GEORGE SELWYN AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES; WITH MEMOIRS AND NOTES. BY JOHN HENEAGE JESSE, AUTHOR OF "MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF ENGLAND DURING THE REIGN VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, 1843. PREFACE. It seems to have been one of the peculiarities of George Selwyn, to preserve not only every letter addressed to him by his correspondents during the course of his long life, but also the most trifling notes and unimportant memoranda. To this peculiarity the reader is indebted for whatever amusement he may derive from the perusal of these volumes. The greater portion of their contents consists of letters addressed to Selwyn by persons who, in their day, moved in the first ranks of wit, genius, and fashion. Independent of their general merit as epistolary compositions, the Editor conceives that they will be found in a high degree valuable and entertaining, from the light which they throw on the manners and customs of society in the last age, from their presenting a faithful chronicle of the passing events of the day, and from the mass of amusing gossip and lively anecdote which they contain. The Editor has felt it to be a moral, as well as an editorial duty, to avoid, as carefully as pos 9002177 sible, inserting any matter in the present work which might be hurtful to the feelings of the surviving relatives of those who figure in it. It is possible, indeed, that he may not always have succeeded; and, should such prove the case, he can only state, that it was not intentionally that he has deviated from the rule which he laid down, and that it would give: pain to himself to learn that he had pained others. To those who have kindly and liberally permitted the Editor to avail himself of the letters in their possession, the Editor takes this further opportunity of expressing his sincere thanks. LONDON, MAY, 1843. |