If authors would only adopt the prayer of the honest-hearted Scotch pedlar,—“God send us a good conceit of ourselves!”—would they not soon get rid of what is, at best, a thankless task—that of writing prefaces? Who, then, would care a fig for the Public’s whims or prejudices?—the Public might be satisfied, or not, just as the Public pleased. A great many readers now regard prefaces with abhorrence, and lengthy ones are sure to be pronounced, in advance,

Still, there is no end to fault-finding, if an author does not put a window in the front of his book,—like that the old Roman wished in every man’s breast; and yet, the poor wight who thus pretends to gratify vulgar curiosity, racks and puzzles his brains in order to screen and curtain his window, so that nobody will be a whit the wiser, till the volume is opened, and the contents carefully examined. It is no wonder that few people like to read prefaces,—or that fewer still are satisfied, when they do read them!

I feel confident, however, that it would be a work of supererogation, to offer any apology—for that is the gist of most prefaces—for the publication of these biographical sketches of distinguished generals, whose gallant deeds, whose bravery and heroism, are enshrined in the memories of the American people. My only fear is, that it may seem that other officers, equally entitled to consideration, have been intentionally overlooked, in making the selections for the work. That it was deemed necessary to make a selection at all, is the single excuse that need be offered for the omission,—which, it is not impossible, may be hereafter supplied, by another volume.

The Histories of Ramsay, Perkins, and Brackenridge, Christie’s Memoirs of the War in Canada, Thompson’s Historical Sketches, James’ Military Occurrences, Wilkinson’s Memoirs, The British Annual Register, The Historical Register, Armstrong’s Notices, the interesting, but desultory mélange of Mr. Ingersoll, the National Portrait Gallery, and numerous biographies, more or less extensive, have been consulted in the preparation of the volume. There has been no attempt at fine writing, but great pains have been taken to render the notices full, comprehensive, and historically accurate; and they are believed to be more entitled to confidence, in this respect, than any which have preceded them.