A very hearty word of thanks is more than due to
those authors and publishers who have so generously
and willingly placed their works at my disposal, and
without whose kind co-operation many of the follow-
ing pages could not have been inserted. Elsewhere,
throughout the book, my obligations to them severally
are acknowledged in detail.
I have been most anxious to avoid violation of copy-
right in my selections, and have used my utmost en-
deavours to ascertain the various possessors of the
rights appertaining thereto. Should there, however,
be any unconscious infringement, I desire to express
my deep regret, and trust that such an error may be
kindly overlooked and forgiven.
A double Index will be found-one in the early
part of the volume, comprising the selections generally,
another at the conclusion, containing the names of the
authors alphabetically arranged.