The works of Oliver Goldsmith. Edited by Peter Cunningham

Front matter

GOLDSMITH'S TTOEKS. THE WORKS OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Lissoy Mill. EDITED BY PETER CUNNINGHAM. IN FOUR VOLUMES.— VOL. III. LONDON : JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. THE WORKS :r OLIVER GOLDSMITH. EDITED BY PETER CTTXSTS'GHAM, F.S.A. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL, IIL THE BER E3SATS. HSACKIfOWIiEDGED ESSAYS. PREFACES, LSTBODCCnoXS, ETG. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1551. loxdok : EKADECRV, EVANS AND CO., PRINTERS. WHITEFRCARS. THE BEE; on —AYS 05 THE MOST INTERESTING SUBJECTS. L.ii:- : Tinted for 3. Wilkie, at the Bible, in fit Fad's dmdijart. ~^: an tol m. The first number of The Bee, a weekly paper wholly conducted and written by Goldsmith, appeared on Saturday, the 6th October, 1759. Its appearance was thus announced : "Saturday next will be published (to be continued weekly, price threepence), neatly printed in crown octavo and on good paper, containing two sheets, or thirty-two pages, stitched in blue covers, No. I. of a new periodical paper intitled — ''The Bee.

Consisting of a variety of Essays on the Amusements, Follies, and Vices in fashion : particularly the most recent Topics of Conversa tion : Remarks on Theatrical Exhibitions : Memoirs of Modern Litera ture, &c. &c. Printed for J. Wilkie, at the Bible in St. Paul's Church Yard, and to be had of all Booksellers and of the News Venders in town and country. "*** The PubUsher begs leave to inform the Public, that every twelve numbers will make a handsome pocket volume, at the end of which shall he given an emblematical frontispiece, title, and table of contents. Letters to the author of The Bee, directed to J. Wilkie as above (postpaid), will be duly regarded." — The Public Advertiser, Thursday, 4th Oct., 1759. After the publication of the first number, the following paragraph was added : — " N.B. This Pamphlet is entered according to Act of Parliament in the Hall Book of the Company of Stationers.

Whoever prints any part of it will be prosecuted as the Law directs." No. II. was announced somewhat differently : — "This day is pubbshed, &c. &c, Number II. ot a new periodical paper called The Bee. The public is requested to compare this with other periodical performances which more pompously solicit their attention. If upon perusal it be found deficient either in humour, elegance, or variety, the author will readily acquiesce in their censure. It is possible the reader may sometimes draw a prize, and even should it turn up a blank, it costs him but three-pence." — The PvMic Advertiser, Oct. 14, 1759. The Bee died with its eighth number on the 24th November, 1759, and in the December of the same year, the numbers were collected into a volume entitled ' ' The Bee ; being Essays on the most Interesting Subjects." . ' The Bee is here reprinted from the edition of 1759 — the only omission being four prose translations from Voltaire.