PREFACE. THE following poems form the first literary venture of a very young authoress, and were composed for her own amusement, principally in the long winter evenings, when, for want of light, she was unable to continue her usual occupation of miniature portrait painting. The preceding she offers as a reason for writing the poems;—if she should be called upon to give one for publishing them, she would feel honestly inclined at once to plead vanity, which, though a species of vice, is far more excusable in any one than the deprecatory and fashionable style of fibbing, so frequently adopted in prefaces to the first productions of authors, whether in verse or prose. However, the book is written, is published; and the authoress can only add, that if they who read, derive any amusement from it, she will feel truly gratified; if they do not, she will be consoled by the reflection, that she certainly is not the first, and will not be the last, who has written verses only to spoil paper. As respects the plates, she has only to observe, that they are her first attempts in etching upon copper. |