Isaac Reed
(1742 - 1807)
- Introduction
- Reed as Editor, by J. Parker Norris
- Reed's Advertisement to the Johnson-Steevens-Reed text of 1785
- Links to Other Works by Reed
Reed, one of the most admirable, assiduous, and self-effacing editors of Shakespeare (and many other Renaissance authors) ever to live was born the son of a Fleet Street baker. He became a lawyer, but had no love for his profession, using his leisure in literary study. He accumulated a large, excellent library of old books and put them at the disposal of literary researchers. James Boswell, biographer of Dr. Johnson, wrote of him: "who have the pleasure of his acquaintance can bear testimony to the frankness of his communications in private society" (The Life of Samuel Johnson). Reed's closest associates were Dr. Farmer (author of "Shakespeare's Learning") and, of course, the great, but ill-tempered, Shakespearean editor George Steevens. Remarkably Reed never seems to have quarreled with Steevens, something very few, if any, others could achieve. Reed's Advertisement to the 1785 edition of the works, given below, shows why. He was modest, deferential and entirely self-effacing. In 1778, when the first Johnson-Steevens-Reed text appeared, he wrote to John Nichols, saying "I declare I have such a horror of seeing my name as Author or Editor, that if I had the option of standing in the pillory, or in standing formally before the publick in either of those lights, I should find it difficult to determine which to choose..." (quoted in Murphy, Shakespeare in Print, p. 92). Steevens enlisted Reeds help in the preparation of the 1778 edition, but gave the editorship of the 1785 edition over entirely to Reed, though he continued to supply materials. In 1793, Steevens again took the exclusive lead ad editor of that edition, which appeared in 15 volumes, but often did his work in Reed's library and profited from Reed's suggestions. Steevens left Reed his corrected copy of Shakespeare's Works at his death, in 1800, and Reed was responsible for the first great variorum edition in 1803, incorporating all of Steevens' materials and notes of others, including Reed himself. Reed died in 1807 and is buried at Amwell. His variorum edition was re-issued in 1813, completed by William Harris, librarian of the Royal Institution. Reed's very valuable library was sold after his death in 1807. (For details and a list of Reed's publications, almost all of which are in the capacity of editor, see his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography).
Reed as Editor, by J. Parker Norris, Shakespeariana, vol. III, 1886 p. 510-515
The parents of Isaac Reed were of humble origin, and resided in the parish of St. Dunstan's—in the West, London, where he was born. His father was a baker, and owing to delicate health Isaac's younger years were passed at home. He afterwards went to school at Streatham. He was articled as a clerk to the firm of Perrott and Hodgson, attorneys, and remained with them some time. Subsequently he was assistant to Mr. Hoskins, a conveyancer, and continued with him for about a year, when he established himself in Gray's Inn, in the same profession. He devoted himself to literature also, however, and his first venture seems to have been the publication of the poetical works of the Hon. Lady Mary Wortley Montague in one volume duodecimo, in 1768. In 1773 he issued a collection of the Cambridge Prize Poems from 175o to that time; and in 1777 commenced the publication of The Repository : a Select Collection of Fugitive Pieces of Wit and Humour, in Prose and Verse, by the most eminent Writers. This work was in four volumes in octavo, and the last volume was issued in 1783. In 1778 he issued an edition of Middleton's Witch, and in 178o he edited Dodsley's Old Plays, in twelve volumes, octavo. This work also contained notes, and involved much labor.
In £782 he issued Dodsley's Collection of Poems, with Biographical Notes, in six volumes octavo; and the same year Biographia Dram-atica in two volumes octavo; and in 1783 he published Pearch's Col¬lection of Poems, in four volumes octavo.
He had a large and valuable library, which was especially rich in old English literature. After his death the library was sold at auction and the sale is referred to by Didbin, in his Bibliomania. He died January 5th, 1807, and was buried at Amwell.
His friend George Steevens had published two editions of Shake-speare, in 1773 and 1779, which had been all sold. The booksellers required another edition, and Steevens declined to again act as editor, but suggested Reed's name. In x785 the work appeared in ten volumes octavo. The title page is as follows :
The Plays of William Shakespeare. In ten volumes. With the Corrections and Illustrations of Various Commentators ; to which are added Notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The Third Edition, Revised and augumented by the Editor of Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays...MDCCLXXXV.
There is prefixed to Volume I. a well executed engraving from the Chandos portrait, by John Hall. It is however entirely unlike that painting. The same plates of the Droeshout engraving, and Marshall's copy of it, which were used in Steevens' 1778 edition, are also in this volume. So is the plate of fac-similes of Shakespeare's autographs which was used in that edition.
There is first printed Reed's "Advertisement," which occupies four pages, and is dated November 10th, 1785 ; then comes Dr. Johnson's preface ; which is followed by Steevens' "Advertisement" to the 1778 edition ; then comes a list of ancient translations, etc.; and the dedication and preface of the First Folio are followed by the prefaces of Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, and Warburton ; then there is given Steevens' "Advertisement " to his " Twenty Plays." Rowe's life of Shakespeare comes next, and the grant of arms to the poet's father ; his will, the Stratford Register extracts ; commendatory poems ; list of ancient editions of the poet's plays ; works on the same; extracts from the books of the Stationers' Company ; Malone's essay on the order of the plays, etc., follow. Then come the plays, which are printed in the order of the First Folio.
The work is mainly a reprint of Steevens' edition of 1778, and Reed's labors were not very heavy. In his "Advertisement " Reed remarks :
Where the very great and various talents of the last Editor, particularly for this Work, are considered, it will occasion much regret to find, that having superintended two Editions of his favourite Author through the press, he has at length declined the laborious office, and committed the care of the present Edition to one who laments with the rest of the world the secession of his predecessor ; being conscious, as well of his own inferiority, as of the injury the publication will sustain by the change.
As some alterations have been made in the present Edition, it may be thought necessary to point them out. These are of two kinds, additions and omissions.
The additions are such as have been supplied by the last Editor, and the principal of the living Commentators. To mention these assistances, is sufficient to excite expectation ; but to speak of anything in their praise will be superfluous to those who are acquainted with their former labours. Some remarks are also added from new Commentators, and some notices extracted from books which have been published in the course of a few years past.
Of the omissions, the most important are some notes which have been demonstrated to be ill founded, and some which were supposed to add to the size of the volumes without increasing their value. It may probably have happened that a few are rejected which ought to have been retained ; and in that case the present Editor, who has been the occasion of their removal, will feel some concern from the injustice of his proceeding. He is however inclined to believe that what he has omitted will be pardoned by the Reader ; and that the liberty which he has taken will not be thought to have been licentiously indulged. In all events, that the censure may fall where it ought, he desires it to be understood that no person is answerable for any of those innovations but himself.
It has been observed by the last Editor, that the multitude of instances which have been produced to exemplify particular words, and explain obsolete customs, may, when the point is once known to be established, be diminished by any future Editor, and, in conformity to this opinion, several questions, which were heretofore properly introduced, are now curtailed. Were an apology required on this occasion, the present Editor might shelter himself under the authority of Prior, who long ago said,
That when one's proofs are aptly chosen,
Four are as valid as four dozen.The present Editor thinks it unnecessary to say anything of his own share in the Work, except that he undertook it in consequence of an application which was too flattering and too houourable to him to decline. He mentions this only to have it known that he did not intrude himself into the situation. He is not insensible, that the task would have been better executed by many other gentlemen, and particularly by some whose names appear to the notes. He has added but little to the bulk of the volumes from his own observations, having upon every occasion rather chosen to avoid a note, than to court the opportunity of inserting one. The liberty he has taken of omitting some remarks, he is confident, has been exercised without partiality ; and therefore, trusting to the candour and indulgence of the public, will forbear to detain them any longer from the entertainment they may receive from the greatest Poet of this or any other nation.
In the above Reed gives a very fair account of his duty as editor of this edition. The work in nearly all particulars is a reprint of Steevens' 1778 edition. Reed added some notes of his own, which are signed , "Editor." The fact of his having edited Dodsley's Old Plays, and his general familiarity with the old drama, was of the greatest assistance to him, as it enabled him to add to the illustration of Shakespeare's text in this direction.
In 1803, another edition, edited by Reed, appeared in twenty-one volumes octavo. The title page to Volume I. is as follows :
The Plays of William Shakespeare. In twenty-one volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators. To which are added notes, by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The fifth edition. Revised and augmented by Isaac Reed, with a glossarial index...
The title-pages to the other volumes merely have "The Plays of William Shakespeare," the number of the volume, and the contents, besides the names of the publishers as above and the place of publication and date.
There is prefixed to the first volume an engraving of the Felton portrait, by J. Neagle. It is fairly well done, but the expression is not as soft as in the original portrait. Neagle changed the stiff ruff somewhat, to make it look more like a linen collar, and the costume that he added is a plain black gown, entirely different from the Droeshout engraving.
There is a preface by Reed (which he calls an " Advertisement," and the preliminary matter is much the same as in the edition of 1785, with the exception that Malone's historical account of the English stage is reprinted entire, and the additions to it by Steevens' and Chalmers are also given. The plays are arranged very much in the order of the First Folio except that Macbeth precedes King John and that Romero and Juliet and The Comely of Errors follow Othello.
In his preface Reed tells us that this edition contains "the last improvements and corrections of Mr. Steevens, by whom it was prepared for the press." He further remarks that it "is faithfully printed from the copy given by Mr. Steevens to the proprietors of the preceding edition, in his life-time; with such additions as, it is presumed, he would have received had he lived to determine on them himself."
This edition is the foundation on which was built the variorum editions of 1813 and 1821. It contains nearly all the notes that are in the latter, and while the text is not as good as that of 1821, the book is for most purposes very nearly as valuable for reference as the edition of 1821, which has attained the distinction of being called "the variorum."
In 1813 this edition was reprinted in twenty-one volumes octavo, the proof-sheets being revised by Mr. Harris, librarian of the Royal Institution. Copies of it were also printed on large paper, in royal octavo. Prefixed to the first volume is an engraving of the Felton portrait, by W. Holl. It is fair, but the soft expression of the original has not been fully preserved.
As before stated Reed's services as editor consisted principally in adding notes from old English literature explanatory of his author's text. The text itself he did not meddle with. While he was somewhat obscured by the greater lights of his day, Steevens and Malone, still his services must not be overlooked, and the praise awarded to him which is his due.
J. PARKER NORRIS.
Reed's Advertisement to the Johnson-Steevens-Reed text of 1785 (from the Steevens edition of 1793)
ADVERTISEMENT
Before the Third Edition, 1785.
[1] The works of Shakspeare, during the last twenty years, have been the objects of publick attention more than at any former period. In that time the various editions of his performances have been examined, his obscurities illuminated, his defects pointed out, and his beauties displayed, so fully, so accurately, and in so satisfactory a manner, that it might reasonably be presumed little would remain to be done by either new editors or new commentators : yet, though the diligence and sagacity of those gentlemen1 who contributed towards the last edition of this author may seem to have almost exhausted the subject, the same train of enquiry has brought to light new discoveries, and accident will probably continue to produce further illustrations, which may render some alterations necessary in every succeeding republication. Since the last edition of this work in 1778, the zeal for elucidating Shakspeare, which appeared in most of the gentlemen whose names are affixed to the notes, has suffered little abatement. The same persevering spirit of enquiry has continued to exert itself, and the same laborious search into the literature, the manners, and the customs of the times, which was formerly so successfully employed, has remained undiminished. By these aids some new information has been obtained, and some new materials collected. From the assistance of such. writers, even Shakspeare will receive no discredit.
[2] When the very great and various talents of the last editor2, particularly for this work, are considered, it will occasion much regret to find, that having superintended two editions of his favourite author through the press, he has at length declined the laborious office, and committed the care of the present edition to one who laments with the rest of the world the secession of his predecessor ; being conscious, as well of his own inferiority, as of the injury the publication will sustain by the change.
[3] As some alterations have been made in the present edition, it may be thought necessary to point them out. These are of two kinds, additions and omissions. The additions are such as have been supplied by the last editor, and the principal of the living commentators. To mention these assistances, is sufficient to excite expectation; but to speak any thing in their praise will be superfluous to those who are acquainted with their former labours. Some remarks are also added from new commentators, and some notices extracted from books which have been published in the course of a few years past.
[4] Of the omissions, the most important are some notes which have been demonstrated to be ill founded, and some which were supposed to add to thy size of the volumes without increasing their value. It may probably have happened that a few rejected which ought to have been retained ; and in that case the present editor, who has been the occasion of their removal, will feel some concern from the injustice of his proceeding. He is however inclined to believe, that what he has omitted will be pardoned by the reader; and that the liberty which he has taken will not be thought to have been licentiously indulged. At all events, that the censure may fall where it ought, he desires it to be understood that no person is answerable for any of these innovations but himself.
[5] It has been observed by the last editor, that the multitude of instances which have been produced to exemplify particular words, and explain obsolete customs, may, when the point is once known to be established, be diminished by any future editor, and, in conformity to this opinion, several quotations, which were heretofore properly introduced, are now curtailed. Were an apology required on this occasion, the present editor might shelter himself under the authority of Prior, who long ago has said,
"That when one's proofs are aptly chosen,
Four are as valid as four dozen."[6] The present editor thinks it unnecessary to say any thing of his own share in the work, except that he undertook it in consequence of an application which was too flattering and too honourable to him to decline. He mentions this only to have it known that he did not intrude himself into the situation. He is not insensible, that the task would have been better executed by many other gentlemen, and particularly by some whose names appear to the notes. He has added but little to the bulk of the volumes from his own observations, having, upon every occasion, rather chosen to avoid a note, than to court the opportunity of inserting one. The liberty he has taken of omitting some remarks, he is confident, has been exercised without prejudice and without partiality; and therefore, trusting to the candour and indulgence of the publick, will forbear to detain them any longer from the entertainment they may receive from the greatest poet of this or any other nation. REED.
Nov. 10, 1785.
1. Reed refers primarily to Dr. Samuel Johnson and George Steevens' notes and other commentary published in the edition of 1778. See my introduction to Steevens for details on the Johnson-Steevens-Reed texts, which, beginning with Johnson's edition alone, were published (originally) in 1765, 1773, 1778, 1785 (the edition to which this serves as Preface), 1803 (after the death of all the principles but Reed) and 1813. Dr. Johnson had little to do with the edition of 1773, and nothing to do with the remaining editions (he died in 1784), though his name continued to appear on the title page down to the 1813 edition, and on throughout the 19th century because of its "star value" in promoting sales. [Return to text]
2.
George Steevens. Reed assisted Steevens on the
edition of 1778, and was one of the few men with whom
the volatile Steevens never quarreled. The text of
the second paragraph shows why. It is said that
during the printing of Steevens' great 1793 edition of
the Works, he arose in his home in Hempstead at 1 a.m.
and walked to London, first to the printers, to get the
day's proofs, and then to the house of Reed, where a key
had been preserved for him. Upon entry, he had
Reed's library at his disposal, and he work on the
proofs of his edition, making corrections, and thereby
the printing of the edition was not delayed.
Steevens contributed materials to the 1785 edition, but
refused to superintend it. [Return
to text]
