The Rise and Expansion of the British Dominion in India

missed whole pages of new matter, with some excellent additional stories and verbal corrections, that betray the pen of the careful writer. I need not say that the text of my reprint is that of the second edition. The text of Mr. Wright has many inexplicable omissions even from the first edition.

I have also made room for the admission of a few select passages from Goldsmith's "History of Animated Nature,"of all his hack labours for booksellers that which seems to have been written with the greatest good-will. The work contains many exquisite passages, and as it is not very probable that it will ever be reprinted in extenso, those passages in which the writer appears to the greatest advantage richly deserve to find a place in any edition of his writings. I would have introduced extracts from his other numerous compilations could I have found any that I could with equal propriety present in such fragments. I have, however, added one of the letters from his "History of England," as a specimen (and it is a good one) of his style in what was then a new kind of writing.

The periodical contributions of Goldsmith to The Monthly Review and The Critical Review were first added to Goldsmith's works in the edition of 1837, where they are mixed together as 'Miscellaneous Criticisms,' and 'Poetical Criticisms.' I have thought fit to separate them, keeping the contributions to each Review apart, and in strict chronological order. My reasons for so doing are that, The Monthly Review was edited by a bookseller and his wife, while The Critical Review was edited by an eminent author-by Smollett. Griffiths and his wife were in the habit of altering the contributions of their humble dependant; and though Smollett probably exercised the same power, it is clear that the alterations of the bookseller and his wife would not be comparable to the alterations made by an editor of Smollett's skill. I am glad to be able to state that the course I have

taken and have here described, meets with the entire approbation of Mr. Forster, who has studied the subject with great attention (as his enlarged Life of Goldsmith will confirm the public in believing), and who is himself a master in the noble art of reviewing.

Another new feature in this edition is the introduction of Goldsmith's letters. His letters contain many of his happiest touches and strokes of character, and therefore well deserve a place among his Works.

In the fourth volume will be found a long and unpublished poem by Goldsmith, printed for the first time by Mr. Bolton. Corney's kind permission, from the original MS. in Goldsmith's hand-writing. When in 1845 Mr. Corney edited the poetical works of Goldsmith, he was not aware of the existence of this MS., or he would, as he informs me, most assuredly have made use of it. Editors, it is said, are seldom liberal one to another, but the truth of the saying (if indeed there is any truth in it) is wholly disproved if applied to Mr. Bolton Corney.

The Index is greatly and importantly enlarged; while with respect to the notes throughout, I have only to say, that I hold myself responsible for all, although to the authorship of many I can lay no claim whatever. It was once my intention to distinguish those of previous editors by their names, but I abandoned that idea because in many cases I was unable to identify the writers; while I had myself taken some liberties, either of correction or compression, with almost every note ;I therefore resolved to adopt the notes of my predecessors, with this general caution and admission, and to let my own appear without the often-recurring ostentation of my name attached to them. I have, however, to Goldsmith's own notes, added and for the first time--Goldsmith's own name.

I cannot conclude this Preface without expressing my thanks to my friend, Mr. George Daniel, of Islington, for the very curious and interesting communication which he has enabled me to publish for the first time. I allude to the

account of the origin of "Retaliation," to be found at p. 78. It is written by Garrick, and while it supplies some important particulars about the poem itself, materially corrects the received copies of Garrick's epitaph or extempore distich on Goldsmith.

KENSINGTON, 27th December, 1853.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.