PREFACE. IT T was my wish, when entering upon the execution of the following work, to adopt a plan which, in its arrangement, should be productive of novelty, and in its various branches, fertile in literary discussion; which should, in fact, though occasionally digressive in its parts, preserve a perspicuous unity of design, and a mutual subserviency in all its departments. & I have therefore, urged by the hope of succeeding, in some degree, in this arduous attempt, divided my volumes into five parts, and again subdivided these into Essays. The first part, embracing but one essay, and which may be considered as introductory to the whole, contains, General observations on periodical observation writing, its merit and utility, and on the state of literature and manners in this island at the commencement of the Tatler, in 1709. The second part, including every thing relative to Sir Richard Steele, is branched into six essays. 1. A Biographical Sketch of Steele. 3. On his Taste and Critical Abilities. 4. On his Invention, Imagery, and Pathos. 5. On his Delineation of Character and on his Humour. 6. On his Ethics and Morality. The third part also, which is employed on the character and writings of Addison, receives a similar arrangement, viz. 1. A Biographical Sketch of Addison. 3. On the Origin and Progress of English. 4. On his Humour and Comic Painting. 6. On the Moral Tendency of his Periodical The fourth part, consisting of three essays, is occupied by, Biographical and Critical Sketches of the Occasional Correspondents of Steele and Addison; And the fifth and last part delivers Observations on the Effects of the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, on the Taste, Literature, and Morals of the Age. To preserve the requisite unity in a plan of this kind, I have thought it necessary to place Steele and Addison very conspicuously on the fore-ground. They were the fathers and founders of |