hitherto been printed, however various in metre; without any of those indentions which are so agreeable to the sight, and so properly adapted to the purpose of anticipating in the Reader's mind the change of measure. Through every edition heretofore published, this defect (if it be right to call it so) has been continued. In the present Volume, however, the irregular lines of the Odes, and other alternate verses, are printed with the indentions alluded to, and which may be considered at least as a relief to the eye, if not an assistance to the understanding.

Prefixed or subjoined to the greater number of the Poems, is some explanation of the subject or occasion on which

they were respectively written, or some observation illustrative of their character or tendency.

The Ode for Music, performed at the Installation of the Duke of Grafton as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, is printed (to give the reader an idea of its musical arrangement) with the divisions of Air, Recitative, Chorus, &c. adopted by Dr. Randall, the Composer.

To The Descent of Odin, and The Triumphs of Owen, are appended literal Versions of the original Poems, of which Mr. Gray's are imitations *.

* See pp. 68, and 72.

In the Elegy written in a Country Church-Yard, are inserted, among the Notes, some Stanzas originally designed as a part of the Poem, but omitted by the Author when he published it.

Among the POSTHUMOUS PIECES of Mr. Gray, is the Latin Fragment on the Gaurus; to which is subjoined (for the convenience of the mere English Reader) a Translation that appeared some years since in a respectable Periodical Publication, and the execution of which does great credit to the talents of the unknown Writer.

With the same view to the ease of the unlearned Reader, there are annexed to the Latin Ode, written in the Al

bum of the Grand Chartreuse, two Imitations, in different measures; for the latter of which the Reader is indebted to the pen of the late William Seward, Esq.

Beside the Posthumous Pieces and Fragments that have been usually published as Mr. Gray's, I have adopted SIX POEMS, hitherto scattered in other publications, but well known to have been written by the same Author*.

After these are inserted several POEMS AND FRAGMENTS ADDRESSED TO, OR WRITTEN IN MEMORY OF MR. GRAY; only two of which were ever before collected.

*See pp. 123. 180-185.

With respect to the NOTES, which it is hoped will be found neither superabundant nor unsatisfactorily concise, they include all Mr. Gray's own illustrations, together with remarks selected from Mr. Mason, Mr. Scott, Dr. Johnson, and several anonymous commentators; and if these be found to have been culled with the necessary degree of judgment and discrimination, it is humbly presumed, that the occasional remarks of the Editor will not be found useless nor impertinent.

It has been the common practice to print the Annotations, en masse, at the end of the Poems; and it is allowed, that where the former are so extremely numerous and extensive as to unfit