AUTHOR OF THE "ROMANCE OF HISTORY," ETC. ETC.

CONSISTING OF

LECTURES ON ENGLISH POETRY,

TALES, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PIECES,
IN PROSE AND VERSE.

Fruits of a genial morn, and glorious noon,
A deathless part of him who died too soon.

LORD BYRON'S MONODY ON SHERIDAN.

LONDON:

SMITH, ELDER, AND CO. 65, CORNHILL.

1829.

617

INTRODUCTION.

THE present Volume, like almost every other posthumous publication, has to solicit it's Readers' indulgence towards those unavoidable inaccuracies, for which he who alone could have corrected them, is no longer responsible. The hand that traced the following pages now moulders in the grave; the wreath which should have garlanded the Poet's brow, is now twined around his sepulchre; and the chaplet of his living fame

"Is hung upon his hearse, to droop and wither there!"

To the last work which will bear the name of HENRY NEELE upon it's Title-page, it becomes

an act of duty to prefix some few particulars of his writings, and of their Author: and though this tribute to the departed comes late and unavailing; though, like the custom of placing flowers in the cold hands of the dead, Praise now but wastes it's sweetness upon ears which can no longer listen to it's melody; still, to give perpetuity to the memory of Genius is one of the most grateful offices of humanity; nor does man ever seem more deserving of immortality himself, than when he is thus endeavouring to confer it worthily upon others.

The late Henry Neele was the second Son of a highly respectable map and heraldic Engraver in the Strand, where he was born January 29th, 1798; and upon his Father removing to Kentish Town, was there sent to School, as a daily boarder, and continued at the same Seminary until his education was completed. At this Academy, though he became an excellent French scholar, yet he acquired "little Latin, and less Greek;"