The learning and ability displayed by Malone in denouncing Ireland's most clumsy and palpable of frauds, would have sufficed for the detection of the most cunningly conceived and skilfully executed.
Among the critics of this time may be mentioned (1) Joseph Ritson, who published in 1783 his _Remarks, &c._ on the second edition of Johnson and Steevens, and in 1788, _The Quip Modest_, on the third edition, and (2) John Monck Mason, whose _Comments_ appeared in 1785, and _Further Observations_ in 1798.
In 1803 appeared an edition in 21 volumes 8vo, edited by Isaac Reed. This is called on the title-page 'the Fifth Edition,' _i.e._ of Johnson and Steevens. It is generally known as the first _variorum_ edition. Chalmers's edition, 9 vols. 8vo, 1805, professes to be printed from the corrected text left by Steevens. The 'sixth edition' of Johnson and Steevens, or the second _variorum_, appeared in 1813, also edited by Reed; the 'seventh,' or third _variorum_, in 1821, edited by James Boswell, from a corrected copy left by Malone.
Among those whose notes were communicated to or collected by various editors from Johnson to Boswell, the best known names are the following: Sir William Blackstone, Dr Burney, Bennet Langton, Collins the poet, Sir J. Hawkins, Musgrave, the editor of _Euripides_, Dr Percy, editor of the _Reliques_, and Thomas Warton. Less known names are: Blakeway, J. Collins, Henley, Holt White, Letherland, Roberts, Seward, Smith, Thirlby, Tollet, and Whalley[14].
Harness's edition, 8 volumes, 8vo, appeared in 1825.
Of the comments published separately during the present century the principal are:
1. _Remarks, &c._, by E. H. Seymour, 2 vols, 8vo, 1805, in which are incorporated some notes left by Lord Chedworth.
2. _Shakspeare's himself again_, by Andrew Becket, 2 vols, 8vo. 1815. The author has indulged in a license of conjecture and of interpretation which has never been equalled before or since. We have nevertheless generally given his conjectures, except when he has gone the length of inventing a word.
3. _Shakspeare's Genius Justified_, by Zachary Jackson, 1 vol. 8vo, 1811. As the author himself had been a printer, his judgement on the comparative likelihood of this and that typographical error is worth all consideration. But he sometimes wanders 'ultra crepidam[15].'