FOR 1821; OR, A Complete Guide to the Almanack: CONTAINING AN EXPLANATION OF Saints' Days and Holidays; WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OF BRITISH HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES, AND SKETCHES OF LOGY. COMPARATIVE CHRONOLOGY. Astronomical Occurrences IN EVERY MONTH; COMPRISING REMARKS ON THE PHENOMENA OF THE CELESTIAL BODIES: Advertisement. IN an age of innovation and pretensions, when Novelty assumes the shifting hues of fashion, to woo with meretricious charms the literary amateur,—it may be considered as some praise, that no attempt has been made to alter the general arrangement of a work, already honoured and sanctioned by the meed of applause. It is obvious, however, that Variety ' of excellence' is indispensable in a compilation professing to blend utility with amusement; and, while the Editor trusts that the present volume, in point of research and felicitous illustration, will not be found inferior to any of its predecessors, he hopes it is sufficiently seasoned with sauce piquante, so as agreeably to stimulate, without depraving, the intellectual taste. While the department of Natural History offers, in profusion, its multiform objects of curiosity, Biography and Anecdote open their stores to those, who, in the contemplation of 'many-coloured life,' seek in the results of experience the solution of those great moral problems, which at once agitate and delight the enquiring mind. The votaries of the Muse are especially invited to our 'POETICAL CONSERVATORY'; here, secure from Summer's heats and Winter's storms, full many a wild flower, transplanted from some neglected spot, mingles its soft perfume with the full blown fragrance of the garden's pride; here, too, the fostering hand nurtures the tender blossoms, destined, some day, perhaps, to ripen into fruit of exquisite flavour. Thus emulous to please, the Editor is willing to believe that his humble efforts will be met with the accustomed indulgence; and, now like mine host, having served up his eighth course to his honoured guests, he respectfully retires for the season, with the hearty wish, that Digestion may wait on Appetite, and Health on both.' LONDON, Nov. 21, 1820. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Editor begs to present his best thanks to his friends for their valuable hints and communications; more especially to his Huntingdonshire and Gloucestershire Correspondents, from whose contributions many interesting facts in Natural History have been gleaned. The wild flowers from Hainault Forest were truly acceptable: may the Annual Telescope be always garlanded with such a wreath! |