They show, however, what was and could be accomplished in this way, at a time when the average citizen had little time for aught but earnest, sober thought.
When looked at from this view-point we must really wonder that as much remains as has been discovered. Can any country besides ours show a better result—at least for quantity, if not for quality?
Among the interesting facts which will be discovered by a perusal of this list is that a number of the writers of early American plays were men who achieved success in other callings. Thus we find among those who found time to interest themselves in the drama and the production of plays, the names of Judge H. H. Brackenridge, Charles Brockden Browne, the first American novelist, Edward Hitchcock, President of Amherst and foremost among the scientists of his era, David Humphreys, Revolutionary soldier and diplomat, John Neal, the friend of Poe, Jas. G. Percival, the poet, Jas. K. Paulding, coworker with Irving, Royall Tyler, and Samuel Woodworth, author of The Old Oaken Bucket.
This edition is issued at the solicitation of a number of collectors and librarians, who were unable to obtain a copy of the first edition, which was issued for members of The Dunlap Society in 1900. I have endeavored to make this list as complete as possible, and it has been to me a labor of the greatest interest. Nothing that I have ever attempted in bibliographical work has given me more pleasure.
Numerous corrections will be found by comparison with the earlier edition, and upwards of sixty new titles are included, discovered since the issue of the earlier volume.
Errors will, of course, be discovered, but I ask indulgence in those who find them, for as all who are interested will readily admit, no bibliographical work was ever perfect.
Probably the most complete collection of early American plays, at this writing in the hands of a private collector, is that owned by Evert Jansen Wendell, Esq., of New York. Several of the titles contained in this volume would be unknown to me at this time but for the kindness of Mr. Wendell, who has given me the opportunity to examine his collection. Another good collection is owned by the Brown University Library, Providence, R. I.
Oscar Wegelin.