IN THE

PURSUITS OF LITERATURE,

CONTAINING

HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, AND CRITICAL

REMARKS.

BY SAMUEL L. KNAPP.

-“Clear arguments may rise
In short succession : Yet th' historic draught
Shall occupy attention's steadfast soul.”
"Here may the historic instance give effect
To moral portraits.”
“Here let us breathe; and happily institute
A course of learning and in enious studies."

NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY J. K. PORTER,

NO. 144 FULTON-STREET,

AND SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT

THE UNITED STATES.

Stereotyped by James Conner.

57296

Entered according to the Act of Congress, January, 1832, by J. K. Porter, in the office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

T. Harries, Printer, 72 Bowery, N. Y.

952 K67 ado

TO THE MEMBERS

CF THE

MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,

WHO,

AMIDST THE CARES AND BUSINESS

OF ACTIVE LIFE,

OR IN THE DOMESTIC CIRCLE,

ARE ENGAGED IN THE PURSUIT OF THAT KNOWLEDGE

WHICH GIVES EXPANSION TO THOUGHT;

STRENGTH TO THE MIND,

FIRMNESS TO PURPOSE ;

REFINEMENT TO MORÁLS;

AND WEIGHT TO CHARACTER ;

THIS VOLUME,

CONTAINING A FEW HINTS, BY WAY OF ADVICE,

UPON AUTHORS AND ERAS OF LITERATURE

AND OTHER RELATIVE MATTERS,

IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED,

BY THEIR SINCERE FRIEND,

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

page.

3

Dedication,
Preface,

5

CHAPTER I.

Introductory-Elementary Education-The Bible-Juvenile Books-Read

ing for Amusement--Method in Reading-Remarks to the Ladies-Gene-

ral Literature-State of Man before the Cultivation of Letters- When

Letters were invented-Lettered men of the Early Ages-Influence of

Letters upon Man-Effect of Letters decried by Certain Reasoners--Their

Assertions Denied-Letters more Glorious and Permanent than Art-The

English Language-The Saxon Language-The Saxons and Normans-

Layman's works--Robert De Brunne's History of England-Reign of

the Romans-Romances-Age of Chivalry--Fictions of the present day-

Johnson's Rasselas-Godwin's St. Leon-Caleb Williams-Sir Walter

Scott-Novels founded on Fact-The father of English Poetry-Objects of

the Poetry of his Predecessors--- These Objects Reiormed by Chaucer--Ge-

nius of Chaucer-Byron's opinion of him-Chaucer's Contemporaries-

Chaucer's Satire-Dryden and Pope's opinion of him, &c.- John Gower-

Originality and Genius--Gower's Monument-John the Chaplain-Tho-

mas Occleve-Henry V.-Society-Lydgate--Criticism Evidence of Mental

Light-The Laurel Crown of Italy and England-John Kay, Poet Laureate

to Edward IV.-Poetical Distinctions-Barclay--Skelton-Lori Surry-

The Father of English Blank Verse-Blank Verse-Sir John Mandeville,

the Traveller-Effect of the Accounts of his Travels-Ralph Higden-Tre.

visa--His translation of the Bible-Wickliffe, the Reformer-Malice of the

Popes against his Memory-Founder of the Protestant Religion-Bishop

Peacock-Sir John Fortescue-Use of Printing-William Caxton-The

first book printed in England--Chronicles of England-Similarity of

Thought and Expression in Different Languages-Effect of Expelling the

Greek Scholars from Constantinople-Sir Thomas More--Wilson, the

Rhetorician-Figurative Language--William Fullward–The reigns of

Edward and Mary-Reign of Elizabeth-The Scriptures-Lady Jane

Grey--Source of American Literature-Parallel between the Literature

of that age and the present-General Diffusion of Literature.

9