CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 161 



The History atid Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Worcfster : 

 illustrated hy a series of engravings of views, elevations, plans, 

 and details, of that edifice : including an architectural descrip^ 

 Hon of the Church, and Biographical Anecdotes of the Bishops, 

 and of other eminent persons connected with the Cathedral. By 

 John Britton, F. S. A., M. R. S. L., &c., ike. Longman and 

 Co., 1835, 



From the prefatory essay we glean information connected with 

 tliis work, which sets forth the risks, the losses, and the miseries of 

 authorship, in a very clear and convincing manner ; and points out 

 the futility of risking health and fortune in literary undertakings, 

 without first securing that patronage by which alone a successful 

 issue can be fully attained. In accounting for the delay in the exe- 

 cution of the Work, the author observes — '' Had generous patronage 

 a,nd kind attentions been manifested towards the author, in the early 

 progress of his work, he would most certainly have been animated 

 to greater exertion — to more ardent zeal ; but the coldness, and even 

 the contumely, of the dignitaries of some cathedrals ; the ingrati- 

 tude, and even impositions, of certain parties who were early en- 

 gaged in the work ; and without the prospect of a fair remuneration 

 for bodily and mental labour, it is not surprising, nor very repre- 

 hensible, that he became sometimes languid — sometimes indifferent. 

 But for the cordial and friendly assistance of the respectable pub- 

 lishers who first embarked in the work, it would certainly never 

 have reached its present size and quality. During its progress, more 

 than twenty thousand pounds have been expended on its execution, 

 and thus English art, literature, and trade, have been all promoted : 

 although a large portion of that sum has necessarily reverted to the 

 state, in taxation. Three hundred and ten drawings and engrav- 

 ings have been executed for its embellishment, whereby some of the 

 most eminent artists of the country have acquired fame and liberal 

 remuneration. Paper-makers, stationers, printers, binders, book- 

 sellers, and others, have derived profits, whilst eleven public and 

 private libraries of the kingdom have had their literary stores in- 

 creased, by exacting from the author so many copies of this expen- 

 sive publication." 



The author candidly admits that he has grievously erred against 

 time, and taxed the patience of friends ; but his excuse must disarm 

 reproof when he asserts that repeated attacks of illness have reduced 

 his energies, and sometimes even his capabilities of composition : — 

 that the eyes and memory often give notice that they have been 

 over- worked, and claim a little respite ; that many public demands 

 are made on his time, beside those of a domestic and friendly na- 

 ture ; and that these have conspired, for the last three or four years, 

 to detach him often from the Cathedral Antiquities. 



In Mr. Britton's observations on the facilities and repulses which 

 he experienced in his tneritorious endeavours to collect every infor- 

 mation likely to add value to his work, we are pained to notice some 



October, 1835, — vol. hi, no. xiii. m. 



