E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, John R. Bilderback, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Editorial note: Due to limitations in rendering some print characters,
the following abbreviations are used in this text to
represent the original printer's symbols:
"4^to" for "quarto"
"12^o" for "duodecimo"
"f^o" for "folio"
Drawn from Their Own Feelings and Confessions
by
A New Edition
Edited by His Son
THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.
London:
Frederick Warne and Co.,
Bedford Street, Strand.
London:
Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., Printers, Whitefriars.
1850
The following Preface is of interest for the expression of the author'sown view of these works.
This volume comprises my writings on subjects chiefly of our vernacularliterature. Now collected together, they offer an unity of design, andafford to the general reader and to the student of classical antiquitysome initiation into our national Literature. It is presumed also, thatthey present materials for thinking not solely on literary topics; authorsand books are not alone here treated of,—a comprehensive view of humannature necessarily enters into the subject from the diversity of thecharacters portrayed, through the gradations of their faculties, theinfluence of their tastes, and those incidents of their lives prompted bytheir fortunes or their passions. This present volume, with its brother"CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE," now constitute a body of reading which mayawaken knowledge in minds only seeking amusement, and refresh the deeperstudies of the learned by matters not unworthy of their curiosity.
The LITERARY CHARACTER has been an old favourite with many of mycontemporaries departed or now living, who have found it respond to theirown emotions.
THE MISCELLANIES are literary amenities, should they be found to deservethe title, constructed on that principle early adopted by me, ofinterspersing facts with speculation.
THE INQUIRY INTO THE LITERARY AND POLITICAL CHARACTER OF JAMES THE FIRSThas surely corrected some general misconceptions, and thrown light on someobscure points in the history of that anomalous personage. It is asatisfaction to me to observe, since the publication of this tract, thatwhile some competent judges have considered the "evidence irresistible," amaterial change has occurred in the tone of most writers. The subjectpresented an occasion to exhibit a minute picture of that age oftransition in our national history.
The titles of CALAMITIES OF AUTHORS and QUARRELS OF AUTHORS do not whollydesignate the works, which include a considerable portion of literaryhistory.
Public favour has encouraged the republication of these various works,which often referred to, have long been difficult to procure. It has beendeferred from time to time with the intention of giving the subjects amore enlarged investigation; but I have delayed the task till it cannot beperformed. One of the Calamities of Authors falls to my lot, the delicateorgan of vision with me has suffered a singular disorder,[A]—a disorderwhich no oculist by his touch can heal, and no physician by his experiencecan expound; so much remains concerning the frame of man unreve