Chapter I: Preface

The chapters composing this book appeared originally in the shape of review articles. I owe acknowledgments to the Editors of _Blackwood's Magazine_, the _National Review_ and the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for the permission kindly accorded me to republish them.

To my regret I find, on receiving the clean sheets, that pressure of time and a rather troublesome nervous affection of one eye have led me to overlook a few printer's errors, such as: p. 70, _occassion_ for _occasion_; p. 137, _Fuensaldana_ for _Fuensaldana_; p. 253, _Nicephoras Phorcas_ for _Nicephorus Phocas_; p. 267, _Polydore Virgil_ for _Polydore Vergil_. The misprints will in every instance, I believe, explain themselves.

H. W. W.

CONTENTS.

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