NOTE
The index is practically confined to the names of persons and things. The names of imaginary persons, characters in novels, plays, etc., are indexed under the first word of the name by which they are usually designated, e.g. Tony Lumpkin, Don Quixote, Dr Faustus. The names of real persons are indexed in the ordinary way. In the very heavy list of Quotations the method adopted has followed so far as seemed possible that in use in the Index to Quotations in Notes and Queries. The list of quotations has been very considerably lightened by leaving out almost all phrases from Shakespeare and Milton: to have added these would have made the list of quotations almost double its present length, so often did Hazlitt quote from these two. Hazlitt’s spelling has been followed where deemed characteristic.
It has been discovered that a short essay has, by mistake, been printed twice in the text (vol. vii. p. 360, and vol. xi. p. 433). Owners of the edition will, perhaps, be so good as to note this fact in their copies.
It is the intention of the surviving editor to keep the notes and index up to date, in case a second impression should be required. He will be obliged if readers will send him any suggestions they may wish to make.