xii PREFACE. 



norance of most of the languages of the conti- 

 nent of Europe, he has probably failed of men- 

 tioning many works quite as worthy of respect- 

 ful notice as others on which he has bestowed 

 high praise. Perhaps a still more formal apology 

 will be deemed necessary for the disposition to 

 introduce American writers and publications, 

 even of moderate character, which he has so 

 frequently discovered. But besides indulging a 

 natural partiality for his own country, which is 

 at least pardonable, he was desirous of collecting 

 and exhibiting as much information on the subject 

 of American literature as the nature of his under- 

 taking admitted. And as no attempt to give a ge- 

 neral historical view of this subject has ever been 

 before made ; as a considerable portion even of the 

 humble and meagre records from which he has 

 drawn his materials, are daily perishing ; and as 

 peculiar circumstances sometimes give to literary 

 characters and events a relative importance, be- 

 yond their absolute value, he thought it advisable 

 to take notice of more obscure names, and of 

 smaller publications, than could with propriety 

 have been mentioned in countries of a more mature 

 literary character. Perhaps, however, in his zeal 

 to collect every thing he could find on this sub- 

 ject, he has sometimes descended too low. 



Should any reader be offended by the language 

 of panegyric which is frequently bestowed on the 

 intellectual and scientific endowments of some 

 distinguished abettors of heresy or of infidelity, 

 he is entreated to remember that justice is due to 

 all men. A man who is a bad Christian may be 

 a very excellent mathematician, astronomer, or 

 chemist i and one who denies and blasphemes the 

 Saviour may write profoundly and instructively 

 on some branches of science highly interesting to 



