CRITICISMS ON THE FIRST EDITION. "Forty years ago, Mr. Cottle and myself thought nothing more could be gleaned respecting Chatterton. You, however, have struck on a new vein in the mine of Biographical investigation-your perseverance is most creditable-so is your work." FROM A LETTER FROM ROBERT SOUTHEY TO THE AUTHOR. "Mr. Dix has so completely written the Life of Chatterton, that the labours of future biographers can well be spared." JOHN FOSTER.Vide Works. "Mr. Dix's excellent Biography." MRS. S. C. HALL.-(Art Union.) "By far the best Life of the Marvellous Boy' which has hitherto appeared." ATHENEUM. THE LIFE ОР THOMAS CHATTERTON; INCLUDING HIS UNPUBLISHED POEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE. BY JOHN DIX, AUTHOR OF "PEN PICTURES OF FOPULAR ENGLISH PREACHERS," LONDON: PARTRIDGE & OAKEY, PATERNOSTER ROW. - MDCCCLI. 210.2.185. PREFACE. EIGHTY-one years have elapsed since the death of Thomas Chatterton; and his memoirs, which have appeared from several pens, seemed to the author of this biography to have held up the shadowed side of his brief life to public observation, and to have studiously concealed those traits in his character, which should have rescued him from the ill nature of those who neglected him whilst living, and traduced him when dead. Much new information respecting "the marvellous boy" having fallen into the author's hands, he has with pleasure performed a task which has not been altogether devoid of difficulties. These, however, have been considerably lessened by the kind offices |