PREFACE. THE periodical, of which we have now the satisfaction of presenting the first volume to the public, was commenced in the belief, justified by the many inquiries made on the subject, that there was not only room for, but that there was really want of a publication of this kind. Surely with so many reviews of the literature of the present day, that vastly more extensive field of the past might furnish abundant materials for one which should not be inferior in interest to any of its contemporaries. A retrospect of this kind is useful, as well as agreeable. Even while in the contemplation and enjoyment of modern improvements, we can learn something by comparing them with what was defective years ago, and by contemplating their past progress which may encourage us to look forward to new advances in the future. The number of books written in past ages which are still commonly read is very small indeed compared with those which are only to be met with on the shelves of large libraries seldom seen, or which are only seen at all at rare intervals. There are many beautiful passages of old writers which are buried in masses of what is now unreadable matter; there are many scraps of curious information, interesting traits of manners or character, valuable patches of history, which are unknown because they are concealed in books which, from their general character, are seldom looked into; there are, moreover, whole classes of literature, which, having long gone out of fashion, are entirely forgotten by the world in general, and which nevertheless, for their own peculiar character or for the influence they have exerted on periods of our history, deserve to be made known. To describe these, to cull from forgotten books the beauties or the useful facts which are worthy of preservation, to restore forgotten knowledge, as well as to give our readers bibliographical notices of old books, is the particular object of our RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW, and we trust that we shall be enabled, by encouragement from the public, to carry out our design continually more effectively through each succeeding volume. We will only add that, on our own part, it will be our study to carry out that design fully and effectually. London, Oct. 1853. Percy's (Bishop) Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. 1794. National Characteristics in the Sixteenth Century Borde's (Andrew) Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge. 1542. Religious Fragment in Anglo-Saxon, with a Translation. 206, 420 The Order of Shoting with the Crosbow; a Poem of the Sixteenth Century. 206 Poem, supposed to be in the Lancashire Dialect of the Fourteenth Century. 307, 419 |