ON THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

William Shakspeare.

WITH A LIST OF

ESSAYS AND DISSERTATIONS

ON HIS

Dramatic Writings, &c.

BY

JOHN BRITTON, F. S. A.

London:

PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINGHAM.

1814.

"Heaven-born Genius acts from something superior to rules, and antecedent to rules; and has a right of appeal to Nature berself." Mrs. Montague.

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IT has been frequently and justly remarked, that no department in the dignified and almost boundless circle of literature, excites so much general interest as biography. From what cause this arises it is not expedient, in this place, to inquire; but it is tionably true that every man, who pretends to an elevation of mind above the vulgar level, evinces an eager curiosity relative to those who have at any time astonished the world by their exploits, or enlightened it by their genius and wisdom. Not contented with the most ample information respecting their public career, the philosopher endeavours to penetrate the uncertainty which usually veils the incidents of private life. The genealogy of their families, the events of their childhood, the nature of their education, their personal appearance, their manners, their habits, their friendships, their amusements, and even their foibles, constitute subjects of solicitude and investigation. Nor ought such inquiries to be rashly stigmatized as

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