IN my endeavours to continue this Collection of
"LITERARY ANECDOTES" to the end of the EIGHT-
EENTH CENTURY, I find it impracticable to compress
into a single Volume an immense mass of materials,
augmented as they have unexpectedly been by the
numerous contributions of my Literary Friends.
It might, perhaps, have been prudent, not to
have made public this Apology, till I could at the
same time have announced that the Work was
finished. But, on mature consideration, I think
it more respectful to the liberal Encouragers of
the former Volumes, and to those particularly who
have honoured me by their communications, to
return them as speedily as possible their own
"Additions and Corrections;" with an assurance,
that the next (and positively the last) Volume, with
a proper Index, shall proceed with as much dispatch
as the nature of such an undertaking will permit a
Septuagenarian to exert.-Every step, as I advance,
becomes more seriously difficult. I am now, in
reality, "walking upon ashes under which the fire
is not extinguished."
The interesting communications of the Honour-
able GEORGE HARDINGE, His Majesty's Justice for
the Counties of Glamorgan, Brecknock, and Rad-
nor; and of GEORGE ALLAN, Esq. M. P. for the
City of Durham; sufficiently speak for themselves-
as will the rich gleanings from the very abundant
epistolary harvest of Dr. ZACHARY GREY, Dr.
LORT, Dr. DUCAREL, Mr. GEORGE ASHBY, Mr.
BOWYER, Mr. ALLAN, and the MODERN CAMDEN.