CONTENTS. ESSAY 1. Observations on the Taste which had been generated by Steele and Addison for Periodical Composi- dical Papers which were written during the publication of the Tat- ler, Spectator, and Guardian.... ESSAY 2. Observations on the Periodical Pa- the Close of the eighth volume PREFACE. THE plan of these volumes being, in several respects, different from that which was adopted for the Essays on the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, I have thought it necessary to place before the reader, in this Preface, a connected view of its construction. It is divided, as in the former work, into five Parts, and these parts into Essays; but, for the purpose of compression, the Dissertations on Style, Humour, Ethics, &c. instead of being given in separate essays, are interwoven with the biographical branch. So numerous have been the Biographies and Anecdotes of Dr. JOHNSON, that, with regard to the occurrences of his life and conversation, nothing new can be expected. But, when he is considered merely in the capacity of a man of letters, the field is still open for novelty of remark and variety of illustration. I have, therefore, chiefly confined myself to the contemplation of his Literary Character, into which I have entered, I trust, more fully than will be found in any preceding work. The arrangement, too, which has been chosen for the narrative, has not, I have reason to think, been anticipated, and removes the monotony resulting from a close |