MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, WORKS, AND CORRESPONDENCE OF SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, BART. BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS PEREGRINE COURTENAY. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMAN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1836. 10-07 Br 1940.5.3 -3497-57 1875, March 22. Kalker Bequest. LONDON: Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, PREFACE. FEW Ew names are more generally known than that of Sir William Temple. All English libraries contain his works, and it is difficult to find a book upon their shelves, in which reference is not made to him for an anecdote, a sentiment, or a fact. style is a favourite theme with all writers upon English literature; and continental as well as English politicians have celebrated his diplomacy, and lauded his political maxims. His Yet neither his writings, nor the circumstances of his life, are familiarly known: the excellences of his style are taken for granted by those who never read his works, and the honesty of his politics is admitted by those who never traced his conduct. Of his memoirs indeed, and his letters, copious use is made by historians; but even they are imperfectly acquainted with his printed letters, and not at all with those that are still unpublished. Not only the frequency and the intensity, but the singularity of the commendation bestowed upon him, has induced me to regard, with more minute attention, the life of Sir William Temple. An in |