Possibly the most notorious Shakespearean event of the later eighteenth century was the Ireland forgery scandal. William Henry Ireland, son of Samuel Ireland the publisher, writer of travelogues, and avid collector of Shakespeare memorabilia, revealed to his father that he had found a collection of documents in Shakespeare’s own hand in a chest belonging to an anonymous friend. They included a signed deed, letters to Anne Hathaway, the original manuscripts for Hamlet and King Lear, and the script of a hitherto unknown play Vortigern and Rowena. A delighted Samuel Ireland allowed interested members of the public to view the documents, and even received interest from royalty – the Duke of Clarence (later William IV) came with his mistress, the actor Dorothea Jordan, to view the papers, and the Prince of Wales (later George IV) invited Ireland to Carlton House for a private viewing. Many contemporary experts had authenticated the documents, but many more were doubtful, and the forgery was eventually exposed by the Shakespearean scholar Edmond Malone in 1796.

This volume contains three pamphlets:  Miscellaneous papers and legal instruments under the hand and seal of William Shakspeare : including the tragedy of King Lear and a small fragment of Hamlet, from the original MSS in the possession of Samuel Ireland of Norfolk Street; An Investigation of Mr Malone's claim to the character of scholar or critic, being an examination of his inquiry into the authenticity of the Shakspeare Manuscripts &c; Mr Ireland's vindication of his conduct respecting the publication of the supposed Shakspeare MSS being a preface or introduction to a reply to the critical labors of Mr Malone. They were written by Samuel Ireland to describe the contents of his Shakespeare papers, and his response to the criticism of Edmond Malone. This copy was bought for the Royal Library at a sale in January 1853.