ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF THE HIGH CHURCH, AND PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. A NEW EDITION. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. LIBRARY OF TY UNIVERSITY EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR BELL & BRADFUTE, PETER HILL, AND DOIG & STIRLING, PREFACE. B6 1813 v.l THE HE following LECTURES were read in the University of Edinburgh, for twentyfour years. The publication of them at present, was not altogether a matter of choice. Imperfect copies of them in manuscript, from notes taken by students who heard them read, were first privately handed about; and afterwards frequently exposed to public sale. When the author saw them circulate so currently, as even to be quoted in print*, and found himself often threatened with surreptitious publications of them, he judged it to be high time that they should proceed from his own hand, rather than come into public view under some very defective and erroneous form. THEY were originally designed for the initiation of youth into the study of Belles * Biographia Britannica. Article ADDISON. L Lettres, and of composition. With the same intention they are now published; is to be received from any one book in our language. IN order to render his work of greater service, he has generally referred to the books which he consulted, as far as he remembers them; that the readers might be directed to any farther illustration which they afford. But, as such a length of time has elapsed since the first composition of his Lectures, he may, perhaps, have adopted the sentiments of some author into whose writings he had then looked, without now remembering whence he derived them. IN the opinions which he has delivered concerning such a variety of authors, and of literary matters, as come under his consideration, he cannot expect that all his readers will concur with him. The subjects are of such a nature, as allow room for much diversity of taste and sentiment: and the author will respectfully submit to the judgment of the public. |