cation, my chief
object was to relieve the dryness of a didactic style by the
introduction of_ Dramatis Personae.

_The worthy Gentlemen, by whom the_ Drama _is conducted, may be
called, by some, merely wooden machines or_ pegs _to hang notes upon;
but I shall not be disposed to quarrel with any criticism which may be
passed upon their acting, so long as the greater part of the
information, to which their dialogue gives rise, may be thought
serviceable to the real interests of_ Literature _and_ Bibliography.

_If I had chosen to assume a more imposing air with the public, by
spinning out the contents of this closely-printed book into two or
more volumes--which might have been done without violating the
customary mode of publication--the expenses of the purchaser, and the
profits of the author, would have equally increased: but I was
resolved to bring forward as much matter as I could impart, in a
convenient and not inelegantly executed form; and, if my own
emoluments are less, I honestly hope the reader's advantage is
greater._

_The_ Engraved Ornaments of Portraits, Vignettes, and Borders, _were
introduced, as well to gratify the eyes of tasteful Bibliomaniacs, as
to impress, upon the minds of readers in general, a more vivid
recollection of some of those truly illustrious characters by whom
the_ HISTORY OF BRITISH LITERATURE _has been preserved._

_It remains only to add that the present work was undertaken to
relieve, in a great measure, the anguish of mind arising from a severe
domestic affliction; and if the voice of those whom we tenderly loved,
whether parent or_ child, _could be heard from the_ grave, _I trust it
would convey the sound of approbation for thus having filled a part of
the measure of that time which, every hour, brings us nearer to those
from whom we are separated._

_And now_, BENEVOLENT READER, _in promising thee as much amusement and
instruction as ever were offered in a single volume, of a nature like
to the present, I bid thee farewell in the language of_ Vogt,[2] _who
thus praises the subject of which we are about to treat:--"Quis non_
AMABILEM _eam laudabit_ INSANIAM, _quae universae rei litterariae non
obfuit, sed profuit; historiae litterariae doctrinam insigniter
locupletavit; ingentemque exercitum voluminum, quibus alias aut in
remotiora Bibliothecarum publicarum scrinia commigrandum erat, aut
plane pereundum, a carceribus et interitu vindicavit, exoptatissimaeque
luci et eruditor