Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

7

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

ADVERTISEMENT.

In

MOST of the Letters contained in these Volumes are taken from the Collections of HEARNE, SMITH, and BALLARD, in the BODLEIAN LIBRARY. addition to many curious anecdotes and remarks of a local nature, interesting to all who are connected with the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD, they exhibit biographical sketches of persons contemporary with the writers, as well as notices of passing events, and of the general state of literature.

The two JOURNEYS of HEARNE are printed from his Manuscript Diaries in the Bodleian Library. While they display some characteristical traits of the simplicity of his manners, they afford a proof of his invincible ardour in the pursuit of his favourite study of Antiquities.

With respect to the LIVES written by AUBREY, it is proper to state, that the object has been to give them verbatim, without correction or addition ; and this must account for many inaccuracies

that will be detected, and for many omissions that might have been supplied by the Editor, had such been his intention. They were originally designed as memoranda for the use of ANTHONY A WOOD, when composing his ATHENE OXONIENSES, and are now submitted to the public as literary curiosities. That they possess a claim to this title will readily be allowed, since there is scarcely a Life without some anecdote hitherto unpublished; and the Author's description of the personal appearance, and domestic habits, of most of the individuals of whom he writes, is singularly interesting.

It must be observed, that a few short Lives, containing nothing of the least importance, and some passages, either too trifling, or too gross, for publication, are omitted.

As the LIVES Occupy a much greater space in print, than the Editor expected, it was found necessary to divide the Second Volume into two parts.

« ZurückWeiter »