OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH = A NEW EDITION, CONTAINING PIECES HITHERTO UNCOLLECTED, AND A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. WITH NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES BY J. W. M. GIBBS IN FIVE VOLUMES VOL. I LIFE OF GOLDSMITH VICAR OF WAKEFIELD ESSAYS: LETTERS LONDON GEORGE BELL AND SONS 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. |