"The most ordinary cause of a single life is liberty, especially in certain self-pleasing and
humorous minds, which are so sensible of every restraint, as they will go near to think
their girdles and garters to be bonds and shackles.-BACON's Essay on Marriage and Sin-
gle Life.

NEW YORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

82 CLIFF STREET.

1848.

DEDICATION.

MY DEAR LADY MORGAN,

I AM induced, both by your friendship and your genius, to present you with this "airy nothing." The criticism of great talents is always gentle, and an offering dictated by sentiments of affection is safe from scrutiny into its intrinsic value. You will not slight even this trifle, but accept it graciously for the sake of

28th September, 1847.

THE AUTHOR.