PREFACE. THE present course of Lectures was originally published shortly after their delivery at the Surrey Institution in the year 1820. The reception of the Volume was favourable; and it has been frequently reprinted both here and in America. To the present re-publication, with a view to rendering the series now in course of completion as deserving as possible of favour, illustrative notes have been added, where they appeared to be necessary, and all the extracts have been carefully collated with the best existing texts of the several authors quoted. An excellent criticism on these Lectures was contributed to the Edinburgh Review, by the late Mr. Justice Talfourd; it may be found reprinted among his Miscellaneous Works, Philadelphia, 1842, 8vo. It is to be observed here, that in the British Museum is a copy of this volume (edit. 1820), with MSS. note, by the celebrated German critic and dramatist, Ludwig Tieck. KENSINGTON. Sept. 15, 1869. W. C. H. On single Plays, Poems, &c.; "The Four P's;" "The Return On Miscellaneous Poems; F. Beaumont, P. Fletcher, Drayton, Daniel, &c.; Sir P. Sidney's "Arcadia," and other Works 172 |