The Project Gutenberg EBook of Essays in English Literature, 1780-1860, by
George Saintsbury

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Title: Essays in English Literature, 1780-1860

Author: George Saintsbury

Release Date: November 12, 2009 [EBook #30455]

Language: English

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ESSAYS

IN

ENGLISH LITERATURE

1780-1860

BY

GEORGE SAINTSBURY

PERCIVAL AND CO.
_KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN_

LONDON

1890

PREFACE

Of the essays in this volume, the introductory paper on "The Kinds of
Criticism" has not before appeared in print. All the rest, with one
exception (the Essay on Lockhart which appeared in the _National
Review_), were originally published in _Macmillan's Magazine_. To the
Editors and Publishers of both these periodicals I owe my best thanks
for permission to reprint the articles. To the Editor of _Macmillan's
Magazine_ in particular (to whom, if dedications were not somewhat in
ill odour, I should, in memory of friendship old and new, have dedicated
the book), I am further indebted for suggesting several of the subjects
as well as accepting the essays. These appear in the main as they
appeared; but I have not scrupled to alter phrase or substance where it
seemed desirable, and I have in a few places restored passages which had
been sacrificed to the usual exigencies of space. In two cases, those of
Lockhart and De Quincey, I have thought it best to discuss, in a brief
appendix, some questions which have presented themselves since the
original publications. In consequence of these alterations and additions
as well as for other reasons, it may be convenient to give the dates and
places of the original appearance of each essay. They are as follows:--

Lockhart, _National Review_, Aug. 1884. Borrow, _Macmillan's
Magazine_, Jan. 1886. Peacock, do. April 1886. Wilson (under the
title of "Christopher North"), do. July 1886. Hazlitt, do. March
1887. Jeffrey, do. August 1887. Moore, do. March 1888. Sydney
Smith, do. Ma