matters connected with Shelley's life and works render it superfluous to apologize for the amount of space bestowed here on the discussion of his views of the text. It was not to be expected that any two editors should be wholly in agreement on a subject of this kind; but the attempt to undo what has been done by an able predecessor must always be an ungrateful undertaking. Mr. Rossetti's position as a critic, however, and the amount of work he has done in connection with Shelley, make it peculiarly necessary that another editor should not flinch from trying to undo whatever he thinks ought to be undone, however distasteful the task, and however laborious. The references are, of course, to the two-volume edition, published by Messrs. Moxon in 1870. It did not seem incumbent on me to search through the unannotated (and undated) "popular" edition with the view of ascertaining whether the Editor has varied the text materially from that of the two-volume (annotated) edition; but in regard to that, I have carefully weighed every change made or proposed, and which is considered by Mr. Rossetti to be important enough for a note. I have also done the same in regard to many of his unspecified changes; but it did not seem necessary to collate the original editions line by line with his as I have done with Mrs. Shelley's.

To make the present edition easy of reference, the lines have been numbered in the margin, throughout, wherever the poems were not already, in Shelley's editions, divided into numbered stanzas; but no new numeration of

stanzas has been introduced. Such helps as the insertion in the head-lines of "Canto I" &c., "Act I, Scene I" &c., are invariably given whether Shelley's editions give them or not; and I have sought to make the wording of the head-lines as useful as possible.

To Sir Percy Shelley I am largely indebted for enabling me to make this edition of his illustrious father's works complete by the reproduction of the various pieces of recent issue, whereof the copyright still remains in the hands of the poet's family. Among these are the whole of the Relics of Shelley; and, in regard to that highly important volume, I have to include in my acknowledgment Mr. Richard Garnett, who entirely concurs in my making unrestrained use of his labours in that volume. But I am also very greatly indebted to Mr. Garnett not only for help in revision of proof-sheets, but for freely imparting his valuable knowledge on numerous points connected with Shelley's works, and for rendering me more assistance than I can well detail, in various difficult matters.

My grateful acknowledgments are due to Mr. S. R. Townshend Mayer for unreservedly placing at my disposal the Shelley manuscripts formerly in the possession of Leigh Hunt, and which have yielded, beside the long-lost poem of Mrs. Shelley on her husband's death, some small inedited poems by Shelley, several fragments, including the greater part of the lost review of Peacock's Rhododaphne, and several important manuscripts of works already published. Nothing could exceed the frank courtesy with which Mr.

Mayer has met me in this matter, or the energy and acuteness with which he has searched through masses of documents of a confused and intricate character, to recover all that was recoverable; and all Shelley students will be indebted to him for what he has brought to light. For unremitting and most valuable assistance in reading the proof-sheets, my warmest thanks are due to my friend Mr. John H. Ingram, the Editor of Poe's Works, and to my brother, Alfred Forman; and I have also to name in the same connexion my friend Mr. Alexr. H. Japp, whose well known labours under the pseudonym of "H. A. Page" have led him in such paths as to make his help peculiarly valuable.

I have to thank Mr. Frederick Locker for permitting me to inspect or transcribe, as the case might be, his books and documents in this connexion; and, for the loan of books, greatly facilitating my labours, I am much beholden to the kindness of Mr. George Bell, and of Mr. John R. P. Kirby, an enthusiastic and indefatigable collector of books in modern literature, who has given me much bibliographical information.

Concerning the illustrations there is not much to be said. The portrait by Miss Curran is inserted in deference. to the wishes of Sir Percy Shelley, who, on the high authority of his mother, maintains that it is the best portrait extant. As regards the etching of Shelley's house at Marlow, I feel sure it will be a welcome gift to the poet's many lovers: the artist, Dr. Arthur Evershed, made.

an excursion to Marlow with the express view of etching this plate for the present volume, containing the main produce of Shelley's stay there; and while on the spot, Dr. Evershed copied for me the inscription placed upon the house by direction of Sir William Robert Clayton, Bart. It is as follows:

WILL YET RESTORE HIM TO THE VITAL AIR,

DEATH FEEDS ON HIS MUTE VOICE, AND LAUGHS AT OUR DESPAIR.

ADONAIS.

It should be noted that the reference to Byron is necessarily apocryphal, inasmuch as his Lordship had finally left England before Shelley took the house at Marlow,―a misapprehension which doubtless, to be promptly corrected, only needs to be pointed out.

H. BUXTON FORMAN.

38, Marlborough Hill, St. John's Wood,

14 August, 1876.