almost all have been more or less revised. Those articles which now appear for the first time, are marked with an asterisk (*): some few of these, prepared too late for insertion in their proper places in the body of the work, will be found in the Supplement. In deference to a generally expressed wish, a CLASSIFIED INDEX has been appended to the present edition. All ill-timed and partial expression of opinion has been avoided as far as possible; and the work now pretends to furnish a tolerably authentic record of the leading facts in the lives of about twenty-five hundred characters, who as statesmen, commanders, authors, artists, or in some other profession, have fairly become the property of the public. So far as he has been able, the Editor has collected these particulars from every available quarter, and he has endeavoured to combine them in plain, unvarnished statements, such as he trusts will prove a useful and welcome guide to the readers of newspapers and the current literature of the day. Even whilst these sheets have been passing through the press, the hand of Death has been at work, and has removed several who, it was hoped, would have outlived its completion. Conspicuous among these are the names of Professor Aytoun, Sir George Brown, the Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Cobden, Sir Samuel Cunard, the Bishop of Chester (Dr. Graham), Viscount Combermere, Sir H. Dymoke, Mr. Everett, Admiral Fitzroy, Sir C. E. Grey, Judge Haliburton, Sir W. R. Hamilton, Sir W. J. Hooker, Sir John Lubbock, President Lincoln, Duc de Morny, Marshal Magnan, Sir Jos. Paxton, and Sir John Richardson. As it is intended to publish, from time to time, new editions of this work, with such changes and additions as the progress of events may render requisite, the Publishers will be grateful for any corrections or information that may seem likely to increase the value and interest of its pages. Such communications, addressed to the Editor, to the care of Messrs. G. ROUTLEDGE & SONS, Broadway (E.C.), will be thankfully received and carefully attended to. LONDON, September, 1865. |