know nothing of English history excepting what they | AUTHORS and EDITORS, whether of books or periodihave learned from Shakspeare, and know no more of cals, is so obvious, that no enlargement is necesShakspeare than they have witnessed on the stage! sary. How many who confound Sir Isaac Newton with his namesake, the excellent Bishop, and do not know the│| difference between "rare Ben Jonson" and the dictator at Mrs. Thrale's! LADIES are generally better informed than the other sex in these matters, but if the former would abridge toilet-reviews and inordinate indulgence in morning visits and evening parties, they would know more, though they might gossip less. A proper regard to the reputation of their own sex, should induce them to carefully peruse a volume which records the classic erudition of an Elizabeth Carter, the astronomical investigations of a Mary Somerville, the wisdom and piety of a Hannah More, the poetical genius of a Felicia Hemans, and other immortal trophies of female intellect, illustrated by a host of brilliant stars in the Literary Firmament. 8. All who purchase books for district and other school-libraries, for their own families or for their private book-case, will see the usefulness of a work which will at once direct them to the BEST WORKS OF THE BEST AUTHORS. Teachers and parents will have no hesitation in accepting the critical opinions of the wise and good, recorded in these pages. As regards the work itself, care has been taken to rigorously exclude everything of an objectionable character. It may be read aloud to the family circle without fear of its calling a blush to the cheek of modesty, or inflicting a pang upon the heart of the conscientious Christian. It is proper in this connexion to remark, that whilst the literary merits of writers of all classes are candidly acknowledged, and no religious or irreligious peculiarities are considered as sanctioning injustice to their advocates, yet a profound deference to the principles of the Christian religion, and a settled disapprobation of the impieties and absurdities of infidelity, are fearlessly announced. If this displease any, let them be displeased. God be true, and every man a liar." "Let 9. Booksellers need not be told of the importance to their own interest, of encouraging the circulation of a work which will tend more to the enlarged sale of books than any publication which has ever appeared. Several of the best known and most extensive publishers and booksellers in the United States have warmly encouraged the preparation of this volume. Indeed, no intelligent bookseller who understands his own business, can dispense with it as a constant companion. It will enable him to point out to his customer, at once, the books of which he is in quest, and to show him the opinions of the most distinguished critics and esteemed authorities as to their merits or demerits. The application of these remarks, and many of the preceding considerations, to It is obvious to those at all familiar with the subject, that no work of this kind could have been properly prepared, without an intimate acquaintance with English literature, and the advantage of an extensive private library, for constant reference and consultation. It is, therefore, proper to remark, that the author of THE CRITICAL DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH LITERature, and BRITISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS, has long applied himself to the subject, with considerable labour and zeal, and spent many years in accumulating a large collection of rare and curious literary treasures, in addition to the manuals generally considered as the best authorities. We give a list of some of the works which we have kept at our side for consultation and guidance, though not obliged to lay all of them under contribution. The General Dictionary, Historical and Critical (including Bayle), of Birch, Lockman, Sale, and others. London, 1734-41, 10 vols., fol. The Biographia Britannica. Lon., 1747-66, 7 vols., fol.; and 1778-92, 5 vols., fol. The English, Scotch, and Irish Historical Libraries, by Bishop Nicolson. Lon., 1776, 4to. Oldys's British Librarian. Lon., 1738, 12mo. Gerard Langbaine's Account of the English Dramatic Poets. Oxford, 1691, 18mo. Biographia Dramatica. Lon., 1812, 3 vols. in 4, 8vo. Whincop's Complete List of English Dramatic Poets. Lon., 1747, 8vo. Ritson's Bibliographia Poetica. 1802, R. 8vo. Wood's Athenæ Oxoniensis, with Additions and a Continuation by Dr. Bliss. Lon., 1813-20, 4 vols., 4to. Nichols's Literary Anecdotes. Lon., 1812-16, 10 vols. in 9, 8vo.; and Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century. 7 vols., 1817–48, 8vo. Walpole's History of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with a List of their Works, enlarged and continued by Thomas Park. Lon., 1806, 5 vols., 8vo. Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, or a General Index to British and Foreign Literature. Lon., 1824, 4 vols., 4to. To this excellent work we are largely indebted, having drawn freely from its pages for particulars of editions, &c. Some late writers have affected to depreciate the value of this work, because inaccuracies have not escaped the eye of the critic. Having examined every article pertaining to British authors (about 22,500) in the work, we consider ourselves qualified to give an opinion. Errors there are, and some glaring ones, which can readily be excused in a work of such vast compass, yet the Bibliotheca of Dr. Watt will always deserve to be valued as one of the most stupendous literary monuments ever reared by the industry of man. As stated elsewhere, we have included in our work every British author noticed by Dr. Watt; yet his work can by no means be dispensed with by the biblio- | and the Fine Arts. Boston, 1852, imp. 8vo. Dr. grapher. We continue our enumeration of authorities. Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities; or The History of Printing in Great Britain, enlarged on Ames and Herbert. Lon., 1810-19, 4 vols., 4to. Dibdin's Bibliographical Decameron. Lon., 1817, 3 vols., 8vo. Dibdin's Library Companion. Lon., 1825, 8vo. Dibdin's Bibliomania, or Book Madness. 2d edit., Lon., 1842, R. 8vo. Dibdin's Greek and Roman Classics. 4th edit., Lon., 1827, 2 vols., imp. 8vo. Dibdin's Reminiscences of a Literary Life. Lon., 1836, 2 vols., 8vo. Dibdin's Director; a Literary Journal. Lon., 1807, 2 vols., 8vo. Sir Egerton Brydges's (assisted by Haslewood and others) Censura Literaria, containing Titles, Abstracts, and Opinions of Old English Books, &c. 2d edit., Lon., 1815, 2 vols., 8vo. ; The British Bibliographer, Lon., 1810-14, 4 vols., 8vo. ; Restituta; or Titles, Extracts, and Characters of Old English Literature, revived, Lon., 1814-16, 4 vols., 8vo.; Brydges's edition of Phillips's Theatrum Poetarum Anglicanorum. Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne's Introduction to the Study of Bibliography. Lon., 1814, 2 vols., 8vo. Manual of Biblical Bibliography. Lon., 1839, 8vo. Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica. Lon., 1815, R. 8vo. Schlosser's History of the 18th Century and part of the 19th, trans. by D. Davidson. Lon., 1844-52, 8 vols., 8vo. Dr. Drake's Shakspeare and his Times. Lon., 1817, 2 vols., 4to.; Memorials of Shakspeare, and other works of this elegant and useful writer. Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual. Lon., 1834, 4 vols., 8vo. Lowndes's British Librarian, or Book Collector's Guide, 1839, &c., 8vo. Mackenzie's Lives and Characters of the most eminent Writers of the Scots Nation. Edin., 1708-22, 3 vols., fol. Stark's Biographia Scotica. Edin., 1805, 32mo. Biographia Scoticana. Leith, 1816, 8vo. Aikin's and Johnston's General Biography. Lon., 1799-1815, 10 vols., 4to. The New Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1798, 15 vols., 8vo. Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1812-17, 32 vols., 8vo. New (Rose's) Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1848, 12 vols., 8vo. Gorton's Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1851, 4 vols. (with supplement) 8vo. Biographie Universelle. Biographie Universelle, Ancienne et Moderne. Manuel du Libraire et de l'Amateur de Livres; par Jacques-Charles Brunet, Quatrième édition. Paris, 1842-4, 5 vols., imp. 8vo. Bibliothèque Universelle des Voyages; par G. Boucher De La Richarderie. Paris, 1808, 6 vols., 8vo. Bibliographie Biographique, par Edouard-Marie Octtinger. Leipsic, 1850, imp. 8vo. Bibliotheca Americana Nova, &c., by O. Rich. Lon., 1832-35, 46, 3 vols., 8vo. D'Israeli's Miscellanies of Literature. Lon., 1840, R. 8vo. Curiosities of Literature. Lon., 1840, R. 8vo. Arvine's Cyclopædia of Moral and Religious Anecdotes, Boston, 8vo.; Anecdotes of Literature Jamieson's Cyclopædia of Religious Biography. Lon., 1853, 12mo. Keddie's Cyclopædia of Literary and Scientific Anecdote. Lon., 1854, 12mo. Thackeray's English Humourists of the 18th Century. N. York, 1853, 12mo. Neele's Lectures on English Poetry. Lon., 12mo. Rev. A. Hume's Learned Societies and Printing Clubs. Lon., 1853, 12mo. Thomas Campbell's Essay on English Poetry, with Notices of the British Poets. Lon., 1848, 12mo. Madden's Infirmities of Genius. Lon. 1833, 2 vols., 12mo. Brougham's Lives of Men of Letters and Science temp. George III. Phila., 1845, 12mo. Dr. Johnson's Lives of the English Poets. Lon., 1850, 18mo. Boswell's Life of Johnson, edited by Croker. Lon., 1848, R. 8vo. Lockhart's Life of Scott. Edin., 1844, R. 8vo. Moore's Life of Lord Byron. N. York, 2 vols., R. 8vo. Prior's Life of Burke. Boston, 1854, 2 vols., 12mo. The Works and Correspondence of Burke. Lon., 1852, 8 vols., 8vo. Forster's Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith. Lon., 1848, 12mo. The London Anecdotes. Lon., 32mo. Berkenhout's Biographia Literaria. Lon., 1777, 4to. Bickersteth's Christian Student. Lon., 1844, 12mo. Men of the Time. N. York, 1852, 12mo., and Lon., 1853, 12mo. Williams's Christian Preacher. Lon., 1843, 12mo. Stevenson's Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce. Edin., 1824, 8vo. Marvin's Legal Bibliography. Phila., 1847, R. 8vo. Allen's American Biographical and Historical Dictionary. Boston, 1832, 8vo. Encyclopedia Americana, 14 vols. R. W. Griswold's Prose Writers of America, 4th edit., Phila., 1852, R. 8vo.; Poets and Poetry of America, Phila., 1852, R. 8vo.; Female Poets of America, 2d edit., Phila. 1853, R. 8vo. Rev. Dr. Blake's Biographical Dictionary. Boston, 8th edit., 1853, R. 8vo. Cleveland's Compendium of English Literature. Phila., 1852, 12mo.; English Literature of the 19th Century. 1853, 12mo. Fuller's Worthies of England, by Nuttall. Lon., 1840, 3 vols., 8vo. Poole's Index to Periodical Literature. N. York, 1853, R. 8vo. Cunningham's Biographical History of England. Lon. and Edin., 1852, 8 vols., 8vo. Warton's History of English Poetry. Lon., 1840, 3 vols., 8vo. The Georgian Era. Lon., 1832-34, 4 vols., 12mo Ellis's Specimens of the Early English Poets. 1845, 3 vols., 12mo. The Living Authors of England. 12mo. A Manual of British Historians to A. D. 1600. Aikin's, &c., British Poets. Phila., 1842-5, 3 vols., 8vo. Professor Wm. Smyth's Lectures on Modern History, edited by Jared Sparks. Boston, 1851, 8vo. Middleton's Biographia Evangelica. Lon., 1816, 4 vols., 8vo. The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey. N. York, 1851, 8vo. Ryan's Poetry and Poets. Lon., 1826, 3 vols. 12mo. Moir's Poetical Literature of the Past Half-Century. Edin., 1851, 12mo. Macaulay's History of England. Phila., 1851, 2 vols., 12mo. Bell's Lives of the English Poets. Lon., 1839, 2 vols., 12mo. J. Collier's Poetical De Lon., 1821, 4 vols., 18mo. Sir John Harrington's Nuga Antiquæ, edited by Thomas Park. Lon., 1804, 2 vols. 8vo. The British Plutarch. Lon., 1791, 8 vols., 12mo. Taylor's Modern British Plutarch. N. York, 1846, 12mo. Hazlitt's Miscellanies. Phila., 1848, 5 vols., 12mo. Weber's Metrical Romances. Lon., 1810, 3 vols., 8vo. Tuckerman's Characteristics of Literature. Phila., 1849-51, 2 vols., 12mo. Oxford Prize Poems. Oxford, 1806, 12mo. Hippesley's Early English Literature. Lon., 1837, 12mo. Collier's English Dramatic Poetry. Lon., 1831, 3 vols. 12mo. Ryan's Biographia Hibernica. Lon., 1826, 2 vols., 8vo. Gilfillan's Modern Literature. N. York, 1850, 12mo. Lives of Scottish Poets. Lon., 1821, 3 vols., 18mo. Sacred Poetry of the 17th Century. Lon., 1836, 2 vols., 18mo. Memoirs of Physicians. Lon., 1818, 8vo. England's Worthies, by John Vickars. Lon., 1845, 12mo. De Quincey's Works. Boston, 1851, 7 vols. 12mo. Pegge's Anonymiana. Lon., 1809, 12mo. Dodsley's Collection of cameron. Lon., 1820, 2 vols. 12mo. Hallam's Literary History of Europe. 3d edit., Lon., 1847, 3 vols. 8vo. Andrews's History of Great Britain and Europe. Lon., 1794, 4to. Henry's and Andrews's do. Lon., 14 vols., 8vo. Christian Civilization. Lon., 1850, 12mo. Ellis's Letters of Eminent Literary Men. Lon., 1843, 8vo. Headley's Beauties of Ancient English Poetry. 1810, 12mo. Ballard's Memoirs of British Ladies. Lon., 1775, 8vo. Timpson's British Female Biography. Lon., 1846, 12mo. Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale's Woman's Record. N. York, 1853, R. 8vo. The Works, Life and Letters of Charles Lamb, by Talfourd. N. York, 1852, 2 vols., 12mo. The Metrical Miscellany. Lon., 1802, 8vo. Aikin's Letters on English Poetry. Lon., 1804, 18mo. The Muse's Mirrour. Lon., 1778, 2 vols., 12mo. Jacob's Account of English Poets. 1720, 2 vols., 12mo. Bioggraphiana. Lon., 1799, 2 vols., 8vo. Warburton's Letters to Hurd. N. York, 1809, 8vo. Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1809, 32mo. A Universal Biographical Dictionary. Hartford, 1847, 12mo. McClure's Poems. Lon., 1770, 6 vols., 12mo. Eminent LiteTranslators Revived. 1853, 12mo. Maunder's Bio- rary and Scientific Men of Great Britain. Lon., graphical Treasury. Lon., 1847, 12mo. Hand Book 1836, 5 vols., 18mo. Beloe's Sexagenarian, or Reof Universal Biography, by Parke Godwin. N. York, collections of a Literary Life. Lon., 1817, 2 vols., 1852, 12mo. Bellchambers's Biographical Dictionary. 8vo. Fifty Years Recollections of an Old Bookseller. Lon., 1835, 4 vols., 32mo. Rich's Cyclopædia of Lon., 1837, 8vo. Aikin's Lives of Selden and Usher. Biography. Lon. and Glasg., 1854, 8vo. Bingley's Lon., 1832, 8vo. Necrology. Lon., 1805, 8vo. Biographical Conversations. Lon., 1821, 12mo. Lectures on English Poets, by Percival Stockdale. Ritson's Ancient Popular Poetry. Lon., 1833, 12mo. Lon., 1807, 2 vols., 8vo. Lives of Eminent Persons. Anecdote Library. Lon., 1822, sm. 4to. Anecdotes Lon., 1833, 8vo. Graduates of Oxford, 1659–1726. of Books and Authors. Lon., 1836, 18mo. Seward's | Oxf., 1727, 8vo. Evans's Essays on Song Writing. Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons. Lon., 1804, Lon., 1810, 12mo. Introduction to Literary History 8vo. Anecdotes of Polite Literature. Lon., 1764, of 14th and 15th Centuries. Lon., 1798, 8vo. Alve's 5 vols., 18mo. Letters of Anna Seward. Lon., 1811, Sketches of a History of Literature. Edin., 1794, 6 vols., 18mo. Biographical Magazine. Lon., 1791, 8vo. Cooper's Muse's Library. Lon., 1741, 12mo. 8vo. Granger's Biographical History of England, Gems of Epistolary Correspondence, by Willmott. with Noble's Continuation. Lon., 1806-24, 9 vols., Lon., 1846, 8vo. Memoirs of Dr. Parr, by R. W. 8vo. Letters between Granger and some Literary Field. Lon., 1828, 2 vols., 8vo. Aikin's Life of AdMen. Lon., 1815, 8vo. Percy Anecdotes. N. York, dison. Lon., 1843, 2 vols., 12mo. Wild's Memoirs 1839, 8vo. Dr. King's Political and Literary Anec- of Dean Swift. Dubl., 1849, 8vo. Sir Egerton dotes. Boston, 1819, 12mo. Davis's Olio of Lite- Brydges's Autobiography. Lon., 1834, 2 vols., 8vo. rary and Bibliographical Anecdotes. Lon., 1814, Poynder's Literary Extracts. Lon., 3 vols., 8vo. 12mo. Anecdotes of Hogarth, by Nichols. Lon., Records of Literature, by C. Taylor. Lon., 1808, 2 1785, 12mo. Reminiscences of Henry Angelo. Lon., vols., 8vo. Critical Observations on Books. Lon., 1830, 2 vols., 8vo. Barker's Literary Anecdotes. 1783, 2 vols., 8vo. English Puritan Divines. Lon., Lon., 1852, 2 vols., 8vo. Professional Anecdotes, or 18mo. Southey's Lives of Uneducated Poets. Lon., Ana of Medical Literature. Lon., 1825, 3 vols., 12mo. 1836, 12mo. Imitations of Celebrated Authors Watkins's Characteristic Anecdotes. Lon., 1808, 8vo. Lon., 1844, 12mo. Byrn's Book of 1000 Anecdotes. Oxberry's Dramatic Biography. Lon., 1825-27, 6 Boston, 1853, 12mo. Newbery's Art of Poetry. vols., 18mo. Dutensiana. Lon., 1806, 5 vols., 18mo. Lon., 1762, 18mo. The Lounger's Commonplace Anecdotes of the Life of Bishop Watson, 1818, 2 vols., Book. Lon., 1805-7, 4 vols., 8vo. Smyth's Bio8vo. Almon's Biographical, Political, and Literary graphical Illustrations of Westminster Abbey. Lon., Anecdotes. 1797, 3 vols., 8vo. Blagdon's Flowers 1843, 8vo. Memoirs of Lady Hester Stanhope. Lon., of Literature. Lon., 1805-8, 4 vols., 12mo. Life 1846, 3 vols., 12mo. Southey's Specimens of the of Sir Samuel Romilly. Lon., 1842, 2 vols., 12mo. Later English Poets. Lon., 1807, 3 vols., 12mo. Craik's Literature and Learning in England, Lon., Burnett's Specimens of English Prose Writers. Lon., 1844-5, 6 vols., 18mo.; Pursuit of Knowledge under 1813, 3 vols., 12mo. Kettel's Specimens of American Difficulties, Lon., 1845-7, 4 vols., 18mo. Oxberry's Poetry. Boston, 1829, 8 vols., 12mo. Lemprière's Flowers of Literature, or Encyclopædia of Anecdotes. Universal Biographical Encyclopædia, by Lord. N. Y., 1825, 2 vols., 8vo. Testamenta Vetusta, by Nicolas. Lon., 1826, 2 vols., 8vo. Mills's Literature, &c., of Great Britain, etc. N. Y., 1851, 2 vols., 8vo. Readings in Poetry. Lon., 1853, 18mo. Readings in English Prose Literature. Lon., 1849, 18mo. Readings in Biography. Lon., 1852, 18mo. Watkins's Biographical Dictionary. Lon., 1807, 8vo. Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell, by Dr. Beattie. N. Y., 1850, 2 vols., 12mo. Goodrich's Popular Biography. N. Y., 1852, 12mo. Autobiography of Leigh Hunt. N. Y., 1850, 2 vols., 12mo. Men, Women, and Books, by Leigh Hunt. N. Y., 1847, 2 vols., 12mo. Cambridge Prize Poems. Camb., 1808, 2 vols., 12mo. Mitford's Recollections of a Literary Life. N. Y., 1850, 12mo. Howitt's Homes and Haunts of the British Poets. N. Y., 1851, 2 vols., 12mo. The Literati, by Edgar A. Poe. N. Y., 1850, 12mo. Dr. Belcher. Phila., 1848, 12mo. J. Pye Smith's First Lines of Christian Theology, edited by Wm. Farrar. Lon., 1854, 8vo. Lodge's Portraits and Memoirs of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Lon., 1840, 10 vols., imp. 8vo. Eccleston's English Antiquities. Lon., 1847, 8vo. Chambers's Cyclopædia of English Literature. Edin., 1844, 2 vols., imp. 8vo. Shaw's Outlines of English Literature. Phila., 1852, 12mo. Spalding's History of English Literature, N. Y., 1853, 12mo. Pycroft's Course of English Reading. Lon., 1850, 12mo. Bibliothèque Américaine, par H. Ternaux. Paris, 1837, 8vo. Ludewig's Literature of American Local History. N. Y., 1846, 8vo. Goodhugh's Library Companion. Lon., 1827, 8vo. Literary and Miscellaneous Memoirs, by J. Cradock. Lon., 1828, 4 vols., 8vo. Literary Recollections, by Rev. Richard Warner. Lon., 1830, 2 vols., 8vo. Effigies Poetica. J. P. Collier's Shakespeare's Library. Lon., 1850, Lon., 1824, 8vo. Chalmers's Poetic Remains of some 2 vols., 8vo. Shakesperiana, by Wilson. Lon., of the Scottish Kings. Lon., 1824, 12mo. Upcott's 1827, 12mo. Shakesperiana, by Halliwell. Lon., Biographical Dictionary of Living Authors. Lon., 1841, 8vo. Shakspeare's Himself Again, by A. 1816, 8vo. Dr. Williams's American Medical BioBecket. Lon., 1812, 2 vols., 8vo. The Confessions graphy. Greenfield, 1845, 8vo. Diary and Letters of W. H. Ireland. Lon., 1805, 12mo. Remarks on of Madame D'Arblay. Lon., 1842–6, 7 vols., 12mo. Collier's and Knight's editions of Shakespeare, by Willis's Pencillings by the Way. N. Y., 1852, 12mo. Rev. Alex. Dyce. Lon., 1844, 8vo. Douce's Illus- Rowton's Female Poets of Great Britain. Lon., trations of Shakespeare. Lon., 1839, 8vo. Mrs. 1848, 12mo. The Poetry and Poets of Great Britain. Montague's Essay on Shakespear. Lon., 1770, 18mo. Edin., 1850, 12mo. Modern British Essayists. Shakspere and His Times. By Geo. Tweddell. Lon., Phila., 1848, etc., 8 vols., 8vo. Physiognomical 1852, 18mo. Galerie des Femmes de Shakespeare. Portraits. Lon., 1823, 2 vols., imp. 8vo. The MirParis, 2 vols., R. 8vo. Shakspeare's Genius Justified, ror for Magistrates. Lon., 1815, 3 vols., 4to. Warby Z. Jackson. Lon., 1819, 8vo. Miscellaneous ren's Introduction to Law Studies. Lon., 1845, Papers, etc., of Shakspeare, by Saml. Ireland. Lon., | 12mo. Dr. Goodrich's British Eloquence. N. Y., 1796, 8vo. J. P. Collier's Notes and Emendations 1852, 8vo. Diary and Correspondence of Saml. Pepys, to the Text of Shakespeare's Plays. N. Y. 1853, 4th edit., 1854, 4 vols., R. 8vo. Diary and Corres12mo. Shakspeare and His Times, by M. Guizot. pondence of John Evelyn. 1850, 4 vols., 8vo. Diary N. Y., 1852, 12mo. Knight's Biography of Shake- and Correspondence of Ralph Thoresby. Lon., 1830, speare; Studies of Shakespeare. Lon., 1851, 2 vols. 4 vols. 8vo. Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens 8vo. An Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare, by of England. Lon., 1853, 8 vols., R. 8vo. Gibbon's Dr. R. Farmer. Lon., 1821, 12mo. Becket's Dra- Miscellaneous Works, by Lord Sheffield. Lon., 1837, matic Miscellanies, edited by Dr. Beattie. Lon., 8vo. Chronicles of the Crusades. Lon., 1848, 12mo. 1838, 2 vols. 8vo. Malone's Inquiry into the Authen- Ellis's Metrical Romances, edited by Halliwell. 1848, ticity of the Ireland Shakespeare MS. Lon., 1796, 12mo. Schlegel's Lectures on Dramatic Art and 8vo. Halliwell's Life of Shakespeare. Lon., 1848, Literature. Lon., 1846, 8vo. Southey's Doctor. 8vo. Lon., 1849, 8vo.; do. Common Place Book. Park's Pantology. Phila., 1841, 8vo. Life and Correspondence of Lord Jeffreys. Phila., 1852, 2 vols., 8vo. Collier's Roxburghe Ballads. Lon., 1847, 12mo. Hone's Works. Lon., 4 vols., 8vo. Whipple's Essays and Reviews. Boston, 1851, 2 vols. 12mo. Whipple's Lectures. 1850, 12mo. Giles's Lectures and Essays. Boston, 1850, 3 vols., 12mo. The Poetical Register. Lon., 1805, etc., 8 vols., 12mo. Timperley's Encyclopædia of Literature and Typographical Anecdote. Lon., 1839, 8vo. Savage's Librarian. Lon., 1808, 3 vols., 8vo. Johnson's Typographia. Lon., 1824, 2 vols., 8vo. Beloe's Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books. Lon., 1814, 6 vols., 8vo. Moss's Classical Bibliography. Hunter's New Illustrations of Shakespeare. Lon., 1845, 2 vols. 8vo. Hudson's Lectures on Shakespeare. N. Y., 1848, 2 vols., 12mo. Chalmers's Supplemental Apology relative to the Ireland Shakespeare MS. Fairhold's Home of Shakspere. Lon., 1847, 18mo. Essays on Shakespeare's Falstaff, etc. Lon., 1789, 18mo. Traditionary Anecdotes of Shakespeare. Lon., 1838, 12mo. Collier's Reasons for a New Edition of Shakespeare's Works. Lon., 1842, 8vo. Ireland's Vindication relative to the Supposed Shakespeare MSS. Biographia Britannica Literaria. Anglo-Saxon Period, by Thos. Wright, M. A. Anglo-Norman Period, by Thos. Wright, M. A. Lon., 1842-46, 2 vols., 8vo. (See Introduc.) The Clergy of America, by without mutual concessions, and compromises, of which the public must bear the cost. That this is no picture of the imagination, the literary reader will bear us witness. In this work, the author has declined many proffers of assistance, in order that he might pursue his own plans without interruption, and feel, as he added stone after stone to the edifice, that the literary monument, when erected, would be the work of his own hands. Lon., 1837, 2 vols., 8vo. The Book Rarities of the University of Cambridge. Lon., 1829, 8vo. Fry's Bibliographical Memoranda. Bristol, 1816, sm. 4to. Alphabetical Register of Authors, by Reuss. Berlin, 1791. Buckingham's Reminiscences. Boston, 1852, 2 vols., 12mo. Munsell's Typographical Miscellany. Albany, 1850, 8vo. Soanes's New Curiosities of Literature. Lon., 1849, 2 vols., 12mo. Encyclopædia Britannica. 7th edit., 24 vols., Lon., 1842, etc., 4to. Matthias's Pursuits of Literature. Lon., 1812, R. 4to. Spence's Anecdotes. 1820, imp. fol. Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, 4to. Collier's Great Historical and Poetical Dictionary. Lon., 1701, etc., 3 vols., fol. Harleian Miscellany. Lon., 1744-6, 8 vols., 4to. Platt's Universal Biography. Lon., 1826, 5 vols., 8vo. Gentleman's Magazine, 1731-1854, about 220 vols. Universal Magazine, 1747-1803, 112 vols. London Monthly Review, 1749-1842, about 225 vols. Edinburgh Review, 1802-1854, 104 vols. London Retrospective Review, 1820-8, 16 vols. London Quarterly Review, 1809-1854, 96 vols. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, 1817-1854. Littell's Living Age. Also the London Literary Ga- With regard to those matters in which the author zette; London Athenæum; North British Review; has been obliged to adjudicate-the opposing verWestminster Review; Edinburgh Annual Register; sions connected with biographical and literary details London Christian Observer; London Monthly Reposi--he claims no infallibility, and must expect to entory; British Magazine; London Notes and Queries; and a large collection of bibliography, including catalogues of many of the most celebrated English libraries, from Dr. Mede's to Dawson Turner's. The reader will observe that only those works have been named which profess to record biographical or bibliographical information. It is hardly necessary to say, that in a city like Philadelphia, the author has not been restricted to his own library, for the purpose of literary research; although the above list, perhaps, evinces some zeal in the collection of appropriate works. It is, however, proper to state that the Critical Dictionary now submitted to the public, IS BY NO MEANS A MERE SERVILE COMPILATION FROM EXISTING AUTHORITIES. Great pains and much time have been devoted to the sifting of statements, the comparison of opposing records, and the authentication of dates. The many errors to be found in compilations of this character, are partly attributable to the fact, that, in most instances, a number of editors, often without unity of counsel, have combined their labours in the production of one work. Yet the advantages of such combination in a compendium of general biography, are too great to be sacrificed to the hope of perhaps unattainable perfection. But it is believed that a work of the character now presented to the public, restricted to one class-authors-and British and American authors only, can be better prepared by one editor than by many. In such unions, each colabourer brings to the common stock, preconceived partialities and antipathies, and a scientific or literary esprit du corps, which can hardly be reconciled Whilst thus claiming all responsibility which attaches to the preparation of this volume, we have pleasure in expressing our obligations to the numerous correspondents in Great Britain and America who have furnished us information respecting their own literary biography or that of other writers. If we have not always profited by the well-meant suggestions of our advisers, it must be remembered in our defence that he alone who, from the advantages of his position, can take in at one survey the materials of which he is to compose his edifice, can intelligently judge as to the best disposition of the parts and the most suitable style of architecture. counter occasional dissent. Yet a timely caution against hasty and superficial criticism, may save mortification to that class of commentators who so often excite commiseration by mistaking crude speculations, and the rash confidence of unconscious ignorance, for the results of learned investigation, and the modest assurance of intelligent deliberation. When such critics feel disposed to charge us with error, from our want of coincidence with their preconceived opinions, it will be only modest to ask themselves, if it be quite certain that they are right, and ourselves in the wrong? Unless the disputed question be one within their own personal knowledge We may which it, of course, seldom can be their charge of error at our door, can only mean that they prefer some opposing version to that which they criticise;but may not their authority have been the subject of our consideration, also?-have been carefully scrutinized, and deliberately rejected? not, indeed, explicitly refer to the dictum to which our critic so deferentially bows, for it is impossible in our limited space to give aught but the conclusions of our researches, but this omission affords no proof of our ignorance of such opposing authorities. Whatever may be the faults and imperfections of our work, we prefer to fall into the hands of the learned, who can appreciate both merits and defects, rather than trust to the tender mercies of the literary charlatan, whose commendation and censure are alike worthless. It is not the erudite bibliographer, for instance, who will object to the introduction into a work of this kind, of the many brief articles of a few lines |