TO THE READER. In the original plan it was intended that Dr. Parr's works, with Memoirs of his life preceding, and a selection of Correspondence following them, should be printed in six volumes. Half of the Letters and twothirds of the Memoirs were printed off before it was perceived that this design could not be carried into execution. It became necessary to draft a considerable portion both of illustration and correspondence from the Memoirs, to condense them into their present too bulky form; and, in consequence, the Correspondence could not be compressed into less than two volumes. In doing this chasms are left, and disconnections unavoidably made in the composition. But these are not the only defects; although I have been ably iv guided by many learned friends, and assisted through the press by my diligent and excellent amanuensis Mr. Thomas Soden; and although Mr. Nichols has watched the progress of the work with his experienced and intelligent eye, some errors of punctuation, accentuation, and phraseology, have escaped us all. Some of these will be corrected, and I trust the candid reader will make allowance for that which may be comprehended as belonging to other uncontrolable causes. For defects of style-for errors of opinionand for the general conduct of my work, I might, perhaps, offer some reasons which would excuse, and some which would absolve many imperfections. For the opinions I will make no apology; they were Dr. Parr's. For the rest, I am neither so vain as to imagine that that which was meant well has been altogether done well; nor so weak as to despond about the success of my endeavours. I have done my best, in the midst of pressing, and anxious, and un ceasing engagements, and whatsoever may be the judgment passed on my work, I shall always have the satisfaction and the consciousness of feeling, that I strove to be just and faithful to the memory of my friend. The part taken by the Rev. John Lynes in editing these works, demands a separate consideration. His greatest praise is, to have done the will of his departed relative and friend. But it will be for ever honourable to him to have the fact understood, that in doing it he has spared no labour, no expense: and that his liberality has been diffused in every direction to send forth these volumes a fit memorial of the talents of Samuel Parr. J. J. |