Page:A letter to the Rev. Richard Farmer.djvu/13

 to every intelligent reader of this poet; not only as the era when that gentleman firt undertook the arduous tak of illutrating his dramas by the contemporary writers, a tak which he executed with great ability, but becaue the mot concluive Eay that ever appeared on a ubject of criticim, was then written, and the long-agitated quetion concerning the learning of Shakpeare was for ever decided. In the year 1780, fourteen years after Mr. Steevens's work was firt undertaken, and two years after the econd edition of it had appeared, I publihed a Supplement to that edition in two volumes, in the preface to which is the paragraph above quoted. Having a very high opinion of the diligence, acutenes, and learning of Mr. Steevens, to whom all the admirers of Shakpeare have great obligations, I in common with the ret of the publick conidered myelf as much indebted to his labours; and therefore did not then heitate to ay that the text of the author on which he had been above twelve years employed, eemed to be finally ettled. If I had ued a till tronger phrae, ome allowance might be made for the partiality of friendhip, and for that repect which is due from every cholar to knowledged