SHAKESPEARE;

A REPRINT OF THE "FAMOUS FOLIO OF 1623."

ADVERTISEMENT.

"A reprint of the firft Folio, not free from inaccuracies, was published in 1807. A fecond reprint is now in courfe of publication by Mr. Lionel Booth. The first part, containing the Comedies, has already appeared. It is probably the most correct reprint ever issued.”

A

The Cambridge Edition of Shakespeare, vol. i. Preface, p. xxvi.

MONG the many commendations bestowed on this Reprint of the First Edition of Shakespeare, none has occafioned fo much fatisfaction as the above, because, from the very nature of the labours of the learned Editors, it bears certain evidence that the principal object aimed at in the reproduction—accuracy—has been duly tested.

At the commencement of the undertaking, it was thought that a Reprint of the most important edition of Shakespeare, unless attended with that care which could alone secure thorough identity with the Original, had better remain unattempted; indeed, without extreme caution being devoted to it, the most likely refult would be an increase to the perplexities of Shakespearian criticifm-whereas, to put forth a book, the correctness of which might in every way be depended on, could not fail to be an acceptable aid to Shakespearian studies.

That the effort has been fuccefsful in refpect to Part I., now nearly two years in circulation, is certified by the fact that not a fingle queftion of its accuracy has been encountered, which has not proved to be an error or misapprehenfion of the questioner.