SHAKESPEARE'S METRES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Having seen in the Spectator of Saturday last a statement as to my table of the rhythmical peculiarities of Shakespeare's Plays, I ask of you to give me space enough to state that my tables register not only the metres of every line in Shakespeare,. but also of Fletcher, Beaumont, Messinger, Jonson, Marston, Webster, Greene, Peek, Marlowe, the plays in the "Ancient British Drama," and others. The rhymes, endings, and length of lines are the most important of the points tabulated. Of these, the first four authors named will be in the hands of the new Shakspere Society for publication within a week or two, as being most immediately required for the purposes of that Society. My own investigations have been more with a view to determine authorship than chrono- logy, and I have been abundantly rewarded for the labour I have bestowed, as will be seen in my forthcoming paper. For chronology, I have found that only in the case of Shakespeare is this means of investigation applicable to any good purpose, though for him it is of the greatest value.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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