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POLITE LITERATURE AND 
CRITICISM. 
SHAKSPEARE MSS. 
As no late occurrence in the hiftory of Do- 
meftic Literature has more excited curiofity 
than the prefent, we doubt not that we 
Shall perform an acceptable fervice to our 
readers, by laying before them a ttatement 
of the moft material part of the bufinefs, 
which we fhall continue as new circum- 
ftances take place tending to its elucida- 
tion, ©. ; 
The following is a general account of Mr. - 
Ircland’s own publication, in which his dif- 
covery is prefented to the world: 
@) ee and illuftration have 
been fo long and varioufly exercifed 
on Shak{peare, by the labours of the moft 
learned and penetrating writers of the 
Britifh nation, that it feemed as if little 
more could be gathered on the fubject, 
even in the way of explanation. Much 
Jefs did any profpeét remain, after fuch 
enquiries, that new matter would be 
found to throw additional light upon his 
character, or that unheard-of produc- 
tions from his pen fhould be fuddenly— 
brought to view. And yet fuch is really 
the cafe, if credit 1s to be given to the 
auhority of Mr. Ireland, the editor of 
this fplendid volume, and to the papers 
which he has brought forward, as well* 
asto thofe which remain in his poffef- 
fion, Ona fubject of this magnitude, it 
is natural for opinion to be fufpended, 
and even for credulity itfelf to receive 
thefe pieces with double caution. Mr, 
dreland certainly ought not to be offended 
at the jealoufy with which critics behold 
thefe productions, at the inquifitivenefs 
with which they conceive it right to ex- 
amine them, and the enquiries which 
from thence they hold themfelves autho- 
rifed to put, concerning the means of 
their difcovery, and the caufe of their 
myftericus concealment, All this is na- 
tural, as it comes within the exaét limits 
of critical juftice. At the fame time, it 
is but fair to let Mr. Ireland fpeak for 
himfelf, In his preface, he obferves, 
that, ‘* from the firft moment of this 
4< difcovery to the prefent hour, he has 
& inceffantly laboured, by every means 
§ in his power, to inform himfelf with 
s¢ refpeét to the validity of thefe intereft- 
s§ ing papers. ‘Throughout this period, 
** there has net been an ingenuous cha- 
s¢ xacker, ox difinterefted individual in 
4% Shak[peare MSS. 
[ Feb. 
“‘ the circle of literature to whofe critical 
‘eye he has not been earnefi that the 
‘whole fhould be fubjeéted. He has 
“¢ courted, he has even challenged the 
critical judgment of thofe who are beft 
“ fkilled in the poetry and phrafeology 
“of the times in which Shakfpeare 
<‘tived, as well as thefe whoie proteffion 
“or courfe of ftudy has made them con- 
“ verfant with ancient deecs, writings, 
‘< feals, and autographs. Wide and ex-- 
‘“‘tenfive as this range may appear, and 
‘¢ it includes the fcholar, the man of tafte, 
“the antiquarian, and the herald, his 
‘¢ inquiries have not refted in the ciofet 
“ of the fpeculatift; he has been equally 
“ anxious that the whole fhould be fub- 
«mitted to the praétical experience of 
“the mechanic, and be proneunced 
<< upon by the paper-maker, é&c, as well 
‘as by the author. He has ever been 
‘“‘defirous of placing them in any view, 
‘6 and under any light that could be 
“thrown upon them; and he has, in 
‘* confequence, the fatisfaétion of an- 
‘¢ nouncing to the publit, that, as far as 
‘she has been able to colleét the fenti- 
“ments of the feveral claffes of perfons — 
‘‘ above referred to, they have unani- 
‘‘ moufly teftified in favour of their au- 
‘“‘thenticity; and declared that, where 
‘there was fuch a mafs of evidences, 
‘internal and external, it was impof- 
“ fible, amidft fuch various fources of 
«“ detection, for the art of imitation to 
“ have hazarded fo much without be- 
‘“‘ traying itfelf; and, confequently, that 
<< thefe papers can be no other toan the pro- 
“ duétion of Shak{peare bimfelf.” 
To the queftion of difcovery, Mr. 
Ireland replies, that “ he received them 
“from his fon, Samuel William Henry 
* Treland, a young man then under 1g 
<‘ years of age, by whom the difcovery 
« was accidentally made, at the houfe of 
‘‘a gentleman of confiderable property. 
«* Amoneft a mafs of family papers, the 
‘contraéts between Shakfpeare, Lo- 
“¢ wine, and Condelle, and the leate 
‘ranted by him and Hemynge to Mi- ~ 
“ chael Frafer, which was firft feund, 
‘© were difcovered ; and, foon afterwards, 
“the deed of gift to William Henry Ire- 
“ land (defcribed as the friend of Shak- 
n 
“ 
fpeare, in confequence of his having 
‘faved his life on the river Thames, 
“ when in extreme danger of being 
« drowned) and alfo the deed of truft to 
‘¢ John Hemynge were difcovered. -In 
“* purfuing this fearch, he was fo fortu- 
‘nate as to meet with fome deeds very 
“6 material to the interefts of this gentle- 
s many 
