Part I. Containing an historical and literary account of the original text, early versions, and printed editions of the Old and New Testament; or the sacred books of the Jews Part II. Containing an historical and literary account of the Koran, Zend-Avesta, Kings, and Edda; or the books Essay on the Discipline of the Church of Rome, respecting the Historical Memoirs of the Church of France in the reigns of XXX. The Blue Books; and some Miscellaneous Publications on the Miscellaneous Article, XXXI. 1. The Ancient and Modern Eras of Literature, 2.-The Era of British Literature, NOTE I.-Referred to in page 73. Extracts respecting the authorship of the Letters of Junius, NOTE II.-Referred to in page 177. Extracts from Letters, with which Doctor Parr has honoured the Reminiscent; On the high polish of Virgil's diction; On the INTRODUCTION. As the Writer's time of life admonishes him, that this* may be the last occasion, on which any production of his pen will solicit the attention of the public, he avails himself of it to mention the TITLES of all his works, and to state succinctly some circumstances and observations, which the present publication brings to his REMINIS CENCE. Several works having been imputed to him, in which he has had no concern, and which he knows only by their titles, he takes this opportunity of disclaiming ALL, which he shall not acknowledge in the present publication. M. Pellisson, in his account of M. Huét the celebrated bishop of Avranches, observes of him, that, "from "his tenderest years, he gave himself to study; that, "at his rising, his going to bed, and during his meals, "he was reading, or had others to read to him; that * These reminiscences, in a contracted form, were prefixed to the writer's HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE ENGLISH, IRISH, AND SCOTTISH CATHOLICS, the publication referred to in the text. "neither the fire of youth, the interruption of business, "the variety of his employments, the society of his "friends, nor the bustle of the world, could ever mo"derate his ardour for study."* These expressions the Reminiscent has applied, with complete justice, to the reverend Mr. Alban Butler, the author of "The Lives of the Saints," his paternal uncle :† he believes that, with some justice at least, he may also apply them to himself. It is pleasing to him to reflect, that, though few have exceeded him in the love of literature, or pursued it with greater delight, it never seduced, or was suspected by his professional friends of seducing him, for one mo. ment, from professional duty. M. Teissier, in his account of one of the French jurisconsults noticed in his Elûges, mentions that "he was so absorbed in his lite rary pursuits, that his wife was frequently obliged to "drag him from his library to his bureau." To this necessity, the loved and revered person, to whom the Reminiscent owes thirty-seven years of happiness, was never exposed. Very early rising, a systematic division of his time, -abstinence from all company and from all diversions not likely to amuse him highly,—from reading, writing, *Pellisson, Histoire de l'Académie, vol. i. p. 102. In the account of his life inserted in the 3d vol. of the writer's works. Elôges des Hommes Sçavans tirés de l'Histoire de M. de Thou. Leyde, 4 vols. 12mo. |