Hele ver 12-6-32 28042 مكس 5 PREFACE. THE present edition of the Works of Goldsmith is the most comprehensive yet published. Setting aside the works of mere compilation-the Histories, Natural Histories, &c., which are now of no value, and of little interest, this collection will be found to contain all the works previously given, with a few heretofore uncollected. The texts have been re-read with the original editions, where these were procurable, and collated with them and with the later good editions; the result being a rectification of a considerable number of words and phrases and a restoration of some entire passages. The pieces now first collected include the essays on 'Our Own Language -a part of which the author himself reprinted with the title The Augustan Age of England'; the interesting 'Poetical Scale,' with its 'Sequel'; the Prefaces respectively to Plutarch' and 'Goody TwoShoes'; some curious passages in the essay on the 'Boar's Head, Eastcheap,' found only in the first edition, and several Letters and Criticisms. The translation of Vida's 'Game of Chess,' and account of the Cock Lane Ghost' are also here given; together with the rarely printed biographies of Beau Nash and Voltaire; the essays con tributed to the British Magazine, &c., and the criticisms published in the Monthly and Critical reviews, both first collected by Sir James Prior; the scene from the Grumbler'; the discarded, but very interesting, portion of the Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning'; the series of Introductions to Brookes' 'Natural History'; some other Prefaces; and a new selection from the ‘Animated Nature.' 6 Two of the Essays of Goldsmith's own collection of 1766, which, strangely enough, were left out of Bishop Percy's edition, and have been omitted from most editions since, will also be found in the present edition. The Life of Goldsmith' prefixed was originally given with the edition of Goldsmith's Works published by Mr. Bohn in 1848. Revised and corrected as to matters of fact it re-appears, still having the author's signature, "H. B.," appended. Some of H. B.'s notes are also retained, and appear with the signature "B." London, 1884. THE LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH. THE eccentricities of Goldsmith's character, and his unsettled habits, have imparted to his history an air of romance, which seldom belongs to the record of a scholar's life. A restless love of adventure, joined with incorrigible imprudence, was perpetually involving him in difficulties; while he alternately extorted the admiration of the world by the excellence of his writings, and exposed himself to general ridicule by the absurdity of his conduct. The story of his life has acquired additional interest for the lovers of the marvellous, through the carelessness or credulity of his earlier biographers, who have sometimes admitted into their narrative adventures which are either purely imaginary, or which properly belong to some other hero. Such idle stories are readily circulated of those who have attained sufficient eminence to make them the objects of public curiosity; and Goldsmith's high reputation as an author, together with his remarkable peculiarities, and the uncertainty which prevailed in regard to several events of his life, made him a valuable subject for those ingenious gentlemen who manufacture biographical sketches for the magazines, or draw upon a lively imagination for literary anecdotes to enliven the columns of a newspaper. For the present memoir, less questionable authorities have been consulted. In the general narrative we have principally followed the account written by Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, who was himself a personal friend of Goldsmith, and who derived a great |