We have received a copy of _Notes and Emendations on the Text of
Shakspeare's Plays from Early Manuscript Corrections in a Copy of the Folio
in the Possession of J. Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A., forming a Supplemental
Volume to the Works of Shakspeare, by the same Editor, in Eight Volumes,
8vo._ With the nature of this volume the readers of "N. & Q." are already
so fully acquainted, from the frequent references which have been made to
it in these columns, that on this occasion we feel that we need do little
more than record its publication, and the fact that it appears to be edited
with the same scrupulous care, for which all works which appeared under the
superintendence of Mr. Collier are invariably distinguished. That all the
critics will agree either with the MS. corrections, or with Mr. Collier in
his estimate of the value of the emendations, is not to be expected; but
all will acknowledge that he has done good service to Shakspearian
literature by their publication.
"The New Year," observes _The Athenæum_, "opens with some announcements of
promise in our own literary world. Mr. Bentley announces the Memorials and
Correspondence of Charles James Fox, on which the late Lord Holland was
understood to be so long engaged. The work, however, is now to be edited by
Lord John Russell, and to extend to two volumes octavo. The same publisher
promises a history, in one large volume, of 'The Administration of the East
India Company,' by Mr. Kaye, author of the 'History of the War in
Affghanistan;' and a 'History (in two volumes octavo) of the Colonial
Policy of the British Empire from 1847 to 1851,' by the present Earl
Grey.--The fifth and concluding volume of 'The Letters of the Earl of
Chesterfield,' including some new letters now first published from the
original MSS., under the editorship, as before, of Lord Mahon, will, we
believe, shortly appear.--Two volumes of 'Letters of the Poet Gray,' so
often announced by Mr. Bentley, are to come out at last during the present
season. They will be edited by the Rev. J. Mitford, author of 'The Life of
Gray.'--Nor is Mr. Murray without his usual attractive bill of fare for the
literary appetite. The Lowe Papers, left in a mass of confusion at the
death of Sir Harris Nicolas, are now nearly ready; and the St. Helena Life
of Napoleon will appear, it is said, for the first time, as far as Sir
Hudson Lowe is concerned, in its true light. The Castlereagh Papers (now in
Mr. Murray's hands) will include matter of moment connected with the
Congress of Vienna, the Battle of Waterloo, and the occupation of Paris.
The same publisher announces The Speeches of the Duke of Wellington (to
which we called attention some time back):--also a work by Mr. George
Campbell, called 'India as it may be,'--and another by Captain Elphinstone
Erskine about the Western Pacific and Feejee Islands.--The Messrs. Longman
announce a Private Life of Daniel Webster, by his late Private Secretary,
Mr. Charles Lanman--and a new work by Signor Mariotti, 'An Historical
Memoir of Fra Dolcino and his Times.'--Mr. Bohn will have ready in a few
days 'Yule-Tide Legends,' a collection of Scandinavian Tales and Tradition,
edited by B. Thorpe, Esq.--Messrs. Hurst and Blackett--whose names now take
the place of Mr. Colburn's, as his successors--are about to publish Memoirs
of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, to be compiled from original
family documents by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos."
We need scarcely remind the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries who may
have in their minds suggestions for the improvement of the Society, how
desirable it is that they should bring those suggestions at once under the
consideration of the Committee just appointed. We are sure that all such as
are submitted to Mr. Hawkins and his colleagues will receive every
attention; and we trust that the Committee will at once proceed to their
task, so that the Society may have time to well consider their Report
before the Anniversary in April.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--_Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, by various
Writers_. Edited by William Smith. Part V. The new issue of this most
useful work extends from _Campi Raudii_ to _Cimolus_.--_Cyclopædia
Bibliographica, a Library Manual of Theological and General Literature,
Analytical, Bibliographical, and Biographical._ Part IV. of this useful
guide for authors, preachers, students, and literary men, extends from
Henry Bull to Isaac Chauncy.--_The Journal of Sacred Literature._ New
Series. Edited by Dr. Kitto. No. VI.--_Swift and Richardson_, by Lord
Jeffrey, is the new Number of Longman's _Traveller's Library_.--_The Goose
Girl at the Well_, &c., completes the interesting collection of Grimm's
_Household Stories_.--_The Shakspeare Repository_ is the first Number of a
work especially devoted to Shakspeare, containing a great variety of matter
illustrative of his life and writings, by J. H. Fennell.--_The Chess
Player's Chronicle_, the first Number of which professes and appears to be
an improved series of this indispensable Chess Player's companion.
* * * * *