Let not the reader imagine that I am about to inflict upon him the punishment of wading through a dry detail or list of Publications of which I happen to be the humble Author, without the interspersion of Anecdote which may reconcile him in some measure to its persual. A mere “Catalogue Raisonné” of the choicest productions would now, perhaps, pall on the public taste; but, as in the present instance, the intermixture of “Literary Reminiscences” may give, even to secondary performances, a tone of interest of which otherwise they would be dispossessed. The field before me is wide and variegated. It shall be my object to make it amusing and productive.

Whether, as the conclusion of the last chapter may induce, I was now to consider myself an Author by inspiration or “by trade,” I certainly commenced my career in right earnest; and set about the second edition of the Introduction to the Classics with a zeal and heartiness which have never since been surpassed. I was determined to face the thing manfully; and fortunately derived great aid and encouragement from the Rev. Dr. Gosset, my near neighbour, and one of the first bibliographers in the country. He used to smile on seeing me bring home Maittaire one day, Panzer the next, and Clement on the third. For Fabricius I felt a respect approaching to reverence; and Harles was ever at my right hand. But Clement was as my “Hortus Adonidis.”