PREFACE. 957 18620 THE present arrangement of my Father's works for a complete and uniform edition has not been determined on without due deliberation. It appeared to me that for the requirements of those-who do not care to trace his career as a writer from his first connection with Literature, and to note the gradual development of a genius which, at the time of his death, had not arrived at its fulness-enough is to be found in the edition of the "Serious Poems;" of those of "Wit and Humour;' of the "Whims and Oddities;" and of two volumes of "Hood's Own," already published by Messrs. Moxon. I have therefore considered it best, when called upon to prepare a complete and uniform series of his writings, to throw the materials collected into a form which shall be of interest to more than the general reader. By republishing his works in the order in which they were written, as far as my most diligent search and most earnest endeavours can establish it, I believe I shall M104106 meet the wishes of many of my Father's admirers and readers, who have contracted from the perusal of his works, an almost friendlike interest, that will be gratified by tracing step by step, the bent of his mind, the progress of his intellect, and the maturing of his powers. It may be urged that I have reprinted fugitive articles that might well have been omitted without detriment to the Series. To this I might answer by pleading that it is only natural that I should place greater store by what Father has written, than one not so nearly related to him would do. my But believing, as I do, that the less laboured writings of an author are among the surest indices of his thought, and the best tests of his genius, I have omitted nothing that I thought would assist the real student of Literature, and its ministers-literary men-to a true estimate of my Father-whether as an author or a man; holding always in recollection that quaint wise saying of Selden's, anent similar trifles-"take a straw, and throw it up into the air, you may see by that which way the wind is; which you shall not do by casting up a stone." Wherever I have been able to find anything of interest bearing upon the works, I have added it as briefly as possible in my notes-giving any alterations of the text, any fragments connected with or relating to portions of it, and such explanations of allusions contained. in it, as seemed advisable. As far as lies in my power, I have left out nothing that may interest the thoughtful and studious, while I have endeavoured not to weary the cursory reader with long annotations. I have no wish, and indeed no need to deprecate criticism-for whenever it has been my task to prepare anything connected with my Father for publication, I have always met with a reception that proved to me how fully my critics have understood the difficulties which I have encountered. The kindly spirit in which the "Memorials" of my Father were received, encourages me to hope that my sincere desire to perform what I really feel as a sacred duty and responsibility, will be looked on with the same indulgence; for it should be remembered that many, nay most of those contemporaries of my Father, who could have pointed out where his scattered writings were to be found, are dead. To those intimate acquaintances of his who survive, and who have assisted me most materially in my I shall, indeed, the rather be grateful for it, where it points out omissions or errors in a work, which it is my dearest wish to leave complete and perfect in every point. |