The Shakespeare Society was active 1841-52, led by eminent Shakespearean scholars ot the period including John Payne Collier and Alexander Dyce. Its publications endeavoured to investigate Shakespeare in his context, including other contemporary authors and playwrights, and the sources for his plots. The Society published 48 volumes, and the full set was acquired for the Royal Library in December 1864.

This work by the Irish writer Nicholas John Halpin (1790-1850) examines Oberon’s vision from Act II, Scene 1, in which he sees ‘a mermaid on a dolphin’s back’. He attempts to prove hat Shakespeare was referring to contemporary events relating to Queen Elizabeth and her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.