OR, TITLES, EXTRACTS, AND CHARACTERS ОР Old Books IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, REVIVED. BY SIR EGERTON BRYDGES, BART. K.J. M. P. VOLLI. LONDON: PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY, FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1814. PREFACE TO THE TWO FIRST VOLUMES. AFTER all that has been said in the various prefaces to the numerous volumes of Censura Literaria, and The British Bibliographer, it would almost seem impertinent to dwell upon the nature and objects of the present work. The First Number appeared on, March 1, 1814; and every succeeding month has produced a similar portion; till at length two volumes have been completed, If there are those who think that too much time and labour have been expended in recovering that which was not worth the search, or the toil of transcript, the future Archaiologist will know better how to value such painful endeavours to furnish materials for his use. The progress of language is the progress of the human mind in cultivation and refine b ment, and in that astonishing increase of vigour and brilliance, of which in a course of ages it is capable. Such works, it is true, may be suited to the taste of a very limited class of readers. Rich collectors do not care for extracts, because they have the originals; and, like misers, they do not like to impart even a fragment of their treasures. Many others also, who have not the originals, feel or affect an indifference to a copy, or an extract, as beneath their notice, because it is in modern types! Most wise and enlightened judgments! What a genuine love must they have for literature! How anxious must they be to improve their knowlege, and enlarge their taste! In consequence however of the growing curiosity for our old literature, the following works, before inaccessible, have been within these few years reprinted, and form a valuable library: The impressions have been in every instance very limitifed,.and many of them are therefore already again ont.of.the reach of purchase. 4. *Handful of Pleasant Delites. 5. *Phoenix Nest. 6. *England's Parnassus. 7. Higgins's Mirror for Magistrates. In Heliconia. |