WILLIS'S
CURRENT NOTES:
ON
Antiquities, Biography, Heraldry, History, Language,
Literature, Topography, Curious Customs, &c.
SELECTED FROM
ORIGINAL LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS
ADDRESSED DURING THE YEAR
1852,
TO THE PUBLISHER,
G. WILLIS,
GREAT PIAZZA, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON.MDCCCLIII.
PREFACE.
ENTERING as we now are upon the publication ofa third volume of the "Current Notes," theSecond Volume of which we have herewith thepleasure of presenting in a complete form tothe Public, our first duty as it is our pleasureis to thank our Subscribers most cordially forthe very liberal support we have received fromthem during its progress. It is so seldomthat the productions of the Customer and theTradesman form part of the same Periodical, that it is no wonder if the Publisherof the "Current Notes" feels a little elated by seeing his humble efforts for theentertainment of the Public in such good company. But this patronage, so far fromdulling his exertions in his legitimate pursuit—that of promoting the diffusion of Booksin their widest extent—will only stimulate him to fresh efforts, and while he continuesto place before his Customers the best Books, he trusts that they will be as liberal ashitherto in their contributions of Current Notes.
The Price Current of Literature, indeed, now occupies a position distinct from thatof any other Bookseller's Catalogue ever presented to the public, for it not only furnishesa monthly list of the principal New Publications, followed by a constant succession ofStandard Works in every department of Ancient and Modern Literature, selected withcare and judgment, but it likewise presents a medium for Literary Inquirers to prosecutetheir researches and interchange their opinions. Nor is this correspondence confined toour own land. From the Colonies and America, over which it ranges in its wide[Pg iv]circulation, we continue to receive gratifying testimonials to its usefulness, as well asaccessions to its columns, and have reason to believe it is duly appreciated by those whosefavour it is our study to deserve and interest to secure.
The aim of the publisher has been to establish a literary organ of communicationamongst his numerous Subscribers and Friends, by inviting their correspondence, andthrowing open his columns to their inquiries and suggestions, and thus by propoundingqueries, solving difficulties, and eliciting new facts, rendering some slight service to thecause of Historical and Literary Truth. So cordially have they responded to this invitation,that the task of selection has been sometimes a difficult, though always a pleasing one.If there have been any communications from Correspondents which have not met with dueregard and consideration, it must be pleaded in apology that this miscellany of curious informationnecessarily embraces so wide a field, that in gathering in the harvest it is notsurprising if a few ears of corn escape the gleaner's hand. If it be said that occasionallytoo much notice has been taken of "unconsidered trifles," and that the objects regardedwere too minute and insignificant to justify the patie