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PREFACE.

I CANNOT dismiss this Book from my hands without expressing solicitude for its success, and my warmest thanks for the assistance of many distinguished friends. There are other works of this nature; but the Public is kind and indulgent-and while it rewards genius, allows dullness to pass quietly to oblivion. Though the country abounds with works of merit, both in art and literature, yet the land is not full; and where there is room for others, I would fain hope there may be a corner for me.

With this feeling, and confiding in the kindness of many literary friends, I undertook to collect and edit this volume; I proceeded to make my arrangements in openness and candour, and sought to accomplish all in that spirit of free trade which distinguishes the kingdom of which the pen is the sceptre. But this being the first season of my Book, I had various obstacles to surmount; there were not a few who desired my success, and yet could

only aid me with their wishes or assurances of future support; and one generous and illustrious friend, in particular, was prevented from assisting me by a circumstance which will not be in his way next year, when I shall have his effectual help. This volume, as it stands, will prove that I have friends, and good ones; men whose names would lend lustre to any undertaking, and whose personal regard, of which I am very proud, has in some instances been mingled with their communications to the " ANNIVERSARY."

I have incurred deep obligations, to the noble author of the two admirable scenes from Schillerto the Laureate, for the honour of his pleasant poetic Epistle-to the author of the sweet and touching poem of Edderline-to the hand which supplied the very graphic description of Abbotsford -to the kindly pen which wrote the moving tale of the Martyrs, and to the translator of those simple and forcible things, the Farewell to the Year and the Prayer to the Virgin. But I must make short work with a list which ought in justice to be a long one. I have withheld, for want of space, various articles of merit, and omitted the names of the authors of several valuable communications, for reasons which pained while they satisfied me.

To the professional gentlemen whose works embellish this volume, the Proprietor expresses his grateful thanks, for their united exertions, and for many acts of individual kindness. For one, alas! this acknowledgment comes too late. Between the writing and revisal of this very page, death has deprived us of BONNINGTON—an artist, of great natural powers and rising eminence, who fell a victim to consumption in the twenty-seventh year of his age. The Lute, in this volume, is his last, and one of his happiest pictures; it was painted at Paris in May last. We looked forward with the hope of obtaining from his pencil many works of similar or higher excellence. It is too truly said, by a gifted friend, that

"We may miss the merriest face
Among us 'gainst another year."

While stating that this Work has been aided by men of eminence in art and in literature, I am not insensible of important obligations of another class. To the liberality of the Marquess of Stafford we owe the Earrings of Shee-to the kindness of Lord Grantham, the Psyche of Lawrence-to the Earl of Egremont, the Morning of Linton-to Sir Henry Bunbury, the Monkey that had seen the

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World of Landseer-to Sir William Beechey, R. A. the Little Gleaner-to J. C. Denham, Esq. the Blackberry Boy of Hamilton; and to John Allnutt, Esq. the Fonthill of Turner.

The Publisher of this Book has been widely known these twenty-five years, from his connection with the embellished literature of the country. The works of our Poets and our Prose Classics have gained at his hand no small increase of external elegance; and artists have been largely and liberally employed in his undertakings. He has entered upon this Work with enthusiasm, pursued it with ardour, and, I hope, not altogether without success. For the next ANNIVERSARY, the Proprietor and Editor unite in promising a still more attractive volume, both in art and literature.

27, LOWER BELGRAVE PLACE.

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

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