Until comparatively late in his too short life, when he found
this special path of his (and it is impossible to say whether the
actual finding was in the case of Jonathan or in the case of
Joseph), he did but flounder and slip. When he had found it, and
was content to walk in it, he strode with as sure and steady a
step as any other, even the greatest, of those who carry and hand
on the torch of literature through the ages. But it is
impossible to derive full satisfaction from his feats in this
part of the race without some notion of his performances
elsewhere; and I believe that such a notion will be supplied to
the readers of his novels by the following volumes, in a very
large number of cases, for the first time.







THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO LISBON

DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC

Your candor is desired on the perusal of the following sheets, as
they are the product of a genius that has long been your delight
and entertainment. It must be acknowledged that a lamp almost
burnt out does not give so steady and uniform a light as when it
blazes in its full vigor; but yet it is well known that by its
wavering, as if struggling against its own dissolution, it