 Dick's, Edinburgh, 8vo. . . . . . . 1864 The Avon Shakspere, 8vo. . . . . 1864 Bell's, Warne, 8vo. . . . . . . 1864 Booth's Reprint of the First Folio, in 3 parts, foolscap 4to., part i, Comedies .. 1862 2, Histories . . . . 1863 3, Tragedies .. 1864 Booth's Reprint, folio . . . . . . 1864 Staunton's Facsimilie of the first folio by Photo- lithography, folio . . . . . . 1865 The Globe Shakspere, edited by J. Clarke and Wright, super-royal i8mo. . . . . 1864 The text of this edition is the same as the text of the Cambridge edition. The work is well printed and it is really a marvel of cheap- ness. Twenty thousand copies were printed of this edition, and the whole number was subscribed for by the trade within two days after publication. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 63 The Globe Shakspere, second edition, super-royal 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1865 Bowdler's, 8vo. . . . . . . 1865 Bowdler's, 6 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . . . 1865 The Guinea Library Shakspere, containing the Plays and Poems, edited by Mr. and Mrs. C. Clarke, 4 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1865 The Globe Shakspere, third edition (30,000), super-royal 1 8mo. .. .. .. 1865 Hazlitt's, 5 vols., i2mo. . . . . . . 1865-7 Keightley's, 6 vols., i8mo. .. . . 1865 Bell's, 6 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1865 Collier's, New York, 8 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1865 The Globe Shakspere, fourth edition (20,000), super-royal i8mo. . . . . . . 1866 Campbell's, royal 8vo., woodcuts .. .. 1866 Milner and Sowerby's, 8vo. . . ... 1866 Duyckinck's, Philadelphia, 8 vo., plates .. 1866 Knight's, National Edition, 8 vols., 8vo. illustrated 1 866 The Handy- Volume Shakspere, 13 vols., 3 2 mo. 1866-7 Dick's, Shilling Shakspere, crown 8vo., in a wrapper, illustrated . . . . . . 1866 Of this edition more than 700,000 copies have been sold. The Blackfriars Shakspere, crown 8vo. . . 1866 Knight's, Stratford Shakspere, 6 vols., small 8vo. 1 866 Bell's, royal 8vo. .. .. .. 1866 The Globe Shakspere, fifth edition, in five parts, super-royal i8mo. . . . . . . 1866 Nimmo's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1866 Keightley's, 6 vols., 1 8mo. .. .. 1866 Keightley's, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1867 Knight's Blackfriars, crown 8vo. . . . . 1867 Valpy's, 15 vols., 8vo., plates .. .. 1867 64 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Duyckinck's, Philadelphia, 8vo., plates . . 1867 Handy Volume Edition, Boston, U.S., 13 vols., 32mo. .. .. .. .. 1867 Collier's, 6 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1868 Collier's, super-royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1868 Keightley's Pocket Shakspere, 13 vols., royal 32mo. .. .. .. .. 1868 Knight's Shilling Shakspere, foolscap 8vo. . . 1868 This edition, consisting of 100,000 copies, is said to have been wholly taken up by the trade within a week of the day of its publi- cation. Griffin and Co., 8vo. . . . . . . 1868 Keightley's, 7 vols., i6mo. . . . . 1868 The Chandos Shakspere, foolscap 8vo. . . 1868 Knight's, Routledge, foolscap 8vo., illustrated by Sir John Gilbert, A.R.A. .. 1868 Singer's, iovols., i2mo. .. .. .. 1868 Knight's, royal 8vo., illustrated . . . . 1869 Staunton's, 8 vols., 8vo., with portrait . . 1869 Dyce's, Leipzig, 7 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . 1869 Campbell's, royal 8vo., illustrated . . . . 1869 Knight's Shilling Shakspere, foolscap 8vo. . . 1869 Knight's Pictorial Edition, 8 vols., 8vo. .. 1871 The Globe Shakspere, royal i8mo. . . . . 1871 Delius, Elberfield, 7 vols., 8vo. .. .. 1871 Gall and English, 8vo., plates .. .. 1871 Hudson's, Boston, U.S., 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1871 Furness', New Variorum edition, Philadelphia, only two volumes published, containing Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet .. 1871-3 Knight's, royal 8vo., illustrated .. .. 1872 Knight's, Imperial Shakspere, 4 vols., imperial 4to. .. .. .. .. .. 1872-4 The text of this edition was thoroughly revised by the late SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 65 Charles Knight, and his daughter has undertaken to correct all the sheets for the press. It is illustrated with steel engravings from pictures by celebrated modern artists, embracing examples of Sir E. Landseer, Leslie, Mulready, Maclise, Marks, Frith, Orchardson, Frost, Ward, Pettie, Stone, T. Graham, Boughton, Alma-Tadema, Sir J. Gilbert, Pott, Bromley and others. Staunton's, 6 vols., 8vo. .. . . . . 1873 Bowdler's, royal 8vo., 12 steel engravings . . 1873 Cowden Clarke's, Library edition, with Life, but without Notes, 4 vols., 8vo. . . 1873 Cowden Clarke's, 3 vols., large 4to., illustrated by Seloiis . . . . . . . . 1874 The Boydell Shakspere, edited by Mr. and Mrs. Cowden Clarke, with Life and Glossary, 2 vols., royal 8vo., illustrated with 67 pictures selected from the Boydell Gallery, in per- manent photography .. .. 1874 Staunton's reprint of the first folio, small folio 1874 Staunton's reprint of the first folio, large folio 1874 The total number of corrected editions of the works published in English from and including the first folio, 1623, to the middle of the year 1874, is 488. EDITIONS OF SELECTIONS OF SHAKSPERE'S PLAYS. Twenty of the Plays of Shakspere, being the whole number printed in quarto, during his life time, or before the Restoration ; collated where there were different copies, and published from the originals, by G. Steevens, 4 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1766 King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Julius Caesar, collated with the old and modern editions, by C. Jennens, 8vo. . . 1770-4 Lear and Cymbeline, with remarks by the editor, Ambrose Eccles, 2 vols., 8vo. . . Dublin, 1793 The same, second edition .. .. London, 1801 The same, third edition . . . . Dublin, 1805 Twenty plays, selected by Bo wdler, 4 vols., 1 2 mo. 1819 Mitchell's selection of Shakspere's Popular Dramatic Works, 3 vols., i6mo. . . 1809 Hamlet and As You Like It, by T. Caldecott, royal 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1819 The same, second edition .. .. .. 1832 The School of Shakspere, or select plays and scenes from Shakspere, by R. Pitman, 8vo. 1822 The same, second edition . . . . . . 1834 The same, third edition .. .. .. 1845 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 67 Selections from Shakspere, by C. Oakley, post 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1828 Popular Dramatic Works of Shakspere, 4 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . N.D. Select Plays from Shakspere, edited by E. Slater, i2mo. . . . . . . . . 1834 Shakspere's Plays, arranged by Dr. J. Folsing, 2 vols., i2mo., containing Julius Caesar, Richard III., and The Merchant of Venice 1840 A Selection of Shakspere's Plays, by H. S. Pierre, 8 vols., 1 2mo. .. .. .. 1840 Select Plays of Shakspere, viz., Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar and Macbeth, 8vo. . . . . 1840 Shakspere's Selected Plays, adapted to the use of Youth, 2 vols., 1 2 mo. .. .. 1846 Select Plays of Shakspere, with Notes by Howell, i2mo. . . . . . . 1848 Selections from Shakspere's Plays, by C. Oakley, post 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1854 Selections from the Plays of Shakspere, as arranged for representation at the Princess Theatre, by Charles Kean, 2 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1860 Shakspere for Schools, with an Appendix of References, adapted to Penny Readings, by the Rev. C. Lenny, D.D., late of St. John's College, Cambridge, small 8vo. . . 1864 The same, second edition . . . . . . 1 865 Othello and the Merry Wives of Windsor, with coloured illustrations, small 4to. .. .. 1864 Extracts from Shakspere, for school use, with a description of the Plot of each Play, by L. C. Gent, foolscap 8vo. . . . . 1865 68 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. The Prince's Shakspere, a selection of the Plays of Shakspere, carefully expurgated and annotated for the use of Families and Schools, by the Rev. D. Mathias, M.A., crown 8vo., vol. i .. .. .. 1867 Shakspere for Schools and Families, being a Selection and Abridgment of the principal Plays, for School, College and Family Reading, edited by Thomas Shorter, 8vo. 1868 Shakspere's Plays, abridged and revised for the use of Girls, by Rosa Baugham, 2 vols., 8vo. 1863-69 The English Reader, by Dagleish, in three parts, being a Selection of Shakspere's Plays, crown 8 vo. .. .. .. 1871 The number of editions of selections is thirty. The number of plays in each selection varying from two to twenty. Of the separate editions of the plays of Shakspere there has been a great number published, and many of these editions are at variance with each other. A large number of them have been adapted for representation by various so-called improvers, in which much of the lan- guage of Shakspere is omitted and much of their own inserted. This mode of procedure was more prevalent in the last century than in our own times, for now, the editions run more closely to the original text ; and this result is mainly owing to the multitudinous editions of the complete works and the low price thereof, whereby the general public have become much better acquainted with the true text than they were wont to be. COMEDIES : The Tempest, forty editions ; The Two Gentlemen of Verona, eleven ; The Merry Wives of Wind- sor, thirty-three ; Twelfth Night, nineteen ; Measure for Measure, sixteen / Much Ado about Nothing, twenty-five ; SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS 69 A Midsummer Night's Dream, thirty-nine ; Love's Labour's Lost, eleven ; The Merchant of Venice, forty- seven ; As You Like It, twenty-three ; All's Well that Ends Well, ten ; The Taming of the Shrew, thirty-one ; The Winter's Tale, twenty-nine ; The Comedy of Errors, sixteen. HISTORIES : King John, thirty-six ; Richard II., twenty-nine ; Henry IV., part i, twenty-nine ; Henry IV., part 2, twenty-six ; Henry V., twenty-five ; Henry VL, part i^five ; part 2, five ; part 3, ten ; Richard III., forty- four ; Henry VIII., tiventy-four. TRAGEDIES : Macbeth, forty-seven ; Troilus and Cressida, thirteen ; Timon of Athens, thirteen ; Coriola- nus, twenty-two ; Julius Caesar, forty ; Antony and Cleo- patra, seventeen \ Cymbeline, twenty-seven ; Titus Andron- icus, eight ; Pericles, thirteen ; King Lear, fifty-one ; Romeo and Juliet, fifty-three ; Hamlet, seventy-six ; Othello, fifty-one. Of the doubtful plays ascribed to Shakspere four fern editions have been published in connection with his collected works. Six of these doubtful plays appeared with Shakspere's works in the third folio for the first time. The following separate editions have been pub- lished : Locrine, two ; The London Prodigal, one ; Lord Cromwell, three ; The Puritan, one ; The Merry Devil of Edmonton, nine; Sir John Oldcastle, three; and A Yorkshire Tragedy, three. In conjunction with these plays there are also several others which have been ascribed to Shakspere, though it is said they do not contain any trace of the great master's hand. In some of them he is said to have simply assisted, by revising the labours of the author, and here and there giving form to the language, and adding to its strength. The Birth of Merlin is said to furnish an example of this 70 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. manner of one author aiding another ; but the play is so poor, so wanting 1 in intellectual force and poetic power, that it is almost impossible for Shakspere to have had any share in the production of this thing of show and spectacle. The ascribing of the authorship in part or wholly to Shakspere of these plays has been done chiefly by the German critics, who, in most of their instances, have evidently forgot the wit and humour, the great knowledge of humanity, the high poetic faculty and his still more wonderful power of characterisation. The titles of the other plays are as follows, and the number of editions thereof published separately is added thereto : Arden of Faversham, seven / The Birth of Merlin, two ; The Double Falsehood, two ; Edward III., four ; Fair Emma, three; Mucedorus, ten; The Two Noble Kinsmen, two ; The Arraignment of Paris, two ; George- a- Green, three ; Vortigern, two. This latter tra- gedy was written by that notorious Shaksperean forger, William Henry Ireland, and on its production at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on April 2nd, 1796, it was a failure, the line And when this solemn mockery is o'er, giving the coup-de-grace to this weak imitation of the Shaksperean drama. By the late school of Shaksperean editors and critics, embracing Knight, Campbell, Hazlitt, Singer, Dyce and Walker, most of these plays were rejected as un- worthy of the great master's name, and condemned as spurious productions, in which he was in no way con- nected. The reasons assigned are of a very strong character, for it is most undeniably shown that there is a complete absence of any external evidence of their being written by Shakspere, and this position is still further strengthened by the fact, that they are wanting SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Jl in the richness of imagination, the fulness of thought, the play of wit and fancy, and, above all, the truthfulness and intimate knowledge of man which is always to be found in the works of Shakspere. Messrs. Walker and Dyce were, however, of opinion that portions of The Two Noble Kinsmen belonged to Shakspere, for the first act they said bears indisputable marks of his hand, as does also a portion of the third and fifth acts. The labours of the New Shakspere Society seem to lead to similar conclusions, for the spirit of criticism which has arisen therein and is being developed in the various papers read before that body, asserts, that the hand of Shakspere is not only traceable in Fletcher's play of the Two Noble Kinsmen, but in several of the others. Whatever may be the result brought about in the future world of Shaksperean criticism, at present no evidence of a sufficiently conclusive character has yet been adduced to establish the truth of this position. Of editions of the Poems, there have been published separately, Venus and Adonis, seventeen ; of the Rape of Lucrece, ten ; of the Passionate Pilgrim, five ; of the Sonnets, eighteen ; and of the Songs, seven. Of collected editions of the poems, published separately from the complete works of Shakspere, there have been pub- lished no less than forty-two. The number of works published in our own lan- guage, in which the writers seek to elucidate and illus- trate the works of Shakspere is truly marvellous. Every year adds materially to their number, for controversies are constantly cropping up between the various critics as to the incidents of the poet's life, and as to the meanings and readings of his text, whereby much information and knowledge is imparted. Not less than seven hundred works have been published, many of which have ran 72 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. through several editions. No author can boast of so numerous an array of commentators and illustrators ; and no other author's works could have been capable of bearing such a mass of learning and critical acumen, and not unfrequently a great amount of rubbish. The pub- lication of these works, however, proves the great popu- larity of the Bard of Avon, both in the literary and critical world, as well as amongst the general public. Amongst all classes his works have gradually worked their way, and there are now few persons to be met with who have not either read, or know his works by representation. The following selection embraces the principal works published in that class of Shaksperean literature, which includes the biographical and the critical. Many of them, especially those written within the last eighty years, will well repay perusal, for they certainly serve to expand the breadth and massiveness of Shakspere's proportions, to promote a deeper insight and a greater knowledge of his works, and enkindle a love and ad- miration of the complete understanding of the nature of humanity, its development and realization, which is ever found in the pages of his precious volume. The Tragedies of the last age considered and examined by the practice of the Ancients, by Thomas Rymer, 8vo. . . . . 1678 The Impartial Critic ; or, some Observations on Mr. Rymer's late book, entitled a short View of Tragedy, by John Dennis, 4to. 1692 An Essay on the Genius and Writings of Shak- spere, by John Dennis, 8vo. 1712 Critical Observations on Shakspere, by John Upton, 8vo. . . . . . . 1746 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 73 Shakespear Illustrated ; or, the Novels and Histories on which the plays of Shakespear are founded, by Charlotte Lennox, 3 vols., i2mo. .. .. 1753-4 Dr. Johnson's Preface to his edition of Shak- spere, 8vo. . . . . . . 1765 Prefaces to Shakspere's Plays, by Dr. Johnson, Mr. Pope, Mr. Theobald, Sir J. Hamner and Dr. Warburton, with some account of the life of Shakspere, by Rowe . . 1765 An Essay on the Learning of Shakspere, by Dr. Richard Farmer, 8vo. . . 1767 An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakspere, compared with Greek and French Dramatic Poets, with remarks upon the misrepresentations of M. de Voltaire, by Mrs. Montagu, 8vo. . . . . 1769 A Philosophical Analysis, and Illustrations of some of Shakspere's Characters, by W. Richardson, 12 mo. . . . . 1774 The Morality of Shakspere's Dramas, by Mrs. Griffiths, 8vo. . . . . 1775 An Essay on the Dramatic character of Sir John Falstaif, by Mr. Morgan, 8vo. . . 1777 Modern Characters from Shakspere, alpha- betically arranged, 12 mo. .. 1778 Remarks, Critical and Illustrative, on the text and notes of Shakspere, by Joseph Ritson, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1783 An Essay on the character of Hamlet, by Thomas Robertson, 4 to. .. .. 1788 An index to remarkable passages and words made use of by Shakspere, by S. Aycough, royal 8vo. . . . . . . 1790 74 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Instruments under the Hand and Seal of William Shakspere, by W. H. Ireland, imperial 4to. 1796 This work is entirely composed of forged papers, and their pub- lication led to a long controversy between Shaksperean commentators. For nine years this controversy was continued with much bitterness and personality, and it was ultimately closed by the confession of the author of the forgery, W. H. Ireland, in his work containing "the particulars of his fabrications of the Shakspere MS.," pub- lished in 1805. A complete Verbal Index to the Plays of Shakspere, by Francis Twiss, 2 vols., 8vo. 1805-7 Illustrations of Shakspere and of Ancient Man- ners, with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspere, on Gesta Romanorum, and on the English Morris Dance, by Francis Douce, 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1807 Comments on the Commentators of Shakspere, by John Pye, 8vo. . . . . 1807 Comments on the several editions of Shak- spere's Plays by the Right Hon. John Monck Mason, 8vo. .. . . 1807 Schlegel's (A. W.) Course of Lectures on Dra- matic Art and Literature, translated from the German, by J. Black, 2 vols., 8vo. . . 1815 This work was reprinted and published by Bohn in one volume in 1846. The portion of the work that dwells upon the works of Shakspere commences at page 338 and extends to page 446. There is much merit and originality to be found in this work, and the criticisms are most able and genial. Characters of Shakspere's Plays, by William Hazlitt, 8vo. . . . . . . 1817 Shakspere and his Times ; including the Bio- graphy of the Poet, Criticism on his Genius and his Writings, &c., by Nathan Drake, 2 vols., 4to. .. .. .. .. 1817 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 75 The Life of Shakspere, by E. Malone, with an Essay on the Phraseology of the Poet and his Contemporaries, by J. Boswell, 8vo. 1821 A Glossary ; or, a Collection of Words, Phrases, Names and Allusions to Customs, Proverbs, &c., which have been thought to require illustration in the works of English Authors, particularly Shakspere, by Arch- deacon Nares, 4to. .. .. .. 1822 This work has been re-edited by J. O. Halliwell and Thomas Wright, and their revised edition was published in 2 vols., 8vo., in 1859. Life of Shakspere ; Enquiries into the Origi- nality of his Dramas, Plots and Characters ; and Essays on the Ancient Theatres and Theatrical Usages, by H. Skottowe, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1824 Essay on the Genius of Shakspere, with Critical Remarks on the Characters of Romeo, Hamlet, Juliet and Ophelia, by H. M. Graves, post 8vo. .. .. .. 1826 Memorials of Shakspere; or, Sketches of his Character and Genius, by various writers, now first collected, with a prefatory and concluding notice, by N. Drake, 8vo. .. 1828 Characteristics of Women ; Moral, Political and Historical, with numerous illustrations from the author's designs, by Mrs. Jameson, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1832 In this work the heroines of Shakspere are most fully and ably criticised, for the authoress has brought to her task a well-stored and cultivated mind, with strong perceptive powers, and a real love for the author whose creations she analyses. She has divided the heroines into four classes: (i) characters of intellect, in which she includes Portia, Isabella, Beatrice and Rosalind ; (2) characters of 76 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. passion and imagination : Juliet, Helena, Perdita, Viola, Ophelia and Miranda ; (3) characters of the affections ; Hermione, Desdemona and Cordelia; (4) historical characters : Cleopatra, Octavia,Volumnia, Constance of Bretagne, Elinor of Guienne, Blanche of Castile, Margaret of Anjou, Katharine of Arragon, and Lady Macbeth. New Facts regarding the Life of Shakspere by J. P. Collier, post 8vo. . . . . 1835 New Particulars regarding the works of Shak- spere, by J. P. Collier, post 8vo. . . 1836 Farther Particulars regarding Shakspere and his Works, by J, P. Collier, post 8vo. . . 1839 William Shakspere : a Biography, by Charles Knight, 8vo. . . . . . . 1842 Shakspere's Library : a collection of the Novels, Tales and Romances used by Shakspere in the fabrication of his Dramas ; now first collected and printed from the early editions, with introductory Notes, by J. P. Collier, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . 1843 Life of Shakspere with a History of the Early English Stage, by J. P. Collier, 8vo. . . 1844 New Illustrations of the Life, Studies and Writ- ings of Shakspere, by Joseph Hunter, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1845 Shakspere's Dramatic Art and his relation to Calderon and Goethe, by Dr. H. Ulrici, translated from the German, 8vo. . . 1846 Studies of Shakspere, with Observations and Criticisms, by G. Fletcher, crown 8vo. . . 1847 An Enquiry into the Philosophy and Religion of Shakspere, by W. J. Birch, M.A., crown 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1848 Life of Shakspere, including many particulars respecting the Poet and his Family never before published, by J. O. Halliwell, 8vo. 1848 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 77 Lectures on Shakspere, by H. N. Hudson, 2 vols., crown 8vo., New York . . 1848 Notes and Lectures upon Shakspere and some of the Old Poets and Dramatists, with other Literary Remains, by S. T. Coleridge, edited by Sara Coleridge, 2 vols., i2mo. . . 1849 Studies of Shakspere ; forming a Companion to every edition of the Text, by C. Knight, 8vo. . . . . . . .. 1849 Shakspere and his Times, with Notices of his principal Dramas, translated from the French of Guizot, 8vo. . . . . 1852 Notes and Emendations to the Text of Shak- spere' s Plays, from the early manuscript corrections in a copy of the folio of 1632, in the possession of J. P. Collier, 8vo. . . 1853 The publication of this volume led to a very strong controversy, in which the Rev. A. Dyce, J. O. Halliwell, Hardy, R. G. White, Ingleby, Knight, Singer and Sir F. Madden took an active part in opposition to J. P. Collier and the supporters of the Perkins emen- dations, foremost of whom was the Athenaeum. Some warmth of temper was exhibited in the controversy in conjunction with some amount of personality, and much industry and research were also displayed. The general conclusion held by most of those who had engaged in the struggle and by those who had read with attention the articles and works that had been produced, was, that most of the emendations were fabrications of Mr. Collier, and the others, simply the gathering together of suggestions of various critics, many of which had already been accepted. Shakspere's Scholar; being Historical and Critical Studies of his Text, Characters and Commentators, by Richard Grant White, 8vo. .. .. .. New York, 1854 Shakspere's Versification, and its apparent irregularities, explained by examples from early and late English Writers, by W. Sid- 78 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. ney Walker, edited by W. N. Lettsom, foolscap 8vo. . . . . . . 1854 Seven Lectures on Shakspere and Milton, by the late S. T. Coleridge, edited by J. P. Collier, 8vo. . . . . . . 1856 These Lectures were delivered at the Scot's Corporation Hall, in Crane Court, Fleet Street, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, at the close of the year 1811 and the beginning of 1812. Mr. Collier states they are printed from his original notes, and though they fail to do justice to the man and the subject, he holds they contain " criticisms, ob- servations, and opinions, well worthy of attention from their truth, their eloquence, and their originality." In this volume Mr. Collier also gives a list of every manuscript note and emendation contained in his copy of the folio of 1632. They are arranged in parallel columns, and the suggested alteration or emendation is printed in italic. Shakspere's England ; or, Sketches of our Social History in the reign of Elizabeth, by G. W. Thornbury, 2 vols., crown 8vo. . . 1856 Remarks on the Differences in Shakspere's Versification in different periods of his Life, by C. Bathurst, foolscap 8vo. . . . . 1857 The English of Shakspere, illustrated in a philological commentary on Julius Caesar, by G. L. Craik, i2mo, . . . . 1857 The Philosophy of the plays of Shakspere Un- folded, by Delia Bacon, with a Preface by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 8vo. . . . . 1857 The principal object sought to be achieved by this work, is to show that Shakspere was not the author of the various comedies, histories and tragedies, usually ascribed to him, and that the author- ship belongs to the great philosopher, Lord Bacon. That the authoress does not succeed in her undertaking is self evident from a perusal of her work. The attempt gave rise to very little controversy in this country, Miss Bacon's work falling almost still-born from the press. This same opinion was advocated by William Henry Smith, who seems to have arrived at his conclusion entirely independent of Miss Bacon, though, like her, he fails to substantiate his "crazy notion." SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 79 Lectures on English History and Tragic Poetry, as illustrated byShakspere,by Henry Reed, crown 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1858 New Exegisof Shakspere, and the interpretation of his Plays on the principle of Races', 8vo. 1859 Critical Examination of the Text of Shakspere, together with Notes on his Plays and Poems, by the late W. S. Walker, edited by W. N. Lettsom, 3 vols., foolscap 8vo. . . . . 1859 "Very often we find ourselves differing from Mr. Walker on readings and interpretations, but we seldom differ from him without respect for his scholarship and care. His are not the wild guesses at truth which neither gods nor men have stomach to endure, but the suggestions of a trained intelligence and a chastened taste. Future editors and commentators will be bound to consult these volumes, and consider their suggestions." Athen&um. The Psychology of Shakspere, by Dr. Bucknill, 8vo. .. .. .. .. 1859 Shakspere Papers : Pictures Grave and Gay, by W. Maginn, post 8vo. .. .. 1859 Remarks on the Medical Knowledge of Shak- spere, by Dr. Bucknill, 8vo. . . . . 1 860 The Mind of Shakspere, by the Rev. A. Morgan, foolscap 8vo. . . . . . . 1 86 1 Shakspere, the Player and the Poet, Facts and Traditions concerning Shakspere, by W. S. Fullom, 8vo. . . . . . . 1 86 1 Shakspere ; a Critical Biography, and an es- timate of the Facts, Fancies, Forgeries and Fabrications regarding his Life and Works, which have appeared in remote and recent Literature, by Samuel Neil, crown 8vo. . . 1861 The Received Text of Shakspere' s Dramatic Works, and its improvement, by Samuel Bailey, vol. i, 8 vo. .. .. .. 1862 The second volume was not published till 1866. 80 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. Shakspere Commentaries, by Professor Ger- vinus, translated under the author's super- intendence, from the second German edition, by Miss F. E. Bunnett, 2 vols., 8vo. 1862 This is a most valuable addition to Shaksperean literature, for its author is thoroughly familiar with most of that which Shakspere himself had wrote, and also with most of that had been written about him. It is a work which is held in very high esteem by the German people, who, we are told look upon it as "a. critical and historical work, unmatched in the literature of any country for the power of appreciation and the critical acumen which are brought to bear upon the great author under illustration. Not only does Gervinus give a life of the dramatist, based on the elaborate materials which English literature has provided, but he analyses each play, investi- gates its tendencies, follows it in its development, and examines with the most minute detail every character in it, subordinate as well as principal." Thimm's Shaksfieriana, p. 55. Shakspere Characters, chiefly those subordinate, by Charles Cowden Clarke, 8vo. . . 1863 A Study of Hamlet, by Dr. Conolly, foolscap 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1863 Shakspere' s Home at New Place, Stratford-on- Avon, by J. C. M. Bellew, crown 8vo. . . 1863 Notes, Criticisms and Correspondence upon Shakspere's Plays, by J. H. Hackett, i2mo. New York, 1863 Shakspere, by Victor Hugo, 8vo. . . . . 1864 This is one of the best works that has been written on Shakspere by a French author. It is somewhat digressive in its character, yet the digressions are pleasing. The life of Shakspere is most ef- fectively sketched by M. Hugo. There is nothing new in the details, but they are manipulated with great skill, producing an air of novelty which is quite refreshing to the reader. With M. Hugo " Hamlet is the chef d'ceuvre of the tragedy dream." The Life and Genius of Shakspere, by Thomas Kenny, 8vo. . . . . . . . . 1864 Shakspere in Germany in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, an Account of SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 8 1 the English Actors in Germany and the Netherlands,by Albert Cohen, 4to. . . 1864 An Historical Account of New Place, the residence of Shakspere at Stratford-upon- Avon, by J. O. Halliwell, with numerous engravings and facsimiles, folio . . 1864 The Life Portraits of William Shakspere ; a History of the various representations of the Poet, with an examination into their Authenticity, by J. H. Friswell, illustrated by photographs, small 4to. 1864 Shakspere, his Birthplace, Home and Grave ; a Pilgrimage to Stratford-on-Avon in the Autumn of 1863, by the Rev. J. M. Jephson, with photographic illustrations, small 4to. 1864 Shakspere : his Inner Life, as intimated in his writings, by John A. Heraud, 8vo. . . 1865 This is a work in which the intellectual development of Shak- spere is chiefly treated. The suggestions with regard to the Poet's private character are very few. His moral nature and his intellectual method are the two aspects most prominently dwelt on, and these are treated in an original manner. William Shakspere, by Cardinal Wiseman, 8vo. 1865 This is a mere fragment. It was the author's intention to have delivered it as a lecture, but it was never completed, nor did he ever attempt to deliver it. The Cardinal knew not Shakspere by represen- tation, nor through the aid of annotated editions ; his love and knowledge of his works being gathered from study of the text. He places Shakspere with Homer and Dante in height of genius and power with mankind. Shakspere's Knowledge and Use of the Bible, by Bishop Wordsworth, crown 8vo. . . 1864 Memoirs of the Life of William Shakspere, with an Essay towards the expression of his genius, and an account of the rise and 82 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. progress of the English Drama, by R. Gr. White, post 8vo. . . . . . . 1865 Remarks on the Sonnets of Shakspere ; with the Sonnets showing that they belong to the Hermetic class of writings, and ex- plaining the general meaning and purpose, small 8vo. .. .. New York, 1865 Shakspere Sonnets, never before interpreted ; his private friends identified ; together with a recovered likeness of himself, by Gerald Massey, 8vo. .. .. .. 1866 Shakspere's Delineations of Insanity, Imbecility and Suicide, by A. O. Kellogg, 8vo. New York, 1866 The Shakspere Expositor : an aid to the perfect understanding of Shakspere's Plays, by Thomas Keightley, foolscap 8vo. . . 1867 The Mad Folk of Shakspere, by Dr. Bucknill, second edition, crown 8vo. .. . . 1867 The Authorship of Shakspere, by Nathaniel Holmes, crown 8vo. New York, 1867 This work was written in support of the opinions enunciated by Miss Delia Bacon, and of the two works the North American Review for January, 1867, thus pithily remarks : ' ' we have earned the right by hard labour to assert that there is not in the 1,100 pages of Delia Bacon and Judge Holmes the shadow of a shade of an argument in support of their wild and most absurd hypothesis. Bacon was as little capable of writing " Shakspere's Plays" as any other man."- " Within that circle none durst walk but he." A Dictionary of the Language of Shakspere, by the late Swynfen Jervis, demy 4to. . . 1868 An introduction to the Philosophy of Shakspere's Sonnets, by Richard Simpson, crown 8vo. 1868 Shakspere's Treasury of Wisdom and Know- ledge, by F. Stearns, crown 8 vo. . . 1 869 Shakspereana Genealogia, by George Russell Trench, 8vo. . . . . . . 1869 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 83 The Sonnets of Shakspere solved, with the mystery of his friendships, love and rivalry revealed ; with new information about Sir P. Sidney's Sonnets and the poetry of the period, by Henry Brown, 8vo. . . . . 1869 Shakspere and the Emblem Writers of his age, with illustrations from the original wood- cuts and engravings, by Henry Green, M.A., medium 8vo. . . . . . . 1870 Notes and conjectural emendations of certain doubtful passages in Shakspere's Plays, by P. A. Daniel, crown 8vo. . . . . 1870 A Shaksperian Grammar : an attempt to illus- trate some of the differences between Elizabethan and Modern English, by E. A. Abbott, M.A., crown 8vo. . . . . 1870 Of this work no less than three editions were called for in the first year of its publication. This success led to considerable additions and encouraged its " author to endeavour to make the work somewhat more useful, and to render it, as far as possible, a complete book of reference for all difficulties of Shaksperean syntax or prosody. " The Method of Shakspere as an artist, deduced from an Analysis of his leading Tragedies and Comedies, by H. Ruggles, crown 8vo., New York, 1871 The Ornithology of Shakspere, by J. E. Hartwig 1872 Shakspere Commentaries, by Professor Gervinus, translated by Miss F. E. Bunnett, second edition, 2 vols., 8vo. . . . . . . 1874 Of illustrated editions of the works of Shakspere a very large number have been published, yet without taking these into consideration, the number of special illustrated works relating to the Shaksperean drama is very great, not less than ninety works of engravings 84 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. have been published in the United Kingdom, illustrative of the characters, scenes, costumes, and incidents of the plays and poems. Nor has Music, twin-sister of Poetry, failed to wed her charms to the poet's strains. The names of Locke, Arne, Purcell, Arnold, Linley, Boyce, Nicks, Walsh, Horn, Bishop, Mendelssohn, Hatton, and Macfarren, afford a striking example of the popularity of the poet's lines and of the wealth of talent, in the world of sweet sounds, which has been devoted to his works. In other lands the fame of our bard is a fact of the day. In some, so much so, that it hath been remarked, that Shakspere in Germany is better known and under- stood than in his own country. This is, however, an exaggerated statement, possessing only an approximation to the truth, not the absolute truth. It is most undeniable that much attention has been given to the works of Shakspere by the German literary world, and the results of this attention and study have also been given to the German nation, still it has not been nor can it be shown that the German people possess that close acquaintance, amounting to familiarity, which dis- tinguishes the English people, and which has left its impress upon our national character : yet it cannot be doubted, that the works of Shakspere are very highly estimated and valued in the land of Germany, and that they have exerted great influence in their relation to German dramatic art. Before the year 1599, some of Shakspere' s works were made known to the German people by the com- panies of English actors who made tours through the German states. From the commencement of the seventeenth century to the year 1640, several of the plays of Shakspere were played before the various SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 85 courts and also in several of the German towns. The Thirty Years' War, however, effected a complete change in the taste of the German people, and the French classic drama became the rage, and it is only in an indirect way that the name of Shakspere during this period is mentioned by any German author. In 1682, in a work on Poesie, by Morhoff, the name of Shakspere occurs, though the writer knows not his works. In 1708, Barthold Fiends mentions "the famous English tra- gedian Shakspere." In 1740, the name of Shakspere occurs in the works of Boden. In 1741, Baron Von Borck, the Prussian ambassador at London, translated "Julius Caesar" into German Alexandrines. From 1741 to 1758 some faint voices were raised in praise of the works of Shakspere, but with little or no result. In 1759, a German author, K. C. Canzler, published a work in opposition to the progress of Shakspere in Germany, but his effort was not a successful one. In the same year G. E. Lessing, one of the greatest of the German critics and the true regenerator of the German drama, first used his powerful pen in defence of the works of Shakspere. From 1762 to 1794, he was the chief introducer and upholder of Shakspere among the German literari and the German people. His efforts were materially assisted by the labours of Herder and Goethe, and by the non-existence of any national taste among their countrymen. The German people naturally revolted against the classic frigidity of the French school of dramatists, whose constant observance of the unities resulted in a continuous series of tragedies, always possessing the same features. "Hence," as Goethe observes, " French tragedies are parodies of themselves." The national representatives of poetry and poetic feeling at that time were very feeble, and the German nation 86 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. was aroused by Shakspere's "colossal strength, pro- fundity of thought, originality and audacity of language, his beauty, pathos, sublimity, wit, and wild overflowing humour, and his accuracy of observation, as well as depth of insight into the mysteries of passion and character." * The estimation in which Shakspere was held by the German people in the i8th century has in no way decreased in the present. On the contrary, it has much increased, and the general result of that estimation is best shown in the numerous editions of his collected works which have appeared in Germany, in the nu- merous editions of separate plays, in the number of the works which have been published illustrative of his meaning, and in their constant attempts to show his influence upon the progress and development of the English language. Of the complete works of Shakspere there have been published in Germany forty-eight editions. Of editions of the plays published separately there have appeared : COMEDIES: All's Well that Ends Well, eleven; As You Like It, twelve ; Comedy of Errors, twelve ; Love's Labour Lost, eleven ; The Merchant of Venice, twenty ; Measure for Measure, eight ; The Merry Wives of Windsor, eighteen ; A Midsummer Night's Dream, twenty ; Much Ado about Nothing, eleven; The Taming of the Shrew, fourteen; Twelfth Night, eleven; The Tempest, seventeen ; and The Winter's Tale, eleven. HISTORIES: Henry IV., parts i and 2, thirteen; Henry V., nine; Henry VI., the three parts, eight ; Henry VIIL, ten ; King John, eleven ; Richard II., fifteen; Richard III., seventeen. TRAGEDIES : Antony and Cleopatra, twenty-one ; * Lewes' Life of Goethe, p. 90. SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 87 Coriolanus, twenty ; Hamlet, fifty-three ; Julius Caesar, twenty-seven ; King Lear, twenty-two ; Macbeth, thirty- nine ; Othello, twenty -two ; Pericles, eighty Romeo and Juliet, thirty-five ; Timon of Athens, twelve ; Titus Andronicus, eleven. Of plays ascribed to Shakspere by the German critics, there have been published the following editions : Yorkshire Tragedy, five\ Locrine, five-. The Merry Devil of Edmonton, six ; Sir John Oldcastle, six ; Lord Cromwell, five ; The London Prodigal, eight ; The Puritan Widow, five ; The Pinner of Wakefield, three; Edward III., three ; The Birth of Merlin, two ; Fair Emma, two ; and Arden of Feversham, five. Of the poems ten collected editions have been pub- lished. Of the sonnets, separately published, seven editions ; of Venus and Adonis, three ; and of the Rape of Lucrece, three. To enumerate the articles which have appeared in the various German literary journals would be a task of some labour and no little difficulty, for it would " take all the swift advantage of the hours' 1 and leave their number yet untold, for to "tell the legions I can never." Apart from fugitive articles, the number of distinct works which have been written and published in the German language does not amount to less than two hundred and forty. Besides these, twenty volumes of plates, by German artists, have also been published illustrative of Shaks- pere's works, and the Collier controversy has reached the land of Germany, for five writers on that subject have appeared in the field. Among the principal Ger- man critics may be mentioned the names of Lessing, Schlegel, Tieck, Horn, Skottowe, Simrock, Engel, Ranke, Goethe, Herder, Ulrici, Delius, Morgenblatt, Lemcke, Woeffel, and Gervinus. 88 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. The state of feeling of the German people with regard to Shakspere, disclosed in the foregoing facts, requires no comment. In the year 1864, they far excel- led in their celebration of the Shakspere tercentenary our own efforts at home, and the more certain to continue this admiration and to keep before the German public the works of Shakspere, the Berlin Society for the Promotion of the Study of Modern Languages, offered prizes for essays on the following subjects : I. " Shak- spere' s Influence on the Development of the English Language." These essays comprise, i. An Account of the condition of the English language used by writers immediately preceding Shakspere. 2. Illustra- tions from the works of Shakspere, showing the gradual development of the language. 3. An investigation of the relation of the peculiarities of Shakspere' s lan- guage to those of his contemporaries. 4. Examples showing the influence of Shakspere on the language of English poetry. II. " A History of the Criticism of the Shaksperean Drama in Germany and the countries of the Romance languages." The essays may be written in either English, French, or German. In 1864, a German Shakspere Society, with its centre in Weimar, was established by Messrs. Ulrici, Dingelstedt, Oechel- haliser, Rodenstedt, Eckhardt, Gottschall, Koster, Lemcke, Leo, and Marshall. The object of this society is to illustrate the Poet's text, and to spread a knowledge of his poetry among German readers. The first year has been eminently successful, and so also have the suc- ceeding years. They have founded a Shakspere library in Weimar, established a Shakspere Year Book, with a certainty of its continuance for some years. Professor Rodenstedt is the editor of the year book, and Dr. Ko- benstein is to furnish thereto a history of Shakspere in Germany. The tenth General Meeting of this Society SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 89 was held at Weimar, on the 23rd of April last, and the eleventh annual volume of the Society was published in the following month. In France, the works of Shakspere have made progress, though the school of which Shakespere is the representative, is widely different to that of the French. In 1745-48, Cymbeline, Hamlet, and Othello, had been introduced to the French stage by Ducis, much to the admiration of the play-goers of the city of Paris. These pieces are not really reproductions or translations of Shakspere, they are French tragedies based upon Shaksperean elements. The success of Ducis awaken- ed the curiosity of his cultivated countrymen, and made them anxious to become acquainted with the works of Shakspere. In 1749, appeared the first criticism upon the works of Shakspere in France. It was written by Voltaire, and though he judged the English bard by the rules of the school in which he himself had been trained and educated, and accordingly by them condemned Shakspere as an artist, yet he failed not to point out the great genius which marks the poet's productions. His taste was offended by what Voltaire considered Shak- spere's violations of rules, and he therefore admired him most as a great poet, and not as a dramatist. In 1776, Voltaire produced his celebrated letter to the French Academy, in which he displayed his fears that the taste for the legitimate drama among his countrymen was in danger of being destroyed by the growing taste which the French people evinced for Shakspere, whose col- lected works had just been translated by Le Tourneur, and published in France. In spite of Voltaire's opposition, Shakspere slowly but surely affected the French taste. Gradually the expansion of the French mind took place, and now the influence of Shakspere M 90 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. upon the French drama and French literature is very great. During the present century Shakspere has been translated and commented upon by Guizot, Barante, Villemain, Duport, Chasles, Deschamps, De Vigny, Victor Hugo, and others. Remarkable is the change in French opinion from the time of Voltaire to the present, for Alfred de Vigny, who has been a constant student of Shakspere for 29 years, holds that Shakspere has soared to the highest point that modern tragedy can reach ; and that he has arrived there by his disregard of artificial rules, which allowed full scope for his magni- ficent genius. In this opinion he is supported by the most brilliant of French dramatists, M. |, Victor Hugo, who above all other dramatists placeth William Shak- spere. This state of opinion in France relative to the merits of Shakspere has not been arrived at without much opposition. The disciples of Voltaire have from time to time attacked and sought to disparage the works of the bard of Avon, but their efforts have fortunately proved fruitless, for, to use the words of M. Nisard, "Time has elevated Shakspere above criticism, probably because it has raised him above eulogium." In the French language nineteen collected editions of the works of Shakspere have been published. Of separate editions of the plays, the following numbers have been brought out : COMEDIES. The Merchant of Venice, seven; The Merry Wives of Windsor, five ; The Tempest, two. HISTORIES. Henry VI., the three parts; King John, one ; and Richard III., four. TRAGEDIES. Antony and Cleopatra, one; Corio- lanus, three; Cymbeline, one ; Hamlet, fifteen ; Macbeth, seventeen ; Julius Caesar, seven ; Lear, six; Othello, eighteen ; Romeo and Juliet, nine ; Timon of Athens, five. SIIAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 9 1 In 1866, M. F. V. Hugo, the son of Victor Hugo, the talented poet, added two volumes to his translation of Shakspere, under the title of Les Apocryhes, which contains Titus Andronicus, A Yorkshire Tragedy, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Edward III., and Arden of Fe- versham. Of the poems and sonnets there have been published four editions ; &&& forty-eight works, critical and illustra- tive of Shakspere, have appeared in France. The fugitive articles which have been published in the various French literary journals on the works of Shakspere, are very numerous. In the Italian language four editions of the collected works of Shakspere have been published, besides the undermentioned plays, of which separate editions have appeared : COMEDIES. The Tempest, three ; A Midsummer Night's Dream, two ; and The Merchant of Venice, one. HISTORIES. King John, one ; Richard II., two / Henry IV., two ; and Richard III., three. TRAGEDIES. Coriolanus, two; Cymbeline, two ; Hamlet, three ; Julius Caesar, four ; King Lear, two ; Macbeth, five ; Othello, six ; and Romeo and Juliet, nine. Three works, critical and explanatory, have also been published in the Italian language. In the Danish language three editions of the col- lected works of Shakspere have been published. Of separate plays the following editions have been pub- lished : The Tempest, one; Merchant of Venice, one; Hamlet, two\ Twelfth Night, one; King Lear, two ; Richard III., one ; and Macbeth, two. In the Dutch language only one complete edition of the works of Shakspere has at present been produced. Q 2 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. In 1778 to 1782, an edition of selections was published, embracing fourteen of the plays. Of separate editions of the plays, the following have been published : COMEDIES. As You Like it, Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Taming the Shrew, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, one edition each ; The Mer- chant of Venice and The Tempest, four editions each ; and Much Ado about Nothing, two editions. HISTORIES. Henry IV. and King John, one edition each ; and Richard III., three editions. TRAGEDIES. Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Pericles, and King Lear, one edition each ; Romeo and Juliet, two editions ; Hamlet, four ; Antony and Cleopatra, three ; Othello, six ; Macbeth, seven ; and Titus Andron- icus, eight. Twelve writers among the Dutch have produced volumes upon the works of Shakspere. In the Swedish language one edition of the collected works has been published. This was translated by Professor Hagberg, of the University of Lun. The following plays have also been published separately : Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like it, Hamlet, Richard III., King Lear, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and The Tempest, one edition each ; Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice, three editions each. An edition of the Sonnets was published in 1871, translated by Professor C. R. Wyblom, of the University of Upsala. In the Russian language one edition of the collected works has been published, and King Lear and The Merchant of Venice have each been published sepa- rately. In the Bohemian language one edition of the col- SIIAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 93 lected works has been published. The following plays have been published separately : Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Henry IV., Henry V., Julius Caesar, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, and Richard III., one edition each ; Henry VI. and Romeo and Juliet, two editions each. In the Polish language two editions of the collected works have been published, and two editions of selections have also been been brought out. The following plays have been published separately : All's Well that Ends Well, Julius Caesar, King John, Macbeth, and Twelfth Night, one edition each ; The Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night's Dream, two editions each. In the Hungarian language one edition of the com- plete works has been published, and the following plays have been published separately: The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Measure for Measure, one edition each ; Twelfth Night, two editions. In the Friesic language there has been published, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, and Julius Caesar. In the Romaic, or Modern Greek, Hamlet and The Tempest. In the Wallachian, Romeo and Juliet. In the Spanish, Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, three editions. In the Portuguese, Othello ; in Hebrew, Othello ; and in the Bengalee, The Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet. Apart from the native language of Shakspere, editions of his complete works have been published in ten other European languages, and editions of a portion of his plays have been published in not less than seventeen. The total number of editions of his complete works which have appeared in various languages is 94 SHAKSPEREAN STATISTICS. 569 ; the number of editions of selections is 34 ; the number of works, critical and explanatory, written upon his life, plays and poems, 1,003; the number of editions of the plays published separately, is 1,843, including all the various editions, in their altered and unaltered forms ; the number of editions of plays ascribed to him, is 134; the number of col- lected editions of his poems, is 56 ; of his poems published separately, 71 ; and the number of works of engravings, illustrative of his meaning, is no. These figures serve to show the extent and influence of the works of Shakspere, an influence, which time will increase, not destroy, for their value and worth are being universally felt, known and acknowledged. Throughout our "broad and wide" world, a more complete knowledge is swiftly and surely extending of his "world's volume," so that he " wins of all." So high is the estimation in which his works are now held that the four corners of the earth are not "ignorant" of their worth, and all men and all nations readily yield their homage and admiration. This influence is won by their comprehensiveness, their beauty, and above all their truthfulness ; and this influence will inevitably be lasting, for time must "forget itself," "blind oblivion swallow cities up," and "mighty states" be "grated to dusty nothing," ere Shakspere' s name and works shall fail to be loved, honoured and revered. ( 95 ) ON SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. TRUE Shaksperean criticism is the growth of the last hundred years. Scarcely any of the Shaksperean critics of the early and middle part of the eighteenth century understood the nature and greatness of Shakspere's works. Of the wonderful expansiveness of the myriad-minded bard they had no conception, neither did they comprehend the depth, strength, sweetness, gentleness, in fact, the universality of his genius. With some he was but a mere barbarian, warbling " his wood notes wild," a blind and wildly luxuriant ge- nius, possessing no germ of artistic power ; an untutored child of nature, whose works were distinguished by their irregularity and their want of judgment. That this view is altogether wrong, modern criticism has most triumphantly shown. This erratic poet is now found to be possessed of the most consummate power as an artist ; that not alone in the splendour of his parts does his greatness consist, but in his observance of their true form in relation to the whole ; that in con- junction with close study, he possessed the keenest powers of observation, and which ultimately led to his attainment of the highest pitch of dramatic art, com- bined with the most complete and accurate knowledge of the true development of the law of humanity. What prevailed in the critical world, was also to be 96 SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. found in the dramatic world of the same period. The actors of this time but little understood Shakspere, nor could they grapple with the might and grandeur of his productions. Garrick, who, as an actor, has been most unjustly elevated to the topmost height, was but a mere muddler, when he sought to understand the aim and intent of the Shaksperean drama, and however powerful may have been his mimetic powers, he most unmistakably failed to grapple with the force, breadth and universality which marks the works of Shakspere. He was one of the chief members of a school of tinker- ing dramatists, who, wrapt up in their own pettiness of vision, sought to add to the value and strength of the great master's work by their own infantine conceptions. In every instance of the so-called improvements which Garrick effected, he not only marred the beauty and meaning of the poet's lines, but he absolutely destroyed the force and truth of his characterisation. Such a course of procedure as this, arising as it did from a lack of power to grasp the form and structure of the Shaksperean drama, must serve, to a great extent, to lower the estimation in which Garrick should be held as an actor ; for if he failed to understand his author and that he did fail there cannot be any question how was it possible for him to form a true conception ; and if not capable of forming a true conception, how could he possibly pourtray in his attempts at representation, the intention and aim of the dramatist. That Garrick did not possess great poetic powers is a fact that cannot be disputed : he was but a mere ver- sifier, who sought to add beauty to that which was already beautiful, and to give strength and sweetness by the introduction of his own spurious ware. His mode of representing Shakspere' s plays may have SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. 9? fallen in with the notions of the play-goers of his time, and with the class of critics who set themselves up as Shaksperean commentators, none of whom, if they are to be judged by their writings, understood the breadth and greatness of the poet of humanity. The plays of Shakspere which Garrick altered, produced and pub- lished as his own versions, have, with but one ex- ception, been banished from the stage, and that ex- ception is " Katharine and Petruchio," one of the most detestable of his alterations ; one, in which broad buffoonery usurps the place of humour, and vulgar comicalities and trickery pass current for the variety of character so truthfully pourtrayed in Shakspere' s "The Taming of the Shrew." The breadth and unction of the introduction are entirely lost, and the remaining characters are but mere scarecrows, without the life and genius of the Shaksperean world. Garrick's alteration of " The Winter's Tale " affords further evidence of his want of power to understand the author he sought to improve. In his version, the first three acts of Shak- spere are nearly wholly left out, and the last two acts are so intermixed with the rubbish of Garrick, that a very singular mosaic is the result. Another proof of the greatness of Garrick as a Shaksperean actor, and his profound knowledge of the Shaksperean drama, is shown in his version of the tragedy of Hamlet. In his adaptation of this great work for the purposes of repre- sentation, he altered many of the scenes and changed the incidents and language ; he also omitted the characters of the grave-diggers and the grave -digging scene, because it was low and vulgar, a mere exposition of common-place humanity, which interfered with his notions of the gentility and grandeur of the tragedy, thus displaying the littleness of his knowledge of human N 98 SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. life and human character, and how incapable he was of understanding the poet whom he sought to pourtray. To do full justice to the many-sidedness which characterizes some of Shakspere's creations, and more especially that of Hamlet, requires an intellectual force and power that Garrick never possessed. He had not undergone that high mental training so necessary for the cultivation of his perceptive and reflective faculties, nor did he possess the requisite development of mental power to fathom the profound depths of the philosophic prince, and thus he could not have been great in his representation of the character, because he could not be true to the author's meaning. The views and opinions held relative to this tragedy, and, in fact, to the whole of Shakspere's works, have undergone a complete change. But little mental power in the early part of the last century was brought to bear upon the poet's works, and what little there was, was marred by the classic medium through which these writers looked. The knowledge which we now possess of Shakspere's works has been gradually built up and developed by the critical writers of Ger- many, and those of our own country. From the com- mencement of the present century both English and German critics have been actively engaged in seeking to disseminate a more correct knowledge of the Shak- sperean drama, yet most of the actors of this country from that time have not readily availed themselves of the advantages of such knowledge, nor have the great body of the actors of the present day made themselves conversant with the world of Shaksperean literature, in which this knowledge of, and development of the poet's meaning is to be found. How few actors have studied the works of Lessing, Goethe, Schlegel and Gervinus, SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. 99 with a view to obtain a knowledge of Shakspere, and how few have made a study of the criticisms of Coleridge, one of the most profound critics upon Shakspere which our country has produced. The numerous Shaksperean works with which our literature now abounds, and whose character and tone has been materially assisted by our German brethren, have not yet had that deep perusal by the members of the dramatic profession that their import- ance demands, and until this is done, we shall fail to see that true interpretation of the tragedy of Hamlet which is so necessary to the success of the actor and the play. The advantage of the study of these writers upon Shakspere, by the actors, arises in the fact, that the works which they have written prepare the actor for the perception of the whole, as well as his own part. They also add to the general knowledge of the intent of the dramatist, and thus the actor would be enabled to give a truer artistic interpretation, combined with a higher degree of intelligence, and, therefore, approxi- mate more closely to a perfect representation of the poet's meaning. The mind of Hamlet is essentially contemplative. He is constantly engaged in thought, evolving from within the nature and consequences of the deed he wishes to perform. Hamlet, as it were, foresees the result to himself and others if he takes action, and this knowledge prevents him from acting. Thus he allows opportunities to pass by, that would readily have been seized upon by those possessed of less mental powers, and would not like him have thought " too precisely upon the event." Inactivity is thus produced by great thinking, such being the result of a high intellectual development. The greatness of Hamlet's intellectual powers requires an almost corresponding degree of 100 SHAKSPEREAN ACTING. intellectual development in his representative; and unfortunately this force of character is mostly found wanting in those who seek to represent the Danish prince. The public who now read Shakspere and really make themselves familiar with his lines, will no longer tolerate the stilted style of acting of the past, nor the constant running in the conventional groove of the present. They want and require, apart from a special knowledge of the stage, that breadth of intellect which can comprehend and grapple with the subtlety and grandeur of the poet's meaning, when companies seek to represent such tragedies as Hamlet, and actors to per- sonate such characters as the philosophic Prince of Denmark. FOISTER & JAGG, PRINTERS, PETTY CURY, CAMBRIDGE, 14 DAY USE RN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. 8Dec59JO to immediate recall 14May6l-RH .D 21A-50i-4,'59 (Al724slO)476B .General Library University of California Berkeley