mine, but that of some former proprietor, who has given in the first page an imperfect list of the plays.”
In 1790 little appears of his correspondence, and nothing in the Anecdote Journal. Shakspeare occupied close attention; and eight years’ gestation had brought it to the verge of birth. “When I first undertook to give an edition of his works,” he says in a pamphlet written soon afterwards, “it did not appear to me so arduous a work as I found it.” Very few but the experienced, calculate the time or the labour necessary to a book, of which research and conflicting opinions form the distinguishing features. It had been long expected by the host of Shakspearians who flutter in the press either as admirers of the poet, or rivals of every new editor. His friends occasionally gave hints of their expectations; and we may readily believe that he was willing enough to take rest for a time from a labour, the ramifications of which on relative points had extended far beyond his original conceptions.
Toward the end of the year (November) appeared The plays and Poems of William Shakspeare in Ten Volumes. In fact there were eleven; the first being divided into two parts for the introduction of preliminary matter necessary to the comprehensive view taken of all the bearings of the subject.
The preface occupied above seventy pages; followed by that of Dr. Johnson; Steevens' Advertisement; ancient translations from classic authors, chiefly by Steevens; Pope’s preface; dedication and preface of Heminge and Condell; Rowe’s life of Shakspeare augmented by the Editor; anecdotes of
