PREFACE

My Father's Autobiography and Letters were originally printed for private circulation among members of his own family and some of his more intimate friends. Many persons, however, beyond these limits, having expressed an interest in the book, it is now offered to the Public at large with the addition of a few letters addressed to Dean Lake, which have only recently come into my hands, and the omission of such others as seemed to possess more domestic than general interest.

I am glad to have the opportunity which a new edition affords of making one or two corrections, particularly in the notes on Robert Grote (p. 42) and S. T. Coleridge (p. 297). I wish also to thank those friends who have very kindly placed papers at my disposal or helped me in other ways; especially

Miss Wordsworth and Mr. Herman Merivale, whose advice and encouragement have been invaluable.

A word too must be said in regard to the letter dated Dec. 6, 1851 (p. 185), concerning which a curious misapprehension has arisen, and a bit of pure fun has been taken in serious earnest. Louis Napoleon did not cause one of Spottiswoode's printers to be bribed. He did not plan his coup d'état on the lines indicated in chap. iv. vol. iii, Merivale's History of the Romans. He did not buy a thousand copies of that work for his regimental libraries, nor did the author ever receive from him the Cross of the Legion of Honour !

JUDITH ANNE MERIVALE.

OXFORD,

June 21, 1899.