and my own ‘Life’ of the Poet, in the ‘Prose Works’, in the ‘Transactions of the Wordsworth Society’, in the ‘Letters of Charles Lamb’, in the ‘Memorials of Thomas De Quincey’, and other volumes; but many more, both of Wordsworth’s and his sister’s, have never before seen the light.  More than a hundred and fifty letters from Dorothy Wordsworth to Mrs. Clarkson, the wife of the great “slave-liberator,” were sent to me some time ago by Mrs. Arthur Tennyson, a relative of Mrs. Clarkson; and I have recently seen and been allowed to copy, Wordsworth’s letters to his early friend Francis Wrangham, through the kindness of their late owner, Mr. Mackay of The Grange, Trowbridge.  Many other letters of great interest have recently reached me.

Sixth, In addition to a new Bibliography, and a Chronological Table of the Poems, and the Prose Works, a Bibliography of Wordsworth Criticism is appended.  It includes most of the articles on the Poet, and notices of his Works, which have appeared in Great Britain, America, and the Continent of Europe.  Under this head I have specially to thank Mrs. Henry A. St. John of Ithaca, N.Y., a devoted Transatlantic Wordsworthian, who has perhaps done more than any one—­since Henry Reed—­to promote the study of her favourite poet in America.  Mrs. St. John’s Wordsworth collection is unique, and her knowledge and enthusiasm are as great as her industry has been.  Professor E. Legouis of the University of Lyons—­who wrote an interesting book on Wordsworth’s friend, ‘Le General Michel Beaupuy’ (1891)—­has sent me material from France, which will be found in its proper place.  Frau Professor Gothein of Bonn, who has translated many of Wordsworth’s poems into German, and written his life, ’William Wordsworth:  sein Leben, seine Werke, seine Zeitgenossen’, (1893), has similarly helped me in reference to German criticism.

Seventh, As the Poet’s Letters, and his sister’s Journals, will appear in earlier volumes, the new ‘Life of Wordsworth’ will be much shorter than that which was published in 1889, in three volumes 8vo.  It will not exceed a single volume.

Eighth, In the edition of 1882-6, each volume contained an etching of a locality associated with Wordsworth.  The drawings were made by John M’Whirter, R.A., in water-colour; and they were afterwards etched by Mr. C. O. Murray.  One portrait by Haydon was prefixed to the first volume of the ‘Life’.  In each volume of this edition—­Poems, Prose Works, Journals, Letters, and Life—­there will be a new portrait, either of the poet, or his wife, or sister, or daughter; and also a small vignette of a place associated with, or memorialised by Wordsworth in some way.  The following will be the arrangement.

 Vol.  Portraits / vignettes

THE POEMS.

   I. W. Wordsworth, by W. Shuter.  Cockermouth.

  Ii. " " by Robert Hancock.  Dame Tyson’s Cottage, Hawkshead.