Sixth, several complete Poems, and other fragments of verse, not included in any edition of his Works published during Wordsworth’s lifetime, or since, are printed as an appendix to Volume viii.

Seventh, a new Bibliography of the Poems and Prose Works, and of the several editions issued in England and America, from 1793 to 1850, is added.

Eighth, a new Life of the Poet is given.

These features of the edition of 1882-6 are preserved in that of 1896, and the following are added: 

First, The volumes are published, not in library 8vo size, but—­as the works of every poet should be issued—­in one more convenient to handle, and to carry.  Eight volumes are devoted to the Poetical Works, and among them are included those fragments by his sister Dorothy, and others, which Wordsworth published in his lifetime among his own Poems.  They are printed in the chronological order of composition, so far as that is known.

Second, In the case of each Poem, any Note written by Wordsworth himself, as explanatory of it, comes first, and has the initials W. W., with the date of its first insertion placed after it.  Next follows the Fenwick Note, within square brackets, thus [ ], and signed I. F.; and, afterwards, any editorial note required.  When, however, Wordsworth’s own notes were placed at the end of the Poems, or at the foot of the page, his plan is adopted, and the date appended.  I should have been glad, had it been possible—­the editors of the twentieth century may note this—­to print Wordsworth’s own notes, the Fenwick notes, and the Editor’s in different type, and in type of a decreasing size; but the idea occurred to me too late, i. e. after the first volume had been passed for press.

Third, All the Prose Works of Wordsworth are given in full, and follow the Poems, in two volumes.  The Prose Works were collected by Dr. Grosart, and published in 1876.  Extracts from them have since been edited by myself and others:  but they will now be issued, like the Poems, in chronological order, under their own titles, and with such notes as seem desirable.

Fourth, All the Journals written by Dorothy Wordsworth at Alfoxden, Dove Cottage, and elsewhere, as well as her record of Tours with her brother in Scotland, on the Continent, etc., are published—­some of them in full, others only in part.  An explanation of why any Journal is curtailed will be found in the editorial note preceding it.  Much new material will be found in these Journals.

Fifth, The Letters of William and Dorothy Wordsworth—­with a few from Mary and Dora Wordsworth—­are arranged chronologically, and published by themselves.  Hitherto, these letters have been scattered in many quarters—­in the late Bishop of Lincoln’s ‘Memoirs’ of his uncle, in ‘The Diary, Reminiscences, and Correspondence of Henry Crabb Robinson’, in the ‘Memorials of Coleorton’