PREFACE. THE year 1820, has ushered in a new volume, being the Fourth of the ANNUAL BIOGRAPHY and OBITUARY. The Editor is not unwilling to assume some trifling credit, in consequence of an early and regular publication; but for all that is curious, interesting, or original, in the present work, the Reader is wholly indebted to the assistance, correspondence, and communications of others. Some elucidations on this subject, may not prove altogether unworthy of attention. The Memoir of the greatest female singer* this country has ever produced, is drawn up with the most scrupulous attention to delicacy and decorum. It was composed by a gentleman, who both knew and admired her in the character of a professional woman, and he has been kindly and readily assisted with the most correct information on the part of one of her surviving trustees. Mrs. Billington. The life of the Anglo-American Colonel Tatham, will be found replete with incident and misfortunes : it is to the full as singular as that of Mr. Harriott in the preceding volume. The biography of a late Knight of the Bath*, to whom the Letters of Junius have been recently ascribed, with a hardihood that at least challenges investigation, contains, what he himself was accustomed to term "Notes for History," most of which have been obtained from personal communication. We have prevailed on a gentleman, perhaps the only one in the kingdom, who had inclination and opportunities to execute such a task-to draw up an account of a celebrated charactert, who, after expending upwards of 100,000l. in objects of vertù, lately died in a jail! By such as knew him, this article will be deemed at once curious, interesting, and original: indeed, like some fine specimens of his own shells, it must be termed unique, as no other similar collection of facts is in existence. The Memoirs of a late celebrated poet ‡, are drawn up by two of his friends. The one part, which is chiefly dedicated to the consideration of his early life, appears to have been compiled both from oral communication, and documents furnished by himself. The supplement, written by a gentle * Sir Philip Francis. H. C. Jennings, Esq. ‡ Dr. Wolcot. |