Enlargement
OF
Privately Printed Books.
LIBRARIAN, WOBURN ABBEY.
SECOND EDITION.
M.DCCC.LIV
[ p.v ]
THIS NEW EDITION,
JOHN MARTIN.
[ p.vii ]
(TO THE FIRST EDITION).*
This attempt to describe a peculiar class of books in the literature of our country has long engaged the Editor's attention; and although it comprises several works of little interest, except to the writers and to their immediate connections, it will be found to contain many of considerable value, highly worthy the attention of those who take an interest in the study of the history, antiquities, and topography of their country.
---------------------------
/ p.viii /
Again, it is exceedingly difficult to distinguish between books secretly and privately printed;—with the former, the Editor has not interfered, as they were, to all intents and purposes, printed for sale, and consequently foreign to the object he had in view. The earliest book which he has judged to be strictly entitled to this claim, will be seen in the instance of the rare volume on the English Church, by Archbishop Parker; a work unquestionably printed for private circulation alone; on the examination of which, much pains has been bestowed. Previous to the time of Parker, and on the change of Religion, which called forth so many controversial publications from the advocates of different opinions, many books were circulated without the printer or publisher's name: these, from this circumstance, have been frequently styled privately printed; although there is little doubt they were secretly sold, the fear of prosecution preventing a more public sale. This was not the class of books which it came within the Editor's intention to describe; nor is he aware that, if he had attempted it, he could have added much tothe information which the labours of Strype, and others, have brought to light upon these books.
/ p.ix /
It was not within his design to include Pamphlets; the number of tracts which have been privately circulated in this shape is too great, and in most cases they are of too ephemeral and uninteresting a nature, to have permitted him to make so considerable and so useless an addition to his volume: a few exceptions have been made, whichthe subject, or the celebrity of the writer, seemed to justify.
---------------------------
The second portion of the work, consisting of an account of the publications from literary clubs, and private presses, will probably be foudn the more interesting: no pains have been spared to render it perfect, and the compiler's endeavours have been most liberally / p.x / and kindly seconded by the different parties most able to give him information.
---------------------------
"of pamphlets amongst us, is generally thought to be at the new opposition raised against the errors and corruptions of the church of Rome. Those who were first convinced of the reasonableness of the new learning, as it was then called, propagated their opinions in small pieces, which were cheaply printed; and, what was then of great importance, easily concealed. These treatises were generally printed in foreign countries, and are not therefore always very correct. There was not that opportunity of printing in private; for the number of printers was small, adn the presses easily overlooked by the clergy, who spared no labour or vigilance for the suppression of heresy. There is, however, reason to suspect that some attempts were made to carry on the propagation of truth, by a secret press; for one of the first treatises in / p.xi / favour of the Reformation, is said, at the end, to be printed at Greenwich, by permission of the Lord of Hosts."*
---------------------------
Edward III. founded a convent at Greenwich, in 1376; but the record of its foundation is buried in much obscurity. In 1486, Henry VII. however, granted a charter to the Franciscan Friars there established. In the reign of his successor, Katharine of Arragon was a great protector of this order, and one of its members was her confessor; having taken up the cause of their illustrious patroness, when the divorce from her brutal husband was in agitation: that monarch, in revenge, suppressed the whole order throughout the kingdom. They assembled again on the accession of Queen Mary, but Elizabeth finally suppressed the establishment, in 1559.†
---------------------------
In the reign of Queen Mary, a small tract purports ot be printed at Greenwich, entitled A faythful Admonycion of a certain trewe pastor and prophete sent into the Germanes, &c., now translated into Inglyshe, &c." At the end it is stated, Imprynted at Greenwych, by Conrade Freeman, in the month of May, 1554. Dr. Cotton,‡
---------------------------
however, is of opinion, that it was executed in the Low Countries, or Switzerland: a copy of the tract is in the Bodleian Library.
---------------------------
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a private press was erected at Wandsworth, where the Nonconformists established, in 1572, a presbytery, "the first born of all the presbyteries in England."†
---------------------------
The most active member of this establishment was Thomas Cartwright, the brother-in-law of Stubbs, who with Page, "had their right hands cut off with a cleaver, driven through the wrist by the force of a mallet, upon a scaffold in the market place at Westminster,"‡
---------------------------
for being concerned in the publication of a pamphlet against the projected match between Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Anjou; styled in the proclamation in 1579, as "a lewd seditious book, rashly compiled and secretly printed." Herbert§
---------------------------
mentions a book entitled Certain Articles, &., ¦¦
--------------------------- said to have been privately printed at Wandsor [Wandsworth], near London, 8vo. 1572.
"This junto," says Collier,*
---------------------------
"published a great many venomous pamphlets, under the disguise of Martin Mar-Prelate."†
---------------------------
The same authority says, "The Puritan libels were generally printed by one Walgrave; he had a travelling press for this purpose; 't was removed from Moulsey, near Kingston upon Thames, to Fawsley, in Northamptonshire. The next stage was Norton; from Norton 'twas shifted to Coventry."‡
---------------------------
The extertions of the ministers of Elizabeth at length broke up the press at Wandsworth. It is said to have been established again at Esher, and conducted in such secrecy, as to have defied all the efforts made to destroy it. From this press issued the pamphlets directed against Archbishop Whitgift; and, when finally put down at Manchester, by the Earl of Derby, where the printer and press were both seized, it was employed upon the well-known pamphlet, called More Work for a Cooper. "Never," says Mr. D'Israeli,§
---------------------------
"did sedition travel so fast, nor conceal itself so closely; for they employed a movable press; and as soon as it was surmised that Martin was in Surrey, it was found he had removed to Northamptonshire, while the next account came that / p.xiv / he was shewing his head in Warwickshire." These proceedings of this sect appear to have been finally extinguished by Elizabeth; and no more is heard of them until 1635, when Heylyn says,*
---------------------------
they again made their appearance.
---------------------------
The reign of his unfortunate successor has been well styled by Johnson, the "Age of Pamphlets." The British Museum contains the celebrated collection of the tracts published on both sides of the then prevailing controversy, consisting of upwards of two thousand volumes.‡
---------------------------
This valuable series was presented to the nation by the munificence of George III. More than one hundred volumes in this collection were clandestinely printed at private presses, all traces of which are now obliterated.
/ p.xv /
During the puritanical reign of the usurper Cromwell, Rinuccini, the Pope's legate, established presses at Kilkenny and Waterford, for the purpose of disseminating those doctrines which he conceived to be essential to the interests of his master.*
---------------------------
Dr. O'Conor styles them vile publications.†
---------------------------
In the reign of James II. Obadiah Walker "set up cases of letters adn a press in the back part of his lodgings, belonging to him as Master of University College, where he printed the works of Ab. Woodhead, his quondam tutor, and would have printed many more (all, or most, against the Church of England), had King James II. continued longer on the throne."‡
---------------------------
Among the tracts printed at this press was, Some Reflections, by Thomas Deane, Fellow of University College, an. 1688, 4to. Walker had a license granted to him by the King, dated May, 1686, for the exclusive sale of certain books for twenty-one years. The list of them is printed in the second volume of Gutch's Miscellanea Curiosa: they are all in favour of the Roman Catholic religion.
---------------------------
/ p.xvi /
Few traces remain of private presses after this time; the necessity for establishing them having pretty well subsided, from the tranquillity consequent on the Revolution; politics and Religion, the two prime agents which supplied these secret presses,being generally allowed to state their claims and advance their arguments with tolerable freedom. The Rebellion in Scotland may perhaps have given rise to a temporary establishment of such a press. Dr. Cotton mentions, that a private press appears to have been once established at Ragland Castle, in Monmouthshire; from whence issued, A Collection of Loyal Songs, Poems, &c. said to be privately printed, in 1750.*
---------------------------
The purposes, to which the institution of private presses has been applied in later days, have differed considerably from those of former times. The more elegant branches of literature, poetry, and topography, have supplanted the controversies of the religious bigot and political partizan.
---------------------------
a seat belonging to the late Lord Hampden, which Dr. Cotton states to have been erected in the year 1770.
---------------------------
/ p.xvii /
The celebrated John Wilkes had a press at hishouse, in Princes Court, great George Street, Westminster, where he printed two works, mentioned in this volume.*
---------------------------
At Hafod, in Cardiganshire, its late owner, Mr. Johnes, established a press; from whence issued, as is well known, the Chronicles of Froissart, Monstrelet, and Joinville; works which, independent of their typographical excellence as the productions of a private press, have conferred a lasting benefit on the literature of the country.
---------------------------
[The Editor is indebted to the kindness of J. Winter Jones, Esq., F.S.A., of the British Museum, for the following account of the theatricals, and printing press, / p.xviii / in the Arctic Expedition of 1850-1, under the command of Captain Austin.
In the present volume will be found a more particular history of other private presses, the number and importance of their productions appearing to demand a more complete account.*
---------------------------
Nothing more now remains for the Editor, than that he should discharge one of the pleasantest parts of his duty; namely, that of acknowledging the great kindness and valuable assistance he has received.
---------------------------
The Venerable Archdeacon Cotton, whose bibliographical knowedge is too well appreciate to require the feeble tribute of his pen, the Editor has to thank for several curious communications, and for his readiness in answering inquiries, which he has had occasion to trouble him with.
---------------------------
To the Rev. Dr. Bandinel, Keeper of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and the Rev. John Lodge, Keeper of the Public Library, at Cambridge, his thanks are due, for the great kindness with which they forwarded his views, and facilitated his access, not only to the treasures entrusted to their peculiar care, but to the various other Libraries dispersed in the different Colleges of the two / p.xxi / Universities; and from the Keepers of which he is bound, for the most part, to acknowledge the greatest attention to his wishes.
---------------------------
his thanks are pre-eminently due. The readiness, with which that gentleman renders his valuable assistance to any literary undertaking, is well known; and the present work has had the benefit of his suggestions, and been enriched by several of the most important and valuable books described in it.
---------------------------
he has to render his sincere thanks, not only for several interesting communications, but for the benefit of his correct taste, in many of the illustrations dispersed throughout the volume.
/ p.xxiii /
To have enumerated the names of the various friends to whom the Editor is indebted for information and assitance, would have exhibited an array, which, however gratifying to himself, would have savoured of affectation or vanity. In several instances they are recorded in the works described by their aid.
---------------------------
/ p.xxv /
Nor can he forget the assitance he derived from his friend and neighbour, Mr. Benjamin Wiffen, whose eager search after rare early-printed Spanish books, of a peculiar class, frequently brought under his notice several privately-printed works dispersed in the numerous catalogues which he consulted.
By privately-printed books, the Editor means to designate such only as were not intended by the writers for sale, and the circulation of which has been confined entirely to their friends and connections, or to those who took an interest in the matter contained in them. The difficulty of distinguishing such will be easily understood by those who have paid any attention to the collecting books of this kind; and amongst the number herein enumerated, it is very probably that some will be found with a doubtful claim to appear in this catalogue.
* A few slight additions have been made, distinguished by brackets.
---------------------------
Although he has been long engaged in collecting the materials for this work, he is sensible that many articles have escaped his search; the peculiarity, under which these works have for the most part been printed, rendering the task the more difficult—this, however, is invariably the case with attempts of this kind; and he could hardly have expected, had he longer delayed its appearance, to have rendered it much more perfect.
The Editor has not felt himself at liberty to indulge in any remarks of a critical nature; the circumstances, under which these works have appeared, clearly preclude him from such a course: where notices of that nature appear, the source from which they have been derived is mentioned,and the opinion will be respected according to the value placed upon the authority. It was his intentiona to have added a catalogue of suppressed books; but the length to which this work has extended, as well as the delay which would have been incurred, have induced him to abandon the design: he had made some progress in collecting materials for that purpose, which, should the present attempt be favourbly received, he may be induced to resume.*
* It is not very probably the Editor's intentions will ever be carried out; such materials as he had collected, he has transferred to his son, Under Librarian to the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple; whether his duties will afford him leisure to continue it, is at present uncertain.
---------------------------
Private presses appear to have existed at a very early date in this country: a slight sketch is here attempted of those which have come under notice, in the researches for books connected with this undertaking. At the period of the Reformation, the advocates of the ancient faith were compelled, from the fear of prosecution, and the severe punishment entailed on the printer of seditious works, as these were then styled, to avail themselves of a foreign press for the dissemination of their opinions. The inconvenience and delay, thereby occasioned, naturally led to the establishment of a private press in this country. "The first appearance," says Johnson,*
* Preface to Harleian Miscellany.
---------------------------
* A volume formerly belonging to the Grey Friars of Greenwich, is in the Arundel collection of MSS. No.74.
---------------------------
† Dugdale, Monasticon.
---------------------------
‡ Typographical Gazetteer, Second Edition.
---------------------------
In the reign of Edward VI., a press is said to have been in action in Devonshire, about the period when the insurrection in that county broke out against the royal authority. So great appears to have been the / p.xii / annoyance which the existence of private and unlicensed presses gave to the ruling powers, that it is reported to have given rise, in the reign of Queen Mary, "to a charter granted to certain freemen of London, in whose fidelity no doubt she confided, entirely prohibiting all presses but what should be licensed by them—which charter is that by which the Company of Stationers in London is at this time incorporated."*
* Johnson; Preface to Harleian Miscellany.
---------------------------
† Fuller's Church History, Book viii.
---------------------------
‡ Camden, Annals of Elizabeth.
---------------------------
§ Ames, History of Printing, page 1632.
---------------------------
¦¦ "Certaine Articles, collected and taken (as it is thought) by the Byshops out of a little Boke, entitled an Admonition to the Parliament, wyth an answere to the same, containing a confirmation of the sayde Booke in shorte notes."
A copy was in the Heber Catalogue, part 2. No. 1019.
---------------------------
/ p.xiii /
* Collier, Eccl. History, vol. ii.
---------------------------
† "Of these libels the most famous went under the name of Martin Mar-Prelate, a visored knight of those lists, behind whose shield a host of sturdy puritans were supposed to fight. These were printed at a moveable press, shifted to different parts of the country as the pursuit grew hot, and contained little serious argument, but the unwarrantable invectives of angry men, who stuck at no calumny to blacken their enemies."—Hallam's Constitutional History of England, vol. i. p. 277. 1839.
---------------------------
‡ Wood says, in the Life of Penry, "printed by stealth, partly in that nest of rigid puritans and schismatics, at Fawsley in Northamptonshire, and partly at Coventry, and elsewhere."—Ath. Ox., by Bliss, vol. i. page 595.
---------------------------
§ Quarrels of Authors, vol. iii.
---------------------------
* Ecclesia Vindicata.
---------------------------
The reign of the peaceful James appears to have been little disturbed by the productions of private presses; although the work of Vorstius, De Deo, published on the Continent, which was publicly burnt here, gave him considerable uneasiness; and was the subject of a long diplomatic correspondence.†
† Mr. Trumbull was the agent of James at Brussels during this period. In the valuable manuscript collection of the Marquess of Downshire are several letters on this subject.
---------------------------
‡ "It consists of 30,000 tracts, bound in 2000 volumes; 100, chiefly on the King's side were, printed, but never published. The whole was intended for Charles the First's use, carried about England as the Parliament army marched, kept in the collector's warehouses disguised as tables covered with canvas, and lodged last at Oxford, under the care of Dr. Barlow, till he was made bishop of Lincoln. They were offered to the library at Oxford, and at length bought for Charles II. by his stationer, Samuel Mearne, whose widow was afterwards obliged to dispose of them by leave of the said king, 1684; but it is believed they continued unsold till his present majesty (George III.) bought them of Mearne's representatives. In a printed letter it is said the collector refused 4000l. for them."—Nichols' Anecdotes, vol. iv. p.103. Oldys' Dissertation.
---------------------------
* Cotton, Typographical Gazetteer.
---------------------------
† Columbanus, Letter 11.
---------------------------
‡ Wood, Athenæ Oxonienses, by Bliss, vol. iv.: Bodleian Letters, i. p. 35.
---------------------------
Dr. Lee, in a Memorial for the Bible Societies of Scotland, states that at Holyrood House several papers and works were printed, by the authority of James II.§
§ Mr. Macaulay says, Lestrange was sent to Holyrood House by James, vol. ii. p. 124. See Wodrow, iii. x. 3.
---------------------------
* Vide page 51.
---------------------------
To the slight but imperfect sketch already given, there remains but little to add. The first that occurs, is that of a press established at Glynde, near Lewes in Sussex;†
† Typ. Gazetteer, 8vo. p. 108.
---------------------------
The Bodleian Library contains the first sheet only of a poem, called The Summer Day, a Descriptive Pastoral, 4to. Glynd, 1770.‡
[‡ Dr. Hurdis, professor of poetry, Oxon, printed a volume of Lectures on Poetry. Printed at the author's own press, at Bishopstone, in Sussex. 1797. 8vo. pp. 330. — See Heber, pt. i. 3678.]
---------------------------
* Vide pages 59, 61.
---------------------------
At Hartwell, in Buckinghamshire, when occupied by the exiled Royal Family of France, it is said that a press was used for the purpose of printing proclamations,and other small pieces, in support of the claims of the House of Bourbon.
This imperfect account of private presses cannot better be closed than bythe notice of that established at WINTER HARBOUR, off Melville Island,by Captain Parry and his enterprising companions, in 1819 and 1820, when the sound of the tympan and frisket was heard, for the first time, amid "a bleak expanse, shagged o'er with wavy rocks, cheerless and void," and the North Georgia Gazette and Winter Chronicle made its first appearance.†
† Printed for sale, 1821.
---------------------------
"Arctic Expedition under the command of Capt. Austin, 1850-1.
"A theatre was fitted up on board the 'Assistance,' and a corps of actors formed, under the management of Captain Ommanney. And on board the 'Resolute' and 'Intrepid' saloons were opened for masquerade balls, several of which took place with great success during the long Arctic night. A printing-press was given to the Expedition by the Admiralty, for printing balloon-papers. There were no printers in the squadron, but some of the officers soon learned the art; and besides balloon-papers, play-bills, and announcements of fancy dress balls, were regularly sent to press. Several of the men, too, became adepts in the art of printing, and set up in type songs and other trifles chiefly of their own composition. So great a passion, indeed, did printing become amongst them, that when at length their stock of paper was run out, they printed on chamois-leather, on shirts, and in one instance on a blanket." — Extract from the Preface to Arctic Miscellanies, by the Officers and Seamen of the Expedition. 1852.
In the British Museum are some speciments of this Arctic printing-press.
Two are play-bills, one printed on leather on both sides.
"Royal Arctic Theatre. H.M.S. Assistance. Last night for the season. Friday, 28th February, 1851. Historical Drama, in two Acts, of Charles XII. After which, grand Phantasmagorial Magical Figures. To con- / p.xix / clude with the new Pantomime of Zero. Doors open at six o'clock, commence at 6.30. — Griffith's Island Printing Office."
The second on pink paper, for January 9th, 1851. "The Farce of the Turned Head, Bombastes Furioso, and Zero. — Griffith's Island Printing Office."
"The English Maiden's Song," sung in the Pantomime of "Zero," printed on yellow paper.
A specimen of the means adopted for dispersing intelligence by balloons, consisting of a message, printed on a slip of green silk.]
* Will appear in the volume now in preparation.
---------------------------
To enumerate all the different parties who have taken an interest in his undertaking, — who have aided him by their advice, and furnished him with several valuable communications, he would have to record a list which, however gratifying to himself, would most probably weary the reader's patience, and appear like an endeavour to throw over his work an air of consequence and value far beyond its deserts. In the work itself will be found his acknowledgements to several friends, for particular assistance; / p.xx / but, although he refrians from swelling his list with the names of all to whose kindness he is indebted, he cannot content himself without particular mention of a few, whose assistance has been most material.
From the earliest announcement of his intentions, the Venerable Archdeacon Wrangham has constantly favoured him with numerous and important communications, drawn, for the most part, from his own valuable library, rich in books of the class herein described.*
* This excellent man died in 1844, and his valuable library was sold by Messrs. Sotheby. See page 344.
---------------------------
To the Rev. Dr. Lamb, Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, he begs to return his thanks for his condescension in examining Archbishop Parker's work, not only in the Library of his own College, but in other Libraries of that University.†
† Dr. Lamb died in 1849.
---------------------------
To the Rev. Dr. Bliss, his acknowledgements are due, for the very lively interest he has displayed in seconding his wishes during his visits to Oxford.
To Charles George Young, Esq., F.S.A., York Herald,*
* Since Garter.
---------------------------
To Mr.Thomas Moule,†
† This diligent antiquary died June 14, 1851.
---------------------------
From the Shakspeare Press, several of the works printed by him, as well as for some very interesting infromation, which, without his kindness, he should have been unable to have obtained.
The Editor regrets that the expenses necessarily incurred in printing this work, have been so considerable as to make it necessary to fix a high price upon it; which he trusts will not be considered unreasonable, when it / p.xxii / can be truly stated that the sale of all the copies will not pay the expenses. But he will feel amply rewarded for the labour this attempt has cost him, should it be found worthy a place among the few bibliographical works of this country; and, in the words of the Historian of the Aldine Press, "il conserve l'espoir qu'au moins par un petit nombre de personnes bien disposées en sa faveur, son libre ne sera point jugé labor irritus et incassum."
Mount Street
January, 1834.
Several years have elapsed since the first edition of this attempt to describe works printed for private circulation, appeared.
In the interval numerous additions have accumulated, and the book having become scarce, the Editor has been induced to reprint it. Little alteration has been made, but the additions added comprise nearly twenty years. Some pamphlets of temporary interest have been omitted, and a few volumes which were discovered to have been printed for general circulation.
The present edition contains Books only; to have included, as in the first, the account of private presses and clubs would have increased the size of the volume, already too large, to an inconvenient bulk. If life and leisure are granted, this portion, including literary clubs which have been formed since, will be proceeded with.
He cannot, however, suffer it to go forth without mentioning a few to whom his thanks are especially due.
The assistance derived from the learned bibliographer, Archdeacon Cotton, has been invaluable; with a kindness and patience, the Editor cannot sufficiently acknowledge, he suggested numerous corrections and improvements, beside contributing some very curious information relative to Irish works, whcih it is to be regretted was not received in time to insert in their proper order. They will be found in the Addenda.
To His Excellency M. Sylvain Van de Weyer, he owes the knowledge of several works, which, without his aid, would most probably have escaped notice. M. Van de Weyer's library is rich in volumes of this class.
To James Maidment, Esq., he is indebted for the communication of several works connected with Scottish history and poetry, freely communicated from the valuable collection he possesses in this class of literature.
To David Laing, Esq., he is also under great obligations for some interesting notes, relative to books privately printed in Scotland.
To John Gough Nichols, Esq., he owes much information relative to various works, many of which have appeared from the time-honoured press of Sylvanus Urban.
To Henry Foss, Esq., whose retirement — a matter of / p.xxiv / regreat to all literary collectors — from a pursuit he so zealously and ably followed, and almost the last of learned booksellers, he has to return his thanks for the patience with which he answered the numerous inquiries the Editor was under the necessity of making.*
* However gratifying it is to observe the increased circulation and demand for books, which swarm at the railroad station, always excepting the reprint of trashy English novels, and French translations, it is impossible not to witness without a sigh, the passing away of those eminent booksellers, of the past and present day, to whose choice collections the scholar and the student alike resorted for the objects of their particular pursuit; by whose zeal, industry, and knowledge, the private and public libraries of our country were enriched with the treasures of ancient and modern literature, happily preserved in the fine libraries at Althorp, Chatsworth, and Woburn, and numerous others, and rendered accessible to the inquirer in the noble repositories of our national libraries.1
---------------------------
1 The Bodleian, Cambridge, Dublin, and Edinburgh.
---------------------------
A cursory mention of a few who have passed away, almost all in our own time, may not be considered out of place here, more especially as we fear they have hardly left successors who tread the same path, or administer to the same wants.
Robson, who brought the celebrated Pinelli collection into this country; Edwards, tracking the French revolutionary armies in their career, and securing the valuable literary plunder of ancient monastic or public libraries; Cuthell and Priestley, whose valuable collection of the classics was so important to the student when the Continent was shut against importation; Thorpe, whose energy was so remarkable; Rodd, whose acquaintance with English history was so great; and, lastly, the honoured descendants of "Honest Tom Payne," have yielded to the change, and retired to enjoy the literary leisure those labours for others so justly entitle them to.
In what has been said, it is hoped it will not be imagined there is any intention of disparaging the activity which administers to the great demand for books in the rapid appearance of small catalogues now so generally prevalent; nor still more that the Editor is unmindful of what remains of the olden days — but it would be invidious to speak of the present; and he must content himself with alluding only to one collection of the present times in theology, the value of which, and the knowledge of its proprietor, will be readily admitted by all who resort to it.
---------------------------
He desires to return thanks to all, but for the reasons already mentioned, should have been glad to name them specifically; but he must not omit to thank his old and valued friend the publisher, (whose publications,by the most eminent writers in natural history, have contributed so much to assist its cultivation, and whose embellishments owe so much to his liberal expenditure and good taste,) for permitting the Editor to tax his kindness and patience in riding his hobby at a pace, which hardly any other publisher would have permitted.
The Editor is well aware, that, notwithstanding the aid of his friends and his own exertions, many books will have escaped notice; and several, from the inability to see them, are probably not correctly described.
These are results to which all such works are liable; he shall be content in having laid a foundation, which, if thought worthy, others can complete.
JOHN MARTIN
Woburn Abbey,
May, 1854.
|