which are connected with the Text by proper references.

This fhews the fuperiority of the method in queftion over that commonly used; for as very probably, not above the twentieth part, more or lefs, of a perfon's life, tho' of the greatest eminence, may be very remarkable; the judicious Biographer, who writes in imitation of Mr. Bayle, extracts those remarkable particulars only, and by that means draws the life into a very narrow compafs; whereby, as was before observed, the reader employs his time to much greater advantage, and is enabled to extend vaftly more the compass of his reading.

Befides, in a critical Dictionary it is neceffary to explain and illuftrate the accounts of different Writers, by comparing them together, and to correct their errors; which is beft done by way of Remarks; and these we have frequently endeavour'd to render agreeable by a variety of reflections of a mifcellaneous kind.

We were not infenfible of the weighty task we fet our felves, when we at

tempted

upon;

tempted our General Dictionary; for befides the great difficulty of only tranflating that of Mr. Bayle with accuracy and fpirit, confidering the multitude of perfons and fubjects he writes the fire, and fometimes obfcurity of his diction; the great number of paffages in the learned Languages, as well as quotations from the Poets, of which we were determined to give a verfion befides all these, how large a field had we open'd to our felves! fince we found it would not only be absolutely neceffary for us to correct and enlarge Mr. Bayle's articles, of which we have already given feveral inftances; but propofed to introduce the most illuftrious perfonages of all ages and nations, thofe particularly of our own. All this however we might have done with little or no labour, could we have contented our felves with barely tranflating the loofe accounts of the learned d'Herbelot, and the very erroneous ones of Moreri and others, all whofe érrors are multiplied by the compilers of the Dictionary under Mr. Collier's name. But as this would have been

of

of little benefit to the publick, fo neither would it have been to our own. reputation; for which reasons we refolved to go to the fources, to peruse the original authors, and extract our materials from them.

We believe it may be juftly affirmed, that no nation boafts a greater number of valuable authors than our own, and yet no people have been lefs careful of drawing up their lives. A multitude of materials for this purpose are difpers'd in dedications, prefaces, funeral fermons, pamphlets, and other loofe pieces, the latter of which enjoying generally but a tranfitory life, must be fnatch'd whilft they are to be procured, otherwise they fink into oblivion. This is feen in the following Life, in which extracts are taken from, or mention is made of feveral little detach'd pieces that were already forgot, and which would have been quite loft, had we not taken notice of them. Should any person object, that feveral of these were not worthy our notice, we answer, that fuch pieces were not introduced as valuable in themselves, but as remarkable

for

for being levell'd at fo eminent a man as Mr. Addison. To give an instance: Tho' we confidered the pamphlet, entitled, Afpy upon the Spectator, as a very contemptible one, we yet thought it would be proper to inform our readers, that fo incomparable a series of writings as the Spectator, had been attack'd with virulent but impotent malice, by an obfcure, anonymous writer, and to give a fpecimen of his genius. The fame we obferve of many other authors, something above the rank of pamphleteers, from whofe Works we have extracted several things of a peculiarly infipid kind.

As therefore we have not spared either labour or expence to make our Work of advantage to the publick, we hope that the Learned and Ingenious will still favour us with their encouragement; and not fhew any regard to the malicious infinuations of those who would perfuade them that our Work will fwell to an exorbitant number of Volumes.

THE

LIFE

OF

Dean ADDISON.

L

ANCELOT ADDISON fon of Lancelot Addifon, a Minister, born at Mauldifmeaburne in the

parish of Crosby-Ravensworth in the county of Westmorland, was educated at the Grammar fchool at Appleby in the fame county, and fent to Queen's-College in Oxford in 1650, where he became first a Poor Child (a), afterwards Batchelor of Arts January 25, 1654 (b), and Master of Arts July 4th 1657 (c). He was chosen for one of the Terre-filii for the A, that was celebrated in 1658; but his speech reflecting feverely upon the rigid part of the University at that time, he was brought upon his knees, and made his fubmiffion and recantation for what he had faid. Soon after he left the Univerfity, and

(a) Wood's Athena Oxon. Part II. Col. 970. edit. 2da 1721. (b) Wood's Fafti Oxon. p. 105. (c) Ibid. p. 115. lived

B