Page:Observations on an autograph of Shakespeare, and the orthography of his name.djvu/22

 14 mortgage deed. This, also was found among Mr. Featherstonehaugh's evidences, and in I796 was in the hands of Mr. Wallis, who lent it to Malone to print in his often-quoted "Inquiry." Here the signature is, beyond all cavil or suspicion, William Shakspeṝ, where the mark above is the usual abbreviation of the period for the final e. To these we have now to add the autograph before us, in Florio's volume, which so unquestionably decides in favour of Shakspere, that in this manner I shall beg leave in future to write it; since I know no reason why we should not sooner take the poet's own authority in this point, than that of his friends or printers.

At the same time it must be admitted, that if we disregard the form traced by the poet's own hand, the whole weight of printed evidence of his time (with few exceptions), is in favour of Shakespeare as still adhered to by Mr. Collier; whose recent discoveries and publications on the subject of Shakspere and his writings, entitle him to the hearty thanks of every admirer of our great dramatic writer, both in England and abroad.