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ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

FIRST EDITION, 1779-1780.

THE Bookfellers having determined to publish a body of English Poetry, I was perfuaded to promise them a Preface to the Works of each Author; an undertaking, as it was then prefented to my mind, not very extenfive or difficult.

My purpofe was only to have allotted to every Poet an Advertisement, like those which we find in the French Mifcellanies, containing a few dates and a general character; but I have been led beyond my intention, I hope, by the honest defire of giving ufeful pleasure.

In this minute kind of Hiftory, the fucceffion of facts is not easily discovered; and I am not without fufpicion that fome of Dryden's works are placed in wrong years, I have followed Langbaine, as the beft authority for his plays: and if I fhall hereafter obtain a more correct chronology, will publish it; but I do not yet know that my account is erroneous *

Dryden's Remarks on Rymer have been fomewhere † printed before. The former edition I have not feen. This was tranfcribed for the prefs from his own manu. fcript.

As this undertaking was occafional and unforeseen, I must be supposed to have engaged in it with lefs provifion of materials than might have been accumulated by longer

* Langbaine's authority will not fupport the dates affigned to Dryden's Plays. Thefe are now rectified in the margin by reference to the original Editions, the only guides to be relied on, R.

In the Edition of Beaumont and Fletcher, hy Mr. Colman, R,

pre

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

premeditation. Of the later writers at least I might, by attention and enquiry, have gleaned many particulars, which would have diverfified and enlivened my Biography. Thefe omiffions, which it is now ufelefs to lament, have been often fupplied by the kindness of Mr. Steevens and other friends; and great afsistance has been given me by Mr. Spence's Collections, of which I confider the communication as a favour worthy of publick acknowledgement.

CON.

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