CONTENTS. Page 826 . . Page * Addison, Joseph, . 245 Johnson, Samuel, Akenside, Mark, 364 Jonson, Ben, Larbauld, Anna Letitia, 419 | Ken, Thomas, Beattie, James, 412 King, Henry, Beaumont and Fletcher 97 Logan, John, Blair, Robert, 310 Massinger, Philip, Bloomfield, Robert, 496ilton, John, Prowne, William, . 119 More, Hannah, Bruce, Michael, 425 Parnell, Thomas, . Burtis, Robert, 473 Pope, Alexander, · Chatterton, Thomas, 444 + Prior, Matthew, Thaucer, Geoffrey, 1. Quarles, Francis, • Collins, William, 358 Raleigh, Sir Walter, Cowley, Abraham, 188 Ramsay, Allan, wper, William, . 392 +Sandys, George, Crabbe, George, 454Shakspeare, William, Crashaw, Richard, 153 Sherburne, Sir Edward, Davies, Sir John, . 84 Shirley, James, Denham, Sir John, 184 Sidney, Sir Philip, Jammond, William, 107 Southwell, Robert, Bryden, John, 198 Spenser, Edmund, Pergusson, Robert, 436 Swift, Jonathan, 'fetcher, Giles, 117 Sylvester, Joshua, ketcher, Phineas, 102 | Thomson, James, . ay, Jobn, 306+ Vaughan, Henry, . cidsmith, Oliver, 3697 Waller, Edmund, ray, Thomas, 350+ Watts, Isaac, abington, William, 152 White, Henry Kirke, bert, George, 132 Wither, George, rrick, Robert, 125 Wotton, Sir Henry, wood, Thomas, 136 Young, Edward, leury, Earl of Surrey, 11 279 101 56 194 52 . . 55 314 196 145 262 WITH CRITICISMS ON THEIR WORKS, SELECTED FROM THE MOST DISTINGUISHED WRITERS. INTENDED FOR TEACHERS, AND THE HIGHER CLASSES IN SCHOOLS. No species of writing seems more worthy' of 'cultivation than Biography; PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE DUBLIN: FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. PREFACE. The following Biographical and Critical Sketches have been compiled for the use of teachers, and for such of their pupils, in the advanced classes, as may be qualified to profit by the study. of. literary .biography: . It was thought that the Seleçtipps from the Posts vould be read with a more lively interest, and with a greater probability of making a lasting inspression, if accompanied by notices of their authors. . T8 youthful readers there is do department of literature more attractive and useful than biography. It conveys' instruction in a simple and pleasing form. The great object effected by it is the improvement of the mind by means of example, which is frequently more powerful in its influence than mere precept. Impressed with a conviction of this truth, the compiler trusts that the memoirs of the several writers, drawn up expressly for this work, will have the effect of inducing the young student to enter upon a more extensive field of biographical inquiry, and of qualifying him to exercise a sound judgment on their literary merits. In the preparation of these notices of eminent British poets, the compiler has endeavoured to be accurate and impartial. He does not lay claim either to extensive research or original criticism; he aspires only to the |