and spontaneously took their part in laying the deep and strong foundations of modern English renown. On all these grounds, the English language is here considered as commencing with what is usually called Anglo-Saxon. A sufficient sample has been given of this earliest form of the language to allow those who study it in connection with the concise Anglo-Saxon Grammar, given in the Introduction, to form a fair estimate of its proper relation to modern English.

Dr. Craik's authority has been followed in considering the two great transformations which the language underwent between A.D. 1150 and 1350 as revolutions. This word aptly designates the important movements which converted a language, synthetical in its construction, and homogeneous in its vocabulary, into one that was analytical in the one respect, and composite in the other, and which nevertheless left its personal identity unaffected. The first revolution, which stripped away most of its inflections, and destroyed its system of artificial gender, contributed greatly to its freedom and power; while the second, which with Norman words introduced also Norman intelligence and taste, immensely extended its range of expression, constituting what Dr. Trench so aptly calls "the happy marriage in our tongue of the languages of the north and south,” -the blending of Romance elegance and refinement with Gothic simplicity and strength.

Besides furnishing a chronological view of the history of the English language, it has been the editor's aim to illustrate by means of the extracts themselves the various powers of our mother-tongue. These have been carefully chosen, not less for the sake of the material than of the workmanship, not less for the worthiness of the thoughts than for the style in which they are presented; and they furnish, it is believed, a matchless exhibition of strength, beauty, grace, energy, and freedom of language.

It is scarcely necessary to say that these specimens are intended to be studied, not merely read over. They are not designed to gratify a passing curiosity, but to train the youthful mind to a perception of the value and importance of lan

guage generally, and of our own noble language especially; to show how it has been wielded on occasion by those eminent masters who appreciated the instrument they used, and wished others to appreciate it too. It can hardly be said that such appreciation is common. Our language itself, its remarkable history, its unique characteristics, have only lately begun to receive the attention they deserve. Little encouragement is given to such studies at our chief universities, and it has been left to foreigners, in time past, to enlighten the world as to the beauties both of our language and literature. There are, however, at last, hopeful symptoms of a healthy reaction.

The editor's obligations to the works of Trench, Craik, Latham, Marsh, Spalding, Angus, Adams, Max Müller, Wedgewood, Morley, Miss Whately, Taylor, Crabbe, to the Philological Society's Proceedings, as well as to the remarkable English grammars in German by Koch, and Fiedler and Sachs, will be obvious to all who are acquainted with the history of the English language and literature.

Lastly, he has to express his thanks to Messrs. Longman and Co., Mr. Murray, Messrs. A. and C. Black, and Messrs. Chapman and Hall, as also to Messrs. Dickens, Ruskin, Carlyle, Helps, and Kinglake, for their kind permission to make extracts from the copyright texts of which they are the proprietors.

4, KILDARE GARDENS, BAYSWATER,

October 23, 1867.

Beginning of Henry III.'s Proclamation, dated 1258, generally considered the earliest specimen of true English.

Hem Burs zodes hukume Bing on Englenelo ande. Lhoquerd on prlo and. Dub on torm Aquceam and coil on enroll gend igreange to alle hufe halde lande and tea Bede on Buntendon scher

Bar Whiten se Gel alle fore willen and bune. Bær fær bre padesmen alle over be moare delof heom fake beef whosen Burg us and furg Bæt loandes folk on be bunenche habber wen and schulle don 'in he Worknesse of sode and on bre trollfe for perheme of Be loance furs Be Behiste of Ban to forensende rodesmen. Beo fredefaft and lefeinde in alle finge abuten ande. And Be Raaten alle bye treo bem be treof be fate heo bf ogen. Bat heo fredefaftliche heilden and fiberen to healden and to beren be herneffef fært Beon makede and Beon to makien furg fan to forenleider delmen

The same in Modern Characters.

Henr' burg Godes fultume King on Engleneloande Lhoaverd on Yrloand Duk on Norm' on Aquitain' and Eorl on Aniow, send igretinge to alle hise halde ilærde and ileawede on Huntendon' Schir.

Dat witen ge wel alle pet we willen and unnen þæt þæt ure rædesmen alle oper pe moare dæl of heom þat beod ichosen purg us and burg pæet loandes folk on ure kuneriche habbed idon and schullen don in be worpnesse of Gode and on ure treowpe for pe freme of be loande purg pe besigte of pan toforeniseide rædesmen beo stede fæst and iĺestinde inn alle thinge abuten ænde. And we haaten alle ure treo we inn pe treowpe pat heo us ogen pæet heo stede fæstliche heilden and sweren to healden and to werien þe isetnesses that beon imakede and beon to makien þurg þan to foreniseide rædesmen.-See the Translation at p. 22.