462159 TO MARIANNE NORTH, A LINEAL DESCENDANT OF THE AUTHOR OF THESE LIVES, TO WHOSE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE AND SYMPATHIZING ENCOURAGEMENT THE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY WAS LARGELY DUE. THESE VOLUMES, PRESENTING FOR THE FIRST TIME THE WORKS IN A POPULAR AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE FORM, ARE AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY AUGUSTUS JESSOPP. EDITOR'S PREFACE. T is just 150 years since the Life of the Lord Keeper later by the Lives of Sir Dudley and of Dr. John North. A reprint of the former work appeared, in 8vo, in 1808, and an edition of the collected lives was published in three vols., 8vo, in 1826. Mr. Henry Roscoe, a son of Mr. William Roscoe, of Liverpool, saw the book through the press, and added some useful Notes elucidatory of the text, together with an Index, on which he evidently bestowed great pains. All these editions have become scarce, while the great value of the biographies, as contributions to the history of the time with which they are concerned, has become more than ever recognized. It had long been known that Roger North had left a considerable fragment of an autobiography in his own handwriting, and that this had once been kept at Rougham. The original manuscript of this work came into the possession of the late Mr. Crossley, of Manchester, about fifty years ago, and more than one overture for its purchase had been made to that gentleman, but in vain. At his death, in 1883, it was sold by auction; and in 1887 I was privileged to print it for the first time. This volume, too, has already become very scarce; it was published only for subscribers, and no copies have yet come into the market, nor is it likely that it will ever be procurable without difficulty. Meanwhile, there is evidently a growing demand for the Lives of the Norths; and it is believed that the issue of the present edition will be welcomed by the ever-increasing number of students of such history, and by those to whom Roger North is now known only by name as a charming writer with a style of his own, but a writer whose works are accessible to but a comparatively small circle of admirers. Most of Mr. Roscoe's notes have been incorporated in the present edition. It was thought well, however, to remodel the Index entirely. As a Personal Index I believe it will be found exhaustive. Scarning Rectory, August, 1890. A. J. |