Note return to page 1 *A very eminent writer hath severely ridiculed these imitations, by saying that the best he ever saw, had copied Shakespeare only in the following line. And so good morrow to you, good master lieutenant.

Note return to page 2 †R. B. Esq; as the author was informed by capt. M&wblank;, who gave him Mr. G's letter.

Note return to page 3 *The author being so far of opinion with Dr. Johnson, that, notwithstanding the many excellencies with which Shakespeare's plays abound, there is not one of them perhaps, which, if we take it all together, would go down with an audience, if represented as a new performance.—Mr. Garrick appeared also to be of the same opinion; observing in his letter above mentioned, that there would be some risque in bringing on so many of Shakespeare's known characters in a new piece.—It is on this circumstance, however, that the merit of the imitation in a great degree depends; so that to have altered it for the stage would have in a great measure perverted the design of writing it.

Previous section