PREFACE. THE Editor of the Annual Review cannot allow the second volume to appear before the Public without acknowledging, in his own name and that of the Proprietors, the grateful sense entertained by them, of the encouragement which has hitherto attended their undertaking. Animated by the testimonies of approbation that have been received from various quarters, and by the extensive circulation of their first volume, they have used every exertion to render the present not unworthy of the public patronage. Its literary merit must be wholly appreciated by the reader; for, on this head the Editor feels it his duty to be silent. He may be allowed, however, to remark, that a considerable advantage has been gained with respect to the time of publication, not more than eight months and a half having elapsed since the appearance of the first volume; and it is hoped that, in future, his annual labours will ter- . minate by the latter end of March. In addition to the obvious advantages of an arranged over a miscellaneous History of Literature, it has been almost unexpectedly discovered, that even in priority of notice the Annual Review has an advantage over any monthly one; out of nearly Five Hundred Articles, which compose the present volume, not one-third have made their appearance in any other Review of Books. PREFACE. THE Editor of the Annual Review cannot allow the second volume to appear before the Public without acknowledging, in his own name and that of the Proprietors, the grateful sense entertained by them, of the encouragement which has hitherto attended their undertaking. Animated by the testimonies of approbation that have been received from various quarters, and by the extensive circulation of their first volume, they have used every exertion to render the present not unworthy of the public patronage. Its literary merit must be wholly appreciated by the reader; for, on this head the Editor feels it his duty to be silent. He may be allowed, however, to remark, that a considerable advantage has been gained with respect to the time of publication, not more than eight months and a half having elapsed since the appearance of the first volume; and it is hoped that, in future, his annual labours will terminate by the latter end of March. In addition to the obvious advantages of an arranged over a miscellaneous History of Literature, it has been almost unexpectedly discovered, that even in priority of notice the Annual Review has an advantage over any monthly one; out of nearly Five Hundred Articles, which compose the present volume, not one-third appearance in other Review of Books. any have made their |