No.

Countries unknown-Milton's opinion that he

was born too late to succeed as a poet,—and the

prevalent idea amongst our ancestors, that the

climate was too cold for perfection, considered.

26. On Novel-writing-Parallel between the Novel

and the Romance-Superiority of the former in

the choice of names and titles, and in painting

the scenes of Low Life-Strictures on the cha-

racter of Tom Jones-Parallel between it and

Sir Charles Grandison-Promise of recommend-

ing a species of reading to Novel-readers, prefer-

able to their present studies.

27. On Genius-Reflections on the persecution of

illustrious merit, as in Poets, Statesmen, Generals,

&c. Some causes assigned as the probable foun-

dation of such a conduct-Coriolanus, -Cato,-

Cicero, Socrates,-Galileo-The cause why the

Great should depress poetical merit, almost inex-

plicable-Reasons why painters meet with en-

couragement so superior-This depression not to

be considered as damping the ardour of Genius.

28. On Translation-The practice of it recom-

mended, though not always very successfully

attempted-Paterculus and Clarendon, Pliny and

Melmoth-Detection of a blunder in the trans-

lation of a passage in the Bible, adapted to the

recommendation of Psalmody.

29. Letter from Vir Bonus, containing a description

of his figure, dress, and equipage,—and his un-

lucky adventures, as a Quiz-Enumeration of

some of the Quizzes of antiquity.

30. On Mr. Newbery's Little Books,―recommended

in preference to Novels-Various opinions of Mr.

Griffin's Correspondents, concerning his intended

recommendation-Parallel between the character

of Tom Thumb and that of Ulysses.

No.

31. The Persecution of Authors, a Dream.

32. On the Difficulty of choosing an object of pur-

suit, and the folly of pursuing more objects than

one-The unpleasantness of indecision, and the

operation of Chance-Letter from a correspond-

ent, containing the rules prescribed to him for his

conduct in life.

33. On Education, on the diversity of abilities, and

the requisiteness of diversity in the methods of

cultivation.

34. Letter from Nobody.

35. On the unpleasant sensations which arise from

the contemplation of the failings incidental to great

characters-Visit from a literary Projector,-with

a specimen of a plan for a new rhyming dictionary.

36. Letter from an Etonian, containing a vindication,

-and character of Addison's style-Letter from

Σοφος Πολυφαγος, recommending a mixture of

moral reflections with the common occupations of

life.

37. On the Affectation of Philosophy-The folly of

pretending to despise what the greatest part of

mankind desires-The folly of a life of total se-

clusion from the world-The example of Scipio

recommended-Regret of Cowley after retire-

ment-The hypocrisy of affected philosophy-A

saying of Phryne, the courtezan.

38. On the Power of Custom-Billet from Misoe-

thus-Account of Mr. Griffin's declining health.

39. Gregory Griffin gives some account of his life

-Reflections on cruelty to animals—Mr. Griffin's

weak condition-Intentions of his Editor to pub-

lish anecdotes of his life-Specimens of them-

Remarkable similarity between the specimens,-

and some anecdotes promulgated by the Biogra-

No.

pher of a very great man-

-Observations on the

office of Biographers, equally applicable to both.

40. Gregory Griffin's Death,-and Last Will and

Testament.

NOTES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Translaticus. Obadiah Meanwell

Octavius. Musidorus. An Etonian
Telemachus. Absalom Thoughtful. Dorothy
Tearsheet. Cemeterius.

The Author's Address to his Readers, previous

to the Christmas Vacation

Page.

ib.

63

88

102

No Novelist. Two Senex's. The Country
Girl. Matrona

Confutation of a Report respecting Gregory
Griffin as an Author

Numa. Alfred. Christopher Cutjoke

Togatus. Simon Snubnose

Antisuperbus. A Barrister
Semicolon. Quintus

NAMES OF THE AUTHORS,

WITH A

SPECIFICATION OF THE NUMBERS OR PARTS

WRITTEN BY EACH.

Mr. J. SMITH, No. 1, the Prose part of 5, 10, 23, 27, and 37.

Mr. CANNING, No. 2, Poetry in 5; No. 7, 11, 12, 18, 22, 26, 30, 32, 39, and part of 40.

Mr. R. SMITH, No. 3, 8, 13, 19, 20, 24, 28, 31, 33, and 40 in conjunction with Mr. CANNING.

Mr. FRERE, No. 4, 9, 16, 25, and 35.

1

Lord HENRY SPENCER, Letter and Poem signed Ironiculus, No. 15, and the Letter of Zopos Пeλvφαγος, Νο. 36.

Mr. WAY, Letter signed Musidorus, No. 6.

Mr. LITTLEHALES, Letter signed Cæmeterius, No. 14.

*Mr. CAPEL LOFT, Letter signed an Etonian, No. 36.

Mr. MELLISH, No. 38.

UNKNOWN. Octavius, Observator, in No. 6; A Country Girl, 14; Alfred, Christopher Cutjoke, 15; Arthur Cassock, Etonensis, 17; L. 21; Vir Bonus, 29, and 34.

In an Etonian's Letter, No. 36, we are proud of confessing the assistance of a name so respected in the literary world, as Mr. CAPEL LOFT, to whom, as an accident put it out of our power on a former occasion, we take this opportunity of acknowledging the obligation.

BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, AND CRITICAL

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE MICROCOSM.

THE BRITISH ESSAYISTS, in a corporate form, such as they are here presented, to all appearance are an interminable work. Ever and anon, at irregular intervals, they receive the accession of some unexpected volume; like an ingot tossed into the national treasury, that at once imperceptibly augments its bulk, and enhances its value.

The expiration of the long term of copyright, secured to its original proprietors by act of parliament, has at length rendered the MICROCOSM public property; and while we now, for the first time, incorporate it into this collection, we cannot silently conduct our distinguished contemporary to the pedestal which has been kept vacant for his occupation.

If there be critics who would eject this volume from the station which is here assigned it, because of the juvenility of the writers, they are neither to be envied for their fastidiousness, nor complimented for their discrimination. The mind that cannot brook to contemplate unfolding genius, will hardly sympathize with it in its full expansion: the cold