ADVERTISEMENT. THE original plan of Charles Knight's "HALF HOURS OF ENGLISH HISTORY" has been carefully followed in this continuation of his well-known work. The most graphic parts of History have been selected; and use has been made of the writings of actual observers, who (as he says in his preface) "relate the scenes they have witnessed with the spirit which belongs to real impressions." Clarendon, Mrs. Hutchinson, Cromwell, Charles II., Evelyn, Pepys, De Foe, Bishop Burnet, &c., &c., have been amongst these witnesses of the past; while, by the kindness of living Authors, we have been enabled to give the views which our greatest modern Historians have taken of those times, and also their brilliant records of the present. About seventy Authors in all are represented in these pages-of all shades of opinion and politics. The Cavalier Clarendon can be read at the same time nearly with the Republican and Puritan Mrs. Hutchinson. Cromwell tells his own story of the battle of Dunbar---Charles II. of his escape. Burnet gives the testimony of a witness to William III.'s expedition; Miss Strickland writes on the Stuart side; Hume, Scott, Alison, and Lingard are in juxtaposition with Mackintosh, Hallam, Macaulay, and McCarthy. The mighty aid of Shakespeare has been lacking; and the specimen of a Masque from Ben Jonson but ill supplies our great poet's dramatic history. It has been thought that the ballads of the period, and poetry written by Dryden, Swift, Pope, Scott, and Wordsworth, on passing occurrences, might supply the poetical element, in a small degree at least; and it is hoped the greater variety of writers may, in some measure, atone for the omission of the dramatic scenes. A brief summary of the events in each reign precedes the "HALF HOURS" as a sort of connecting link; but everything like political history has been carefully avoided. The reigns are mere records of facts, which are given in detail afterwards by able pens. The Editor begs to thank most sincerely the Authors and Proprietors of Copyright who have permitted her to take extracts from their works or property, and in case any have been accidentally inserted without such permission, she asks their indulgence-having in all cases acknowledged the original source. 4 |