PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION THIS HIS edition is the same as that in seven large volumes published between 1903 and 1905, except that it has been revised and amended and arranged in more companionable shape. Some new matter is included; some doubtful matter has been removed; and the notes, although occasionally enriched, have been reduced in number and often condensed. For completer annotation as well as for portraits and accessory illustrations the old edition must be consulted. The present volume contains all Lamb's prose, with the exception of his work for children, his full notes in the Dramatic Specimens and Garrick Extracts, his prose plays and the Elia essays. The contents have been arranged in their order of publication, the earliest dating from 1798, when Lamb was twenty-three, and the latest belonging to 1834, the year of his death-thus covering the whole of his literary life. In Mr. Bedford's design for the cover of this edition certain Elian symbolism will be found. The upper coat of arms is that of Christ's Hospital, where Lamb was at school; the lower is that of the Inner Temple, where he was born and spent many years. The figures at the bells are those which once stood out from the façade of St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet Street, and are now in Lord Londesborough's garden in Regent's Park. Lamb shed tears when they were removed. The tricksy sprite and the candles (brought by Betty) need no explanatory words of mine. E. V. L. 280412 CONTENTS Curious fragments, extracted from a commonplace-book ✓ Characters of Dramatic Writers, Contemporary with On the Inconveniences Resulting from Being Hanged On the Danger of Confounding Moral with Personal De- formity; with a Hint to those who have the Framing of Advertisements for Apprehending Offenders On the Ambiguities Arising from Proper Names ✓ On the Genius and Character of Hogarth; with some Remarks on a Passage in the Writings of the Late Mr. On the Custom of Hissing at the Theatres, with some Account of a Club of Damned Authors On Burial Societies; and the Character of an Undertaker On the Tragedies of Shakspeare, Considered with Refer- ence to their Fitness for Stage Representation CHARLES LAMB (AGED 30) IN THE DRESS OF A VENETIAN SENATOR |