J4140

MISCELLANEOUS WORKS

OF

THOMAS ARNOLD, D.D.,

LATE HEAD-MASTER OF KUGBY SCHOOL, AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF

Tappan Pres. Assoin.

4-2-1924

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.

THE volume of "Arnold's Miscellaneous Works," published
in London in June, 1845, having been accurately examined, it
was discovered that the London copy was both defective and
redundant. The concise Preface itself, by Mr. Stanley, indeed
produced a conviction that the volume might be essentially
improved. That notice was almost in these words:-

"This volume consists of a republication of such Miscellane-
ous writings of Dr. Arnold as appeared to possess any perma-
nent interest, or to illustrate his general views, especially on the
subjects of education and of the social and political state of the
country.

"It has, therefore, seemed best to exclude from it the articles written in the British Critic, 1819-20; that on Niebuhr's History of Rome in the Quarterly Review of 1825; and on "Letters of an Episcopalian," in the Edinburgh Review of 1826; such publications of his later years as had a local or temporary character, as well as the article on "Dr. Hampden" in the Edinburgh Review of 1836; and such of the Essays appended to his edition of Thucydides, 1830-35, as were confined to questions of purely topographical or historical detail. The Essays on Church and State, which were to have appeared in this volume, have now been published, as Appendixes to the Second Edition of the Fragment on the Church.

"The contents of this volume express Dr. Arnold's deliberate views on the subjects of which he wrote. At the same time it will be obvious that his language would often have been modified by a change of circumstances, and that expressions are occasionally used, which he would subsequently have cancelled."

754 1845

Exclusive of the Articles in the British Critic which are not specifically designated, there are five important disquisitions upon very interesting topics, which are thus distinctly announced as omitted by the English editor. It was, therefore, decided, that those critical Essays should be embodied in the American reprint. There is also a peculiar mention of the "Fragment on the Church," and the and the "Essays on Church and State;" the latter of which had been promised as a part of the volume of Arnold's "Miscellaneous Works;" but which were withheld, doubtless, for the sole purpose of publishing those two articles in a separate volume. In addition to those discussions, there is a very frequent reference both in the "Life and Correspondence," and in the "Miscellaneous Works of Dr. Arnold," to the Introductory Essay to the volume of Sermons by Arnold, entitled "CHRISTIAN LIFE, ITS COURSE, ITS HINDRANCES, AND ITS HELPS;" and the reader is often at a loss clearly and precisely to apprehend either the subject, or the proposed illustration of it, for want of that article. That preliminary discourse on the greatly agitating modern controversy, with its supplementary Annotations, is also incorporated in this volume.

Notwithstanding the large type, open spaces, and wide margin, it was ascertained, however, that the English copy still would be too thin for the purposes of trade; therefore a variety of articles and letters from old newspapers, written many years previous, altogether ephemeral, and of a merely "temporary character," and of an exclusively local application, were added, including nearly one fourth of the London volume, Those are of the identical quality of the superior class of newspaper essays on the social condition of the agricultural and manufacturing classes in Britain, with the analogous subjects; many of which will scarcely be noticed in any future history of that period.

Those pages, with few exceptions, it was determined to exclude; and in their stead to substitute, not only the critical disquisitions expressly mentioned in the Preface to the English edi

tion, but also to embody the three prominent articles on those themes, to the defence and illustration of which Dr. Arnold consecrated his untiring and energetic labours; and, in which service he acquired his justly merited distinction, and accomplished so much wide spread and lasting good.

It is therefore proper that the purchasers of this volume should be apprised of the additions, changes, omissions, and improvements in this republication.

ADDITIONS. These articles will be found in the table of Contents with these titles: "Christian Politics; Essays on Church and State; The Church; The Church of England; Early Roman History; Faith and Reason; The Oxford Malignants and Dr. Hampden; The Sixth Chapter of the Gospel by John; Tracts for the Times; and Tradition." Those nine treatises, it will be perceived, extend to 256 pages, or one half of the present volume, including more than 400 pages of the Anglican works whence they are derived; and containing one entire octavo volume, which alone is sold at a much higher price than this edition.

CHANGES.-These have been entirely in the order of the articles, which in the English copy are promiscuously jumbled together, without any reference either to the subject, or the length of the discussion.

OMISSIONS. The articles omitted are altogether restricted to the newspaper discussions, which were so limited both in the trivial nature of the subject, and its short-lived duration, that very few readers in this country would understand the controversial themes, and scarcely an individual would devote the time to peruse those trifling and forgotten articles, although marked with the name of Thomas Arnold.

IMPROVEMENTS.-It was originally designed to arrange the whole volume in two consecutive series; the first to contain those which appertain to ecclesiastical concerns; and the second, the discussions on secular and literary themes. But as the "Essays on Church and State" were not in this country,

the

6.