173

XXII. 'LET HIM COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS' 177

XXIII. IS THE HUMAN RACE ON THE DOWN GRADE? 180

* * * * *

XXIV. BREVIA: SHORT ESSAYS (IN CONNECTION WITH EACH OTHER):
1. Paganism and Christianity--the Ideas of Duty
and Holiness 185
2. Moral and Practical 194
3. On Words and Style 207
4. Theological and Religious 226
5. Political, etc. 269
6. Personal Confessions, etc. 271
7. Pagan Literature 279
8. Historical, etc. 283
9. Literary 292

XXV. OMITTED PASSAGES AND VARIATIONS:
1. The Rhapsodoi 306
2. Mrs. Evans and the _Gazette_ 310
3. A Lawsuit Legacy 313
4. The True Justifications of War 315
5. Philosophy Defeated 317
6. The Highwayman's Skeleton 320
7. The Ransom for Waterloo 323
8. Desiderium 326

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

These articles recovered from the MSS. of De Quincey will, the Editor
believes, be found of substantive value. In some cases they throw
fresh light on his opinions and ways of thinking; in other cases they
deal with topics which are not touched at all in his collected works:
and certainly, when read alongside the writings with which the public
is already familiar, will give altogether a new idea of his range
both of interests and activities. The 'Brevia,' especially, will
probably be regarded as throwing more light on his character and
individuality--exhibiting more of the inner life, in fact--than any
number of letters or reminiscences from the pens of others would be
found to do. It is as though the ordinary reader were asked to sit
down at ease with the author, when he is in his most social