AUTHOR OF OUR VILLAGE," "BELFORD REGIS," &c. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1852. F2432.2 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIF OF DANILL C. FEARING 30 JUNE 1915 LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. е ΤΟ HENRY F. CHORLEY, ESQ. My dear Friend, But for you this book would never have existed. It has been to me throughout a source of great gratification. As I wrote line after line of our fine old Poets, many a cherished scene and many a happy hour seemed to live again in my memory and my heart. But no higher pleasure can it afford me, than the opportunity of expressing to you my sincere respect and admiration for talent, especially dramatic talent not even yet sufficiently known, and for innumerable personal qualities worth all the talent in the world. MARY RUSSELL MITFORD. SWALLOWFIELD, NEAR READING, |