Excerpt from Notes and Queries; A Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Antiquaries, Etc: General Index to Series the Sixth; (1880-1885) Vols. I. To XII

A generation has passed since notes and queries first saw the light. During that period it has maintained its place, not only in the interest of all literary workers, but in the affections of those by whom and for 'whom it exists. In the case Of one whose direct connexion with notes and queries is recent, and who finds himself called upon to write the first preface that has issued from any band except that of the founder, it is permissible to recall how, long before he dreamed of the possibility of its fortunes being entrusted to his care, the small 4to. Was always reserved as the last to be read of the Saturday periodicals, the final delicacy that enabled him to leave ofi', as the Italian says, con la bocca dolce. Sitting now where he can see the very pulse of the machine, he finds a cheering and gratifying task in recognizing the sympathy and attachment which the early writers in notes and queries have transmitted as a species of heirloom to their successors.

It is pleasant to find that names which appeared in the earliest volume are to be found in the latest, and pleasanter to know that the cases are few wherein any cause except such as none can control is responsible for the absence of a name for which readers are accustomed to look.

Nothing would be more agreeable than to express gratitude to those whose contributions have made notes and queries what it is, and to mention with thanks a few at least of those who have enriched its pages with accumulated stores of erudition. Apart, however, from the fact that such a proceeding would occupy far more space than can be assigned to a preface, it would savour of an egotism which the present editor would be sorry to exhibit. While thoroughly sensible Of the extraordinary services that are rendered, he feels that it is the world of letters that is the debtor and not himself. Content with his function of selecting from the rich supplies that are sent him what seems of most varied and representative interest, he allows his contributors to thank each other in the same manner in which they assist each other.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.