The following work falls somewhat short of its title and original intention. It was proposed by my friend, Mr. Hunt, to publish a series of papers in the Examiner, in the manner of the early periodical Essayists, the Spectator and Tatler. These papers were to be contributed by various persons on a variety of subjects; and Mr. Hunt, as the Editor, was to take the characteristic or dramatic part of the work upon himself. I undertook to furnish occasional Essays and Criticisms; one or two other friends promised their assistance; but the essence of the work was to be miscellaneous. The next thing was to fix upon a title for it. After much doubtful consultation, that of THE ROUND TABLE was agreed upon as most descriptive of its nature and design. But our plan had been no sooner arranged and entered upon, than Buonaparte landed at Frejus, _et voila la Table Ronde dissoute_. Our little congress was broken up as well as the great one; Politics called off the attention of the Editor from the _Belles Lettres_; and the task of continuing the work fell chiefly upon the person who was least able to give life and spirit to the original design. A want of variety in the subjects and mode of treating them, is, perhaps, the least disadvantage resulting from this circumstance. All the papers, in the two volumes here offered to the public, were written by myself and Mr. Hunt, except a letter communicated by a friend in the seventeenth number. Out of the fifty-two numbers, twelve are Mr. Hunt’s, with the signatures L. H. or H. T. For all the rest I am answerable. W. HAZLITT. _January 5, 1817._ CONTENTS PAGE On the Love of Life 1 On Classical Education 4 On the Tatler 7 On Modern Comedy 10 On Mr. Kean’s Iago 14 On the Love of the Country 17 On Posthumous Fame.—Whether Shakspeare was influenced by a Love of it? 21 On Hogarth’s Marriage a-la-mode 25 The Subject continued 28 On Milton’s Lycidas 31 On Milton’s Versification 36 On Manner 41 On the Tendency of Sects 47 On John Buncle 51 On the Causes of Methodism 57