PREFACE. BACON in his "Historia Vita et mortis," recommends light and cheerful writings to be read for life and death; and Sterne used to say that such as divert or exhilarate the mind ought not to be reprehended with too methodistical a severity. It is, perhaps, by an unpremeditated adoption of these two maxims that we are indebted for the success which has attended the preceding volumes of this composition; but in conformity to the advice of Pliny, who observes, that there is nothing so trifling as to attempt to excuse or defend trifles by a long preface, we shall make no apology for again laying before our readers a series of elegant literature, well calculated to edify and amuse them. The extraordinary circulation of our former volumes, which have long since found their way into every district of our empire, renders superfluous any prefatory remarks on the plan and objects of this work, which are now sufficiently understood; and the success of which has given us much reason for self-congratulation, from the reflection, that the cause of morality has been seconded in no small degree by our simple exertions. We will challenge the most rigid observer to produce from any of our volumes, notwithstanding the number of light articles which may be found in them, a single passage which can give offence to the most delicate mind, or militate in the smallest degree against those moral and religious principles which are the true and only bonds of virtuous society. A serious apology, however, is due to our, readers, in consequence of their numerous appli¬ cations for the present volume, which has unluckily been detained in the press several months beyond the usual period of publication: a variety of causes have contributed to the delay; but it has enabled us to make several improvements in our plan, which will not fail to prove acceptable. We have, for example, not only had an opportu nity of examining with attention, the great variety of works which the last year has added to British literature; but we have also incorporated the essence of, and criticisms on many works, particularly those of fancy, with which, the present season has abounded; and thus we have inserted not only a much greater number of articles, but have admitted a far more interesting selection than on any former occasion. In the present volume will be found a number of excellent pieces which have been transmitted to us for the part which is devoted to original communications; and we shall feel much satisfaction in being enabled annually to increase this portion of our miscellany, with similar and more abundant materials. The correspondents who have favoured us with observations on our last volume will be pleased, generally, to accept our thanks and gratitude for the trouble which they have taken. We have, m the present volume, complied with the request of the ladies at Christchurch, by translating all the mottos which we have taken from the foreign or classical languages; but the translations of such as have appeared in the preceding volumes, must be deferred till the publication of new editions ; which, from the small number of copies in hand, will speedily be necessary. |