In the Comprehensive History of England, while due preponderance has been allowed to the Civil and Military annals, constituting, as they do, the most distinct and important part of the narrative, special attention has been given to present a History of the People of England, as well as of England itself — of the state of Religion and the progress of Social Refinement, as well as of Conquest and Political Aggrandizement. More particularly, the following subjects have been grouped together in two sections, and suitably detailed at each important period or epoch of the History. The first of these treats of the State of Religion; the second embraces the Industrial Condition of the People and their Agricultural and Mercantile Progress — the Dress, Distinctive Habits and Customs, and the General Aspect of Society at each step of transition — the Progress of Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts; and notices of those individuals by whose unobtrusive labours the several departments of Art, Science, and Literature were improved, and their influence extended over the community at large.
In treating of these subjects, care has been taken neither to be too abstruse nor yet too prolix. Instead, therefore, of entering into a minute record of each custom, art, and science, and thus encumbering the general narrative with disquisitions by which the reader's patience might be too severely tried, the principal points have been selected and introduced, for the purpose of giving strength, distinctness, and continuity to the History, as a Record of the Religious, Intellectual, and Social Progress of English Society.
The Civil and Military section is an abridgment from the Pictorial History of England, by the author of that section, Charles Macfarlane, Esq., and was abridged in order to adjust the Work to the popular taste, as well as means of purchase; this portion has undergone a careful revision by the Editor of the Comprehensive History, in the course of which many emendations have been introduced. Of the chapters on Religion, some are abridged from the Pictorial History with important alterations, while others are specially written for this Work. Besides adding the chapters on the History of Society, above adverted to, and the chapters on Religion just noticed, the Editor has brought down the History from the year 184o to the Suppression of the Sepoy Revolt. Numerous Illustrative Notes have been appended from the works of Bruce, Giles, Turner, Palgrave, Kemble, Lappenberg, Pauli, Hallam, Guizot, Carlyle, Macaulay, Bancroft, and other eminent historical writers. With these alterations and extensive additions, the Comprehensive History of England forms essentially a new production.
The ILLUSTRATIVE ENGRAVINGS, above Eleven Hundred in number, have been carefully prepared, with a view to the real elucidation of the History, and not simply to decorate its pages; though while aiming chiefly at the former, the latter result has not been overlooked. They comprise examples of the interesting Relics of periods long anterior to any written record of the country — Illustrations of the Dwellings, the Shipping, the Armour, Dress, Manners and Customs, and Utensils of our Ancestors at various periods; Views of Historical Sites, Buildings, and Monuments; Maps and Plans of Battles, Battle-fields, Forts, Towns, &c.; Portraits and Statues of Illustrious Persons; and also Engravings on Steel, consisting of a Frontispiece and Vignette Title to each volume, representing important Historical Incidents, and views of some remarkable localities.
With these explanations, the Publishers trust that they have succeeded in presenting a more interesting and Complete GENERAL and FAMILY HISTORY OF ENGLAND than has yet been attempted.
⁂ The Work is completed in 36 Parts, 2s. each, forming four handsome Volumes, super-royal 8vo.
