THE

VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

BY

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

LONDON:

THOMAS MURBY, 32, BOUVERIE STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C.

AND

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT.

1864.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES.

THE object of the 'ENTERTAINING LIBRARY' is to provide the young and, generally speaking, the less educated portion of the community with books which they will find readable.

Many similar projects have been started, and have failed. The Proprietors of the present 'LIBRARY' believe that those failures are to be ascribed to a fundamental deficiency which, with proper attention and care, may be fully supplied.

In undertakings of this kind too little allowance has been made for what may almost be termed the repulsiveness of a book to the untutored mind. Children freed from irksome tasks, and working men wearied with a hard day's toil, cannot possibly be induced to read until they find out what a wealth of entertainment is concealed under the hard, ungraceful forms of typography. Nothing appears more certain than that they will not read at all, unless materials are placed before them

which are calculated to arouse their interest and enchain their

attention.

The practical problem, therefore, to be solved is, to furnish a selection of works which will appeal to that dominant principle in the human breast, the love of pleasure. The aim of the Editor of the 'ENTERTAINING LIBRARY' is to provide an ample and varied repast for the gratification of this instinct. The concentration of his efforts upon this single point will give the present series of books its distinctive character.

A glance at the sources upon which he has already drawn will, it is believed, convince those who are acquainted with English literature, that such volumes as the ENTERTAINING LIBRARY' promises to contain will necessarily tend to enlarge the intellectual views, and to direct and strengthen the moral sentiments of every reader. But the prime end kept in view will be to afford, in a wide and liberal sense, pleasure and amusement; and to this end whatever bears more directly upon the practical utilities of life will invariably be held subordinate.

It is proper to state that the Editor assumes the right of adapting the original texts so as to suit his purpose. Grammatical constructions which are too involved and difficult will be simplified; modern words and idioms will be substituted