Note (return) — Miscellaneous.

That well-worn quotation, "who shall decide when doctors disagree," must, we should think, invariably suggest itself to the reader of every new book upon the subject of Shakspeare's text. A few months since Mr. Collier gave to the world a volume of Notes and Emendations from Early Manuscript Corrections in a Copy of the Folio 1632[1], which was hailed by many, ourselves among the number, as a most valuable contribution to Shakspearian literature. From this favourable view of these manuscript emendations, many whose opinions upon such matters deserve the highest respect at once avowed their dissent; and we now find that we have to add to this number Mr. Singer, who has given us the result of his examination of them in a volume entitled The Text of Shakspeare vindicated from the Interpolations and Corruptions advocated by John Payne Collier, Esq., in his Notes and Emendations. No one can put forth higher claims to speak with authority on any points connected with Shakspeare than Mr. Singer, who has devoted a life to the study of his writings; and none can rise from a perusal of his book without recognising in it evidence of Mr. Singer's fitness for editing the works of our great dramatist, and feeling anxious for his revised edition of them. But we think many will regret that, while pointing out the Notes and Emendations from which he dissents, Mr. Singer should not have noticed those which he regards with favour; and that, in his anxiety to vindicate the purity of Shakspeare's text from the anonymous emendator, he should have embodied that vindication in language, which, though we are quite sure it is unintentional on his part, gives his book almost a personal character, instead of one purely critical.