OF ENGLISH PROSE LITERATURE. JOSEPH RICKERBY (Proprietor of the SACRED CLASSICS,) intends issuing, on EDUCATION, ELOQUENCE, CRITICISM, BY BACON-MILTON-SIR THOMAS MORE-SIR PHILIP SIDNEY-HUME-CONYERS MIDDLETON BISHOP BERKELEY-SIR THOMAS BROWNE-BURKE— JOHNSON-SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS-STERNE-ADAM With Preliminary Biscourses and Notes, Author of "Egypt and Mohammed Ali;" "The Hindoos;" "Residence in PROSPECTUS. To those who thoroughly comprehend the importance and high tendency of LITERATURE, when not perverted from the original intention of its nature, an elaborate exposition of the advantages likely to accrue to the public from a revival of the best Works of our best Authors, will be altogether unnecessary. They already know that, in every art and science, those who would not rest content with a cramped mechanical knowledge, meted out to them by the peculiar measures in vogue among their Contemporaries, must turn constantly back, to consider what were the ideas and practices of Former Ages, in order to enlarge and improve their own. And this is more particularly requisite in LITERATURE-where none but those who have made themselves acquainted with the MASTERPIECES of past times, can ever hope to add to their number. But this obvious truth, which it is so easy to acknowledge, is seldom converted into a principle of action. The productions of our Own Age,-yielding, indeed, in many cases, to those of no preceeding period,- —are too frequently allowed to engross us wholly; and thus is created a taste childishly fastidious, which, without examination, rejects as unpalatable the more solid, plentiful, and invigorating intellectual food of our Forefathers. Many laudable attempts have certainly already been made, and are still making, to correct the inju. rious tendency of this habit. The works of some of our greatest Writers have been reprinted, sometimes nakedly, at others accompanied by Prefaces or Introductions, intended to pave the way to a renewed intercourse between our Literary Ancestors and the Public; and in no instance so ably and successfully as in the Series of the "SACRED CLASSICS." Perhaps, however, no single work, detached from the body of our Older Literature, and separately published, could ever hope to secure the degree of attention to which it might, by its intrinsic importance, be entitled. Like a foreigner, moving solitarily through a vast and busy crowd, it would probably be quickly eclipsed and lost to the eye amid the multitudinous throng. To produce any very striking effect, therefore, the books of past ages must be revived, so to say, in masses, and be made to support each other, like the several parts of a phalanx, in reconquering that popularity which is their just inheritance: for appearing thus, they can by no possibility be overlooked. And such is the merit of those Authors whose principal Works will compose the present Series-such the force of their reasoning the vast reach and compass of their thoughts-the riches of their illustration-and the splendour, in many cases, of their style, that those who once discover their various excellences are won. On this account, independently of all other considerations, we have thought it desirable to publish seriatim a collection of the PROSE MASTERPIECES of our LITERATURE, uniform in appearance, size, embellishments, and price-to be issued at regular intervals. And because, in most instances, we find among an Author's Works some particular Treatise or Treatises, which, treating of topics agreeable to his taste, or containing, as in the case of MIL-' TON, some burst of self-love, or the defence or exposition of doctrines exactly suiting the temper of his mind, are therefore more completely impregnated with the seeds of his genius, and the quintessence of his most exquisite learning, we have considered it more expedient to make a selection of such pieces, than to reprint all he may have written; for even those who possess the happiest and most fertile intellects, are not equally happy and fertile at all times. But it has often been said that a man's own personal appearance and manners are his best letters of recommendation :-and so it fares with books. To be received into good society they must present themselves well-dressed; an advantage which few of our great writers, except the Poets, have hitherto enjoyed. For what modern eye has yet been rejoiced by beholding the UTOPIA, or the TENURE OF KINGS, or that old LEVIATHAN, once so dear to our Patricians, enclosed within embossed covers, and internally adorned with all the luxurious blandishments of engraving and typography? These elegant incitements to study are reserved for a different order of books, which without them, perhaps, might find the road to popularity more steep and thorny. However, if even inferior productions, recommended by the tastefulness and beauty of their exterior, force themselves a way into the Temple of Fame, where they sparkle and glitter for a while, it surely cannot be too much to expect that some of the most perfect compositions to which the wit of man has given birth, will, when brought forward with equal external advantages, command at least an equal share of public patronage. The labours of the EDITOR may be very briefly explained. To the Works of those Writers, the events of whose lives are hitherto little known, he will prefix an ORIGINAL BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR, containing, in addition to the history of the Author's life, a general view of his Writings, remarks on the peculiarities of his Style, an outline of the Opinions, religious and political, prevalent during the Age in which he lived, and an Account of the Fate of his Works after his death. Wherever the text appears to require elucidation, he will subjoin a NOTE, explaining, or, if necessary, expanding the Author's meaning, or illustrating it by Anecdotes or Historical Facts. The plan which has been so successfully pursued in reprinting the plays of Shakspeare, and the Paradise Lost, of reforming the antiquated orthography, and correcting, as far as possible, the careless punctuation of our older Authors, he will in all practicable cases adopt. And to those Treatises which now want them, will be added TABLES OF CONTENTS, and by numbering the smaller sections, or paragraphs, -as has already been done in several important publications besides the Greek and Roman Classics,-facilitate, as much as possible, the business of reference. Thus illustrated and introduced, it is hoped that the sterling merit of the works themselves will do the rest: particularly as care will be taken to avoid even the appearance of monotony in the subjects, by following up Politics and Philosophy with Criticismworks on Morals and Education-Biography-Pictures of Manners --and even with Romance, when, as in the UTOPIA of Sir Thomas More, it has been made subservient to some great moral end. The Series will be handsomely printed by the Proprietor, JOSEFH RICKERBY, in post 8vo. (uniform with the SACRED CLASSICS-SOUTHEY'S COWPER-BOSWELL'S JOHNSON, &c.) and a Volume regularly issued on the first day of each alternate Month, Embellished with PORTRAITURE ILLUSTRATIONS, FROM Designs by George Cattermole, Engraved on Steel, in the highest Style of the Art. VOL. I. will appear on the 1st of FEBRUARY, 1836, and will contain the following Works of MILTON. ACCOUNT OF HIS OWN STUDIES. APOLOGY FOR HIS EARLY LIFE AND WRITINGS. AREOPAGITICA. TENURE OF KINGS. OUTLINE OF A PERFECT COMMONWEALTH. With a PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, and NOTES, by the Editor; |