Brick hand. 10-8-48 64170 •A 29e ADVERTISEMENT. IT T is not necessary to detain the Reader long by an explanation of the motives. which induced the Publisher to undertake a new edition of the following elegant little Work. Its merit has been universally recognized, and its scarcity has long been a subject of popular regret, The many years which have elapsed since the publication of the last Edition, seemed to leave no hope that Dr. Aikin could be prevailed on to gratify the public by a revision and enlargement of his Work. He had declined the task in the prime and vigour of life; and he might now think it unbecoming his years, to engage in a republication of these nuga canorœ.— Turpe senilis amor, the Doctor might exclaim, and though he might be pleased to see his volume ranged by the side of those of Percy, Ellis, and some other similar publications, yet he has abandoned the friendly office of revision to other hands. The present Editor has diligently revised the text, which had been rather hastily printed in the former Editions; he has assigned to their proper Authors the Poems which had before been erroneously ascribed, and he has annexed the Writers' names to various others which were printed as anonymous; and, lastly, he has added a Supplement, which he flatters himself will render this new Edition a complete Collection of the best Songs in the language. The Editor feels confident, that in prefixing to this new Edition Mrs. Barbauld's Poem on the Origin of Song-Writing, he anticipates the wishes of every Reader. |