A Compendium of English Literature, Chronologically Arranged from Sir John Mandeville to William Cowper

tracts from this author I have added two papers on Sir Roger de Coverley, and
a portion of his poetical Epistle to Lord Halifax. I left out the two hymns,
beginning, "When all thy mercies, O my God," and, "How are thy servants
blest, O Lord," because it is very doubtful whether he wrote them. Addison
introduces them in the Spectator, as if they were the production of another;
and the editor of Andrew Marvell's works, Edward Thompson, makes it
appear very probable that they were written by his author, as they were
found among his manuscripts in his hand-writing, with some variations.—
GAY. His letter on the "Village Lovers" is a gem.-SWIFT. His satire on
"Transubstantiation" is omitted for two reasons: the subject is too sacred for
such a weapon, and the doctrine too absurd for refutation. Instead of this,
the reader will find a still more humorous piece,-that on "Partridge's
Death."-POPE. The extracts from the "Essay on Criticism," the "Essay on
Man," and his "Letter to Steele," additional; and the extracts from the "Rape
of the Lock" better arranged.-THOMSON. The Loves of the Birds," "A
Summer Scene," "A Thunder-Shower," "The Springs of Rivers," and "A
Man perishing in the Snows of Winter," additional.-BOLINGBROKE. "The
Use of History," additional.-GRAY. His "Ode on a distant Prospect of Eton
College," the exquisitely beautiful "Song," and the four "Letters," additional.—
GOLDSMITH. The "Scenery of the Alps," and the "History of a Poet's Gar-
den," take the place of "Alcander and Septimius," a rather unnatural story.—
BLACKSTONE. His remarks on "The Origin and Right of Property," omitted,
as altogether too dry.-JOHNSON. "Gayety and Good-Humor," "The Conver
sation of Authors,"
," "Books and Tradition," "Prevention of Evil Habits," and
"Parallel between Pope and Dryden," additional.-Lowтu. His "Remarks
on the Sublimity of the Prophet Isaiah," who will not value?—JONES. His
beautiful letter on "Milton's Residence," additional.-BURKE, "John How-
ard," "Sir Joshua Reynolds," "Rights of Man," "Noisy Politicians," all addi-
tional.-JUNIUS. This author had rather more than his share before: I there-
fore omitted two letters of less importance.-COWPER. "The Wounded Spi-
rit Healed," "The Guilt of making Man Property," "The Diverting History
of John Gilpin," and five letters, "Cowper's Amusements,"
Writing upon
Any Thing," "An Epistle in Rhyme," "Expects Lady Hesketh, &c.," "Trans-
lation of Homer, &c.," all additional.

Such are the most important additions and alterations which have been made in the second edition. But there is hardly an author that remains precisely as before. In almost every one, some additional notes will be found, and the number of verbal alterations is very great. This is owing to the fact that the second proof of this edition I have read very carefully with a most experienced and critical proof-reader, by the best original edition of each author. One would be surprised to see how many errors have crept into the various reprints. To give but two specimens: the fourth line of the "Emigrants," of Marvell, reads in the common editions, "The listening winds received their song." It should be "this song;" and then the song follows, and not in verses as usually printed. The last line but one of Cowper's eulogy on John Bunyan usually reads, "And not with curses on his heart:" it should be

And not with curses on his art, who stole
The gem of truth from his unguarded soul.

Numerous cases of a similar character might be cited; but I have already said quite enough of my own efforts to improve this edition: the Publishers, it will be seen, have done their part in a style of unusual beauty; so that, I believe, scarcely any book has been offered to the public at so moderate a price, if the amount of reading matter and the style of mechanical execution be taken into view