first composition at least as early as 1597; and for various reasons adduced by Mr. George Chalmers, we may presume that it was revised, and the additions made to it in the year 1600.

The first entry on the Stationers' books is by James Roberts, July 26, 1602; and a copy of the play in its first state, printed for N. L. and John Trundell in 1603, has recently been discovered. The variations of this early copy from the play of Hamlet in its improved state, are too numerous and striking to admit a doubt of the play having been subsequently revised, amplified, and altered by the poet.

It again issued from the press in 1604 in its corrected and amended state, and in the title-page is stated to be "newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much again as it was, according to the true and perfect copy. From these words Malone had drawn the natural conclusion, that a former less perfect copy had issued from the press, but his star was not propitious; he never saw it. Though it is said to have formed part of the collection of Sir Thomas Hanmer, it only came to light at the commencement of the present year (1825); too late, alas! even to gratify the enthusiasm of his zealous friend, that worthy man James Boswell, upon whom devolved the office of giving to the world the accumulated labours of Malone's latter years, devoted to the illustration of Shakspere.'

NOTE 3, PAGE 7.

Marcellus says to Bernardo when alluding to the disappearance of the Ghost,

"It faded on the crowing of the cock,"

a superstition popular in Shakspere's time, and which can be traced, like many others, to a very remote period.

Philostratus giving an account of the apparition of Achilles' shade to Appollonius of Tyanna, says "that it vanished with a little gleam as soon as the cock crowed.

NOTE 4, PAGE 10.

Dr. Ferriar in his essay on Apparitions, remarks, "It has often occurred to me that Hamlet's state of mind can only be understood as the consequence of conflicting passions and events operating on a frame of acute sensibility,―latent lunacy. He feigns madness for political purposes, while the poet means to represent his understanding as really and unconsciously to himself unhinged by the cruel circumstances in which he is placed. The horror of the communication made by his father's spectre, the necessity of belying his attachment to an innocent and deserving object, the certainty of his mother's guilt, and the supernatural impulse by which he is goaded to an act of assassination abhorrent to his nature, are causes sufficient to overwhelm and distract a mind previously disposed to "weakness and to melancholy," and originally full of tenderness and natural affection.

By referring to the play it will be seen that his real insanity is only developed after the mock play. Then in place of a systematic conduct conducive to his purposes, he becomes irresolute, inconsequent; and the plot appears to stand unaccountably still. Instead of striking at his object, he resigns himself to the current of events, and sinks at length ignobly under the stream."

NOTE 5, PAGE 10.

In a paper relating to the character of Hamlet read before the Shakspere club, the author, William Harding, Esq., very ingeniously argued that the melancholy of Hamlet must be considered as a species of lunacy, described by medical writers. With much originality of thought Mr. H. endeavoured to show that the feigned insanity of Hamlet was developed in his disposition, the whole tenor of his feelings being closely in alliance with madness itself. The subject having produced an animated and interesting discussion, Joseph George, Esq., one of the original promoters of the club, in opposing these views, evinced much eloquence, and displayed, as usual, that accurate and extensive erudition for which he is so much distinguished in all that is connected with England's great dramatic bard.

The diversity of opinion that prevailed throughout the evening elicited much curious and useful information, proving, however, at the same time, that the real character of the Danish prince is, perhaps, still a desideratum in dramatic literature.

The Shakspere club having principally for its object the illustration of the works of our great poet, has now continued its sittings for four successive winters, during which period a number of excellent papers have been produced, forming, whilst exploring the treasure of his mighty genius, a source of amusement truly intellectual:-the dramas of Shakspere, presenting each in themselves a faithful mirror of human existence, the progress of the moral and mental faculties of our nature have been traced, and the intricacies of human passion fully developed, verifying what Pope has justly said,

"The proper study of mankind is man.

As a member of an institution affording to the student of literature an extensive field for deep thought and profound reflection, the author of these pages cannot omit this opportunity of expressing the satisfaction which he has often felt whilst surrounded by individuals possessing, in an eminent degree, that urbanity and refinement of manner which constitute the gentleman and scholar;-influenced by a taste for pursuits so edifying, it must have often led them, during those hours of rational recreation, to look with an eye of pity upon those who pass an inglorious existence through the lowest grades of amusement, carried down the stream of profligate folly, and debased by habits which, in the end, prove neither useful to themselves, nor to their fellow creatures.

NOTE 6, PAGE 11.

The records of history furnish us with various instances of the like nature; among which we may allude to the story related of Archælaus, the supposed son of Mark Antony, by an intrigue with Glaphyra, the wife of the high priest of Cormanæ. Archælaus, according to the historian Dion, retained the kingdom of Cappadocia under Augustus, but incurring the displeasure of the pitiless tyrant Tiberius, he was summoned to Rome, where he escaped a violent death, by assuming the counterfeit of madness.

NOTE 7, PAGE 13.

The following is from a work of great merit, developing throughout its pages a profound and comprehensive view of the moral and intellectual functions of man. The author, in allud

ing to the slow and gradual advance of the human mind, says, -"Four hundred years have not elapsed since the arts of printing and engraving were invented, without which, knowledge could not be disseminated through the mass of mankind; and up to the present hour, the art of reading is by no means general over the world; so that, even now, the means of calling man's rational nature into activity, although discovered, are but very imperfectly supplied. It is only five or six centuries since the mariner's compass was known in Europe, without which, even philosophers could not ascertain the most common facts regarding the size, form, and productions of the earth. It is but three hundred and forty-three years since one-half of the habitable globe, America, became known to the other half, and considerable portions of it are still unknown even to the best informed inquirers. It is little more than two hundred years since the circulation of the blood was discovered, previously to which it was impossible, even for physicians to form any correct idea of the uses of many of man's corporeal organs, and of their relations to external nature. Haller, who flourished in the early part and middle of the last century, may be regarded as the founder of human physiology as a science of observation. It is only between forty and fifty years since the true functions of the brain and nervous system were discovered; before which, we possessed no adequate means of becoming acquainted with our mental constitution, and its adaptation to external circumstances and beings. It is no more than sixtyone years since the study of chemistry, or of the constituent elements of the globe was put into a philosophical condition by Dr. Priestley's discovery of oxygen; and hydrogen was discovered so lately as 1766, or sixty-nine years ago. Before that time people were comparatively ignorant of the qualities and relations of the most important material agents with which they were surrounded. At present this knowledge is still in its infancy, as will appear from an enumeration of the dates. of several other important discoveries. Electricity was discovered in 1728, galvanism in 1794, gas-light about 1798; and steam-boats, steam-looms, and the safety lamp in our own day.

It is only of late years that the study of geology has been seriously begun; without which we could not know the past changes in the physical structure of the globe, a matter of much importance as an element in judging of our present position in the world's progress. This science also is still in its infancy. An inconceivable extent of territory remains to be explored, from the examination of which the most interesting and instructive conclusions will probably present themselves. In astronomy, too, the discoveries of the two Herschels promise to throw additional light on the early history of the globe.

The mechanical sciences are at this moment in full play, putting forth vigorous shoots, and giving the strongest indications of youth, and none of decay.

The science of morals and of governments are still in many respects in a crude condition.

În consequence, therefore, of his profound ignorance, man in all ages has been directed in his pursuits by the mere impulse of his strongest propensities, formerly to war and conquest, and now to accumulating wealth, without having framed his habits and institutions in conformity with correct and enlightened views of his own nature and its real interests and wants. Up to the present day, the mass of the people in every nation have remained essentially ignorant, the tools of interested leaders, or the creatures of their own blind impulses, unfavourably situated for the development of their rational nature; and they constituting the great majority, necessarily influence the condition of the rest. But at last, the arts and sciences seem to be tending towards abridging human labour, so as to force leisure on the mass of the people; while the elements of useful knowledge are so rapidly increasing, the capacity of the operatives for instruction is so generally recognised, and the means of communicating it are so powerful and abundant, that a new era may fairly be considered as having commenced."—(The Constitution of Man considered in Relations to External Objects; by George Combe, 4th edition, page 28).

NOTE 8, PAGE 13.

An elegant and distinguished author of the present day, when alluding to the sonnets of Shakspere, in a strain of great eloquence and beauty, breaks forth into the following just but plaintive reflections," There the immortal poet pours out his