PR83 PREFACE. THIS work originated in a desire, on the part of the Publishers, to supply what they considered a öeflriency in the Literature addressed at the present time to the great body of the People. In the late efforts for the improvement of the popular mind, the removal of mere ignorance has been the chief object held in view: attention has been mainly given to what might be expected to impart technical knowledge; and in the cultivation of what is certainly but a branch of the intellectual powers, it has been thought that the great end was gained. It is not necessary here to present arguments establishing that there are faculties for cognising the beautiful in art, thought, and feeling, as well as for perceiving 2 and enjoying the truths of physical science and of fact. Nor is it needful to show how elegant and > reflective literature, especially, tends to moralise, to soften, and to adorn the soul and life of man. Assuming this as granted, we were anxious to take the aid of the press or rather of the Printing Machine, for by it alone could the object be accomplished-to bring the belles lettres into the list of those agencies which are now operating for the mental advancement of the middle and humbler portions of society. ۱ It appeared that, for a first effort, nothing could be more suitable than a systematised series of extracts from our national authors; "a concentration"-to quote the language of the prospectus-" of the best productions of English intellect, from Anglo-Saxon to the present times, in the various departments headed by Chaucer, Shakspeare, Milton-by More, Bacon, Locke-by Hooker, Taylor, Barrow✔ Addison, Johnson, Goldsmith-by Hume, Robertson, Gibbon-set in a biographical and critical history of the literature itself." By this a double end might, it seemed, be served; as the idea of the work included the embodiment of a distinct and valuable portion of knowledge, as well as that mass of polite Literature which was looked to for the effect above described. In the knowledge of what has been don. My English literary genius in all ages, it cannot be doubted that we have a branch of the national history, wot only in itself important, as well as interesting, but which reflects a light upon other departments of history for is not the Elizabethan Drama, for example, an exponent, to some extent, of the state of the cational mind at the time, and is it not equally one of the influences which may be presumed to have Chodified that mind in the age which followed? Nor is it to be overlooked, how important an end is to be attained by training the entire people to venerate the thoughtful and eloquent of past and present times. These gifted beings may be said to have endeared our language and institutions our national character, and the very scenery and artificial objects which mark our soil-to all who are acquainted rith, and can appreciate their writings. A regard for our national authors enters into and forms part of the most sacred feelings of every educated man, and it would not be easy to estimate in what degree it is to this sentiment that we are indebted for all of good and great that centres in the name of England. Assuredly, in our common reverence for a Shakspeare, a Milton, a Scott, we have a social and mating sentiment, which not only contains in itself part of our happiness as a people, but much that counteracts influences that tend to set us in division. A more special utility is contemplated for this work, in its serving to introduce the young to the Pantheon of English authors. The "Elegant Extracts" of Dr Knox, after long enjoying popularity as a selection of polite literature for youths between school and college, has of late years sunk out of notice, in consequence of a change in public taste. It was almost exclusively devoted to the rhetorical literature, Megant but artificial, which flourished during the earlier half of the eighteenth century, overlooking even Lie great names of Chaucer and Spenser, as well as nearly the whole range of rich, though not faultless roxinetions extending between the times of Shakspeare and Dryden. The time seemed to have come for a substitute work, in which at once the revived taste for our early literature should be gratified, and due attention be given to the authors who have lived since the time of Knox. Such a work it Las been the u Lamble aim of the editor to produce in that wluch is now laid before the public. He takes this opportunity of acknowledging that very important assistance has been rendered throughthe Cyclopædia of English Literature, and particularly in the poetical department, by Mr Robert Carruthers of Inverness, LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. lamination-Monk writing, Chair of Bede, dlumination-a Minstrel, Portrait of Chaucer, Chaucer's Tomb, Tabard Inn, Southwark, Cathedral of Aberdeen, Page 1 Autograph of Sir Philip Sidney, 3 Portrait of Richard Hooker, 8 Portrait of Lord Bacon, 12 Autograph of Bacon, 14 Monument of Bacon, 14 Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh, 24 Autograph of Raleigh, 25 View of Hayes Farm, the Birthplace 28 of Raleigh, 35 Stow's Monument in the church of 35 St Andrew under Shaft, London, Portrait of James Howell, 36 Autograph of Howell, 44 Portrait of William Camden, 46 Autograph of Camden, 49 Portrait of Thomas May, 55 Portrait of Thomas Hobbes, 59 Portrait of Robert Burton, 59 Tomb of Burton, 69 Portrait of John Selden, 73 Autograph of Selden, View of Lochleven, View of Norwich Cathedral, Portrait of George Herbert, Bust of Robert Herrick, Autograph of Robert Herrick, View of the Birthplace of Randolph, 74 View of the House of Selden, 76 Portrait of Archbishop Usher, Portrait of William Chillingworth, 79 Portrait of Jeremy Taylor, 80 Portrait of Sir Thomas Browne, 86 Portrait of John Knox, 87 99 View of the Birthplace of Knox, Portrait of Archbishop Spottiswood, 104 Illumination-Milton Dictating to 110 114 his Daughter, Portrait of Abraham Cowley, 116 Autograph of Cowley, 119 View of the House of Cowley, . 131 View of the Poets' Corner, West139 139 minster Abbey, Portrait of Edmund Waller, View of Waller's Tomb, 244 View of Dunkirk House, the London residence of Lord Clarendon, Portrait of Gilbert Burnet, Portrait of Sir William Temple, 476 486 255 256 Portrait of John Locke, 262 Autograph of Locke, 501 508 508 509 510 516 521 521 527 530 249 262 View of the Birthplace of Locke, 264 Seal of Locke, 266 Portrait of the Honourable Robert 272 Boyle, 274 Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, 282 View of the Birthplace of Newton, 282 Portrait of Thomas Rymer, 283 Portrait of Sir George Mackenzie, 285 Monument of Sir George Mackenzie, 285 Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, 530 290 Illumination-Rape of the Lock, - 534 298 Portrait of Matthew Prior, 303 Autograph of Prior, 303 545 535 535 306 Portrait of Joseph Addison, 540 54() 312 Portrait of Jonathan Swift, 313 Autograph of Swift, 545 Prison, Portrait of Sir Philip Sidney, 232 Portrait of Dr Isaac Barrow, 232 Portrait of Archbishop Tillotson, 420 Portrait of the Earl of Shaftesbury, 655 423 View of Bentley's Seat, in Trinity |