Chapter XIX: Preface: And Critical List of Authors

FROM
SELECT BRITISH POETS

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The first edition of the _Select British Poets_ (5¾ in. × 9 in.) was published in 1824 with the following title-page: ‘Select British Poets, or New Elegant Extracts from Chaucer to the Present Time, with Critical Remarks. By William Hazlitt. Embellished with Seven Ornamented Portraits, after a Design by T. Stothard, R.A. London: Published by Wm. C. Hall, and sold by all Booksellers. 1824.’ The frontispiece bore the imprint ‘London. Published by T. Tegg, 73, Cheapside, June 1824.’ This edition included selections from the works of living poets, and was suppressed upon a threat of legal proceedings on behalf of some of the copyright owners. There is a copy in the British Museum, but the volume is exceedingly rare. In the following year (1825), a second edition was published with a fresh title-page, the copyright poems being omitted. The title-page ran: ‘Select Poets of Great Britain. To which are prefixed, Critical Notices of Each Author. By William Hazlitt, Esq. Author of “Lectures on the English Poets,” “Characters of Shakspeare’s Plays,” “Lectures on Dramatic Literature,” etc. London: Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars, for Thomas Tegg, 73, Cheapside; R. Griffin and Co., Glasgow; also R. Milliken, Dublin; and M. Baudry, Paris. 1825.’ The pages which follow are printed from the first (complete) edition of 1824.