ON ENGLISH POETRY, FROM THE REIGN OF EDWARD THE THIRD TO THE TIME OF BURNS AND COWPER: WITH SHAKSPEARE'S SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERS. AN ESSAY; BY HENRY NEELE, 66 AUTHOR OF THE ROMANCE OF HISTORY," ETC. ETC. Fruits of a genial morn, and glorious noon, THIRD EDITION. BYRON. LONDON: JOSEPH THOMAS, 1, FINCH-LANE, CORNHILL; T. TEGG; AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO. 1839. INTRODUCTION. HENRY NEELE was the second son of a respectable engraver in the Strand, where he was born January 29th 1798. He was educated at a day school in Kentish Town, where, although he acquired "little Latin and less Greck," he became an excellent French scholar; but, at no time, displayed any very devoted application, or even aptitude, for any description of study. To Poetry, however, he evinced thus early a decided inclination; and he produced several specimens of considerable merit, for so juvenile a writer. On leaving school, he was articled to an attorney; and, after the usual probationary term, was admitted to practice as a Solicitor. During his clerkship, appreciating the value of those attainments he had neglected at school, he added a general knowledge of German and Italian to his previous acquirements; and in January, 1817, made his first appearance as an author by publishing a Volume of Poems; the expenses of which were borne by his father, who properly estimated and encouraged the dawning genius of his Son. This work displayed evident marks of youth and inexperience; but it was decidedly characterised by a depth of thought and feeling, and an elegance and fluency of versification, which gave the surest promise of future excellence. The Poems were chiefly lyrical, and the ill-fated Collins was avowedly his model. The publication of this volume introduced the young Poet to Dr. Nathan Drake, author of "Literary Hours," &c.; who, though acquainted with him "only through the medium of his writings," devoted a chapter of his "Winter Nights" to a critical examination and eulogy of his Poems; of which, he says, |