Sir,

My judgment in poetry hath, you know, been once already censured by very good wits, for commending Gondibert; but yet they have not, I think, disabled my testimony. For what authority is there in wit? A jester may have it; a man in drink may have it; be fluent over night, and wise and dry in the morning. What is it? Or who can tell whether it be better to have it or be without it, especially if it be a pointed wit? I will take my liberty to praise what I like, as well as they do to reprehend what they do not like. Your poem, Sir, contains a well and judiciously contrived story, full of admirable and heroic actions, set forth in noble and perspicuous language, such as becomes the dignity of the persons you introduce: which two things of themselves are the heighth of poetry. I know that variety of story, true or feigned, is the thing wherewith the reader is entertained most delightfully. And this also to the smallness of the volume is not wanting. Yours is but one small piece; whereas the poets that are with us so much admired, have taken larger subjects. But let an English reader, in Homer or Virgil in English, by whomsoever translated, read one piece by itself, no greater than yours; I may make a question whether he will be less pleased with yours than his. I know you do not equal your poem to either of theirs: the bulk of the work does not distinguish the art of the workman. [The Battle of Mice and Frogs may be owned without disparagement by Homer himself. Yet if Homer had written nothing else, he never had had the reputation of so admirable a poet as he was.]^[C] Ajax was a man of very great stature, and Teucer a very little person: yet he was brother to Ajax, both in blood and chivalry. I commend your poem for judgment, not for bulk; and am assured it will be welcome to the world with its own confidence; though if it come forth armed with verses and epistles, I cannot tell what to think of it. For the great wits will think themselves threatened, and rebel. Unusual fortifications upon the borders, carry with them a suspicion of hostility. And poets will think such letters of commendation a kind of confederacy and league, tending to usurp upon their liberty. [I have told you my judgment, and you may make use of it as you please. But I remember a line or two in your poem, that touched upon divinity, wherein we differed in opinion. But since you say the book is licensed, I shall think no more upon it, but only reserve my liberty of dissenting, which I know you will allow me.]^[D] I rest,

Although the close reasoning of Hobbes, expressed in beautiful language, has created a host of admirers, yet, owing to the excessive rarity of his detached writings, many of which have never been reprinted, no complete set of his works is to be found in any one of our public or private libraries. To remedy this evil, and to present an edition worthy of the Author, the Editor has collected together the various pieces, and at his own cost has determined to reprint them uniformly, in the best style of modern typography. Five volumes (I. II. of the Latin, and I. III. and IV. of the English works) are already published, and the remainder will follow as speedily as a due regard to correctness will allow.

As the impression is limited, and the price of each volume (between 500 and 600 pages, with Engravings) is unusually low, the Publisher has every reason to expect that within a short period the whole of the copies will be subscribed for, and therefore would earnestly recommend an early application, to prevent disappointment.

An excellent analysis of this author’s writings will be found in Mr. Hallam’s able Introduction to the Literature of Europe, and the following testimonies in favour of his style will convey some idea of the estimation in which his writings are held.

“Hobbes’ language is so lucid and concise that it would almost be as improper to put an algebraical process in different terms as some of his metaphysical paragraphs.”—Hallam.

“A permanent foundation of his fame consists in his admirable style, which seems to be the very perfection of didactic language.“—Sir James Mackintosh.

“Here let us do justice to that great man’s memory, at a time his writings seem to be entirely neglected, who, with all his errors, we must allow to be one of the first men of his age, for a bright wit, a deep penetration, and a cultivated understanding.”—Bp. Warburton.

“This is a very delightful work, and contains much more than its title implies. The style is quaint and original, and reminds us of that of some of our older writers. It is throughout enriched with a number of curious and interesting quotations and illustrations, which display considerable information and research. It is full of the 'spirit of antiquity,' if we may use such an expression, and is deeply imbued with a love for those admirable and venerable institutions, which we owe to the wisdom of past ages. The defence of the practice of chanting, of the whole Cathedral Service, and, indeed, of Cathedral institutions altogether, is excellent, and will repay an attentive perusal.”—Churchman.

“This clever work is indeed still of the Spirit of Antiquity, and evinces great originality and freshness of thought, brilliancy of imagination, profound argument, strong feeling, and a thorough and hearted love of the cause so eloquently advocated.”—Salisbury Herald.

“We hail the publication of this work as a valuable addition to our literature. With an elegant and graceful dedication to our young and interesting Queen, the volume consists of original Poems, distinguished for beauty of thought, expressed in language classic and polished; and of translations rarely equalled for fidelity and vigour. The Death of Demosthenes is indeed a noble subject, nobly executed.”... “We have now done our most arduous but pleasing task, to review the finest poems which have appeared for many years. In this utilitarian age of steam and vapour, when, whilst we are going on with our rail-roads, we are going back in our learning, it is rare to find a mind which can think with and emulate the ancients—give a new charm to classic literature—call forth the mighty spirits of Greece—bring them, with all their eloquence and genius, before us—create with them—copy after them. Mr. Fox, therefore, deserves our commendation, and merits our gratitude for his classical volume of poems; for nothing perfect in eloquence, nothing perfect in poetry, can be produced, unless we love, study, and imitate the great masters of thought and taste—the ancients—

The classical is another name for the beautiful, and Mr. Fox’s volume must charm all, except the ignorant without learning, and the learned without taste.”—Dublin Review.

Translated from the Greek, with Classical and Practical Annotations, and a brief Sketch of the Life of the Author. To which is added an Appendix, containing some Account of the Canes Venatici of Classical Antiquity; royal 8vo. 24 embellishments from the Antique, on India paper, extra boards, 1l. 11s. 6d.

The Dynasty of the Kajars, translated from the original Persian Manuscript presented by His Majesty Faty Aly Shah to Sir Harford Jones Brydges, Bart. K.C. LL.D. late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from his Britannic Majesty to the Court of Teheran. To which is prefixed, a succinct Account of the History of Persia previous to that Period, 8vo. frontispiece and 3 maps, boards, 1l. 4s.

An Account of the Transactions of His Majesty’s Mission to the Court of Persia in the Years 1807-11, by Sir Harford Jones Brydges, Bart. To which is added a brief History of the Wahauby, 2 vols. 8vo. plates, bds. 1l. 1s.

Horæ Decanicæ Rurales, being an Attempt to illustrate, by a Series of Notes and Extracts, the Name and Title, the Origin, Appointment, and Functions of Rural Deans, &c. 2 vols. 4to. half-bound morocco, top edges gilt, 1l. 11s. 6d.

Archdeacon Goddard, in his recent charge, strongly recommends this excellent work to the attentive perusal of every clergyman.

Or an Attempt to show that the Druids were the Priests of Oriental Colonies, who emigrated from India, and were the Introducers of the first or Cadmean System of Letters, and the builders of Stonehenge, of Carnac, and of other Cyclopean Works in Asia and Europe, 4to. map and numerous plates, bds. 3l.

An Attempt to draw aside the Veil of the Saitic Isis; or an Inquiry into the Origin of Languages, Nations and Religions, 2 vols. 4to. plates, bds. 5l.

Third Edition, materially enlarged and improved by Professor Sir William Jackson Hooker, LL.D. F.R.S. L.S. &c. and G. Spratt, Esq. 5 vols. 4to. 310 plates, engraved by Sowerby and Spratt, boards, 5l. 15s. 6d. or with the plates finely coloured, 8l.

As Dr. Field’s Book of the Church has become excessively rare, and, though much in request, is not attainable at any price, the Publisher, at the suggestion of several eminent clergymen, has undertaken a new edition of this very valuable work. In order to render it worthy of attention, and far superior to all preceding ones, the Rev. J. S. Brewer (a Gentleman whose well-known diligence and accuracy guarantee its being executed in the best manner) has kindly offered his services to collate the various editions, to verify all the References, and to supply additional Notes where necessary. He has likewise determined, on account of the extreme rarity of many of the Authors cited by Dr. Field, to give his quotations at full length at the bottom of each page; and at the end of every chapter a brief list of writers, especially of English Divines, who have treated on the same subject: thus rendering the work a Text Book of Theology.

As the rarity of this masterpiece of one of our most eminent Divines has prevented its being so universally known as it deserves to be, the Publisher may be pardoned for citing a few among the numerous commendations in its favour.

Coleridge, the Poet, in a letter to his son, the Rev. Derwent Coleridge, emphatically writes:—“This one volume, thoroughly understood and appropriated, will place you in the highest rank of Doctrinal Church-of-England Divines, and of no mean rank as a true Doctrinal Church Historian.”

King James I. delighted to discourse with Field on points of Divinity, and, when he first preached before him, said: “Is his name Field? This is the Field for God to dwell in.” On hearing of his death, the King expressed regret, and added, “I should have done more for that man!”

Fuller, in the same punning age, calls him, “That learned Divine, whose memory smelleth like a Field which the Lord hath blessed.”

Anthony a Wood tells us he was esteemed “the best disputant in the schools.”

“Field was well skilled in School Divinity, and a frequent preacher while he lived in Oxfordshire, and is said to have been very instrumental in preventing the increase of nonconformity in the University.”—Gough.

“When he first set about writing his book 'of the Church,' his old acquaintance, Dr. Kettle, dissuaded him, telling him that when once he was engaged in controversy he would never live quietly, but be continually troubled with answers and replies. To this Field answered, 'I will so write that they shall have no great mind to answer me;' which proved to be nearly the case, as his main arguments were never refuted.”—Chalmers.

Heylin, in his “Life of Laud,” calls him, “the reverend right learned Dr. Field, whose excellent works will keep his name alive to succeeding ages.”