ERRATA. Page 8, line 22, for Greek, read Greek.' line 27, for acquired," read acquired. 12, line 13, for any, read an. 16, bottom line of note, for ery, read very. PREFACE. IMMEDIATELY after it was decided to collect and publish the Works of Mr. Hall, I suggested the expediency of soliciting Sir James Mackintosh, whose talents, judgement, taste, and delicacy, as well as his known attachment to his deceased friend, gave him a peculiar fitness for the task, to undertake a sketch of his literary and intellectual character. The letter which I received in reply to my application, will shew how promptly and cordially he acceded to our wishes. "GREAT CUMBERLAND STREET, "MY DEAR SIR, "7th March, 1831. "A GREAT man is fallen in Israel.' I have "reflected much on the subject of your letter, and "will frankly tell you what seems to me to be right. "I consider myself as speaking confidentially, in all "that I say, to the friend of my ancient friend. * * * * 66 "The only point on which I am likely to differ from you, is respecting your own fitness to write a Memoir. "I shall say no more than, that, if I had the selection, "I should certainly choose you. "I should be glad to see you here to breakfast on "Monday next. In the meantime I may say that I 66 approve of your plan of publishing Hall's Sermons, "and, if possible, all his writings. If your want of "leisure absolutely prevents you from undertaking the "task, and if it be thought likely to promote the "interests of Hall's family, I do not think myself at 66 liberty to withhold the contribution of a Preface to "the Editor chosen by the Family. In that case I 66 "should require a few names and dates, and a perusal "of his writings published or unpublished. I own to you that I prefer the old custom of prefixing such a "modest preface by way of memoir, to the modern prac"tice of writing huge narratives of lives in which there are no events; which seems to me a tasteless parade, "and a sure way of transmitting nothing to posterity. 66 66 My paper would chiefly contain the recollections of 66 my youth, and the result of such observations on "Hall's writings as a careful perusal of them might "naturally suggest. "I am, my dear Sir, with real esteem, "Your's very faithfully, "J. MACKINTOSH." After the interview proposed in this letter, and two or three others which shortly followed, Sir James, having matured his plan, agreed to devote about twenty pages to the purely biographical part of the Memoir, and perhaps forty more, to the critical estimate of |