Introductory-Elementary Education-The Bible-Juvenile Books-Read
ing for Amusement-Method in Reading-Remarks to the Ladies-Gene-
ral Literature-State of Man before the Cultivation of Letters-When
Letters were invented-Lettered men of the Early Ages-Influence of
Letters upon Man-Effect of Letters decried by Certain Reasoners-Their
Assertions Denied-Letters more Glorious and Permanent than Art-The
English Language-The Saxon Language-The Saxons and Normans--
Layman's works-Robert De Brunne's History of England-Reign of
the Romans-Romances-Age of Chivalry-Fictions of the present day-
Johnson's Rasselas-Godwin's St. Leon-Caleb Williams-Sir Walter
Scott-Novels founded on Fact-The father of English Poetry-Objects of
the Poetry of his Predecessors-These Objects Reformed by Chaucer-Ge-
nius of Chaucer-Byron's opinion of him-Chaucer's Contemporaries-
Chaucer's Satire-Dryden and Pope's opinion of him, &c.-John Gower-
Originality and Genius-Gower's Monument-John the Chaplain-Tho-
mas Occleve-Henry V.-Society-Lydgate-Criticism Evidence of Mental
Light-The Laurel Crown of Italy and England-John Kay, Poet Laureate
to Edward IV. -Poetical Distinctions-Barclay-Skelton--Lord Surry-
The Father of English Blank Verse-Blank Verse-Sir John Mandeville,
the Traveller-Effect of the Accounts of his Travels-Ralph Higden-Tre-
visa-His translation of the Bible-Wickliffe, the Reformer-Malice of the
Popes against his Memory-Founder of the Protestant Religion-Bishop
Peacock-Sir John Fortescue-Use of Printing-William Caxton-The
first book printed in England--Chronicles of England-Similarity of
Thought and Expression in Different Languages-Effect of Expelling the
Greek Scholars from Constantinople-Sir Thomas More-Wilson, the
Rhetorician-Figurative Language-William Fullward-The reigns of
Edward and Mary-Reign of Elizabeth-The Scriptures-Lady Jane
Grey-Source of American Literature-Parallel between the Literature
of that age and the present-General Diffusion of Literature.