20 MARCH 1880, Page 24

A whole treasury of Shakespearean knowledge is to be found

in The Shakespeare Key, by Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke (Sampson Low and Co.), which is described on the the title-page as "unlocking the of his style, elucidating the peculiarities of his construction, and displayiug the beauties of his expression." It consists of a number of essays or articles on style, subject-matter, grammar, versi- fication, stage directions, ece., alphabetically arranged. On "Coins," for instance, there is an interesting article, in which we find enu- merated, with the proper quotations, all that occur in the plays. This is one of the minor matters in the volume. Among the more important essays may be mentioned that on "Dramatic Time."