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At the N.W. Corner of Walnut and Dock-street.

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1802.

15 AUG 1958

ADVERTISEMENT.

A

T the same time that the Editor begs leave to offer the following as the cause of the little delay that has taken place in the Publication of these Poems, he begs also respectfully to present his Thanks to those who have been pleased to favour them with their encouragement by Subscription.

So rapid appears to have been the Sale of these Poems in London after the Publication of the SECOND VOLUME the last summer, that another Edition has been already since published. This, containing the following lengthy PREFACE, the beautiful ODE TO LOVE, and sɔme additional explana tory NOTES, more than the former Edition, did not reach this Country till after the present one had been put to Press, and the First Volume nearly finished. Some little delay, has arisen from this circumstance, but, at the same time, it has enabled the Editor to give the Work compleat, which otherwise would not have been the case; and though attended with considerable more expence than he calculated upon when he put it to press, it will be delivered to the Subscribers at the Price mentioned in his Proposals. The only difference that now exists between this and the last London Edition is, that the Poem entitled the CONVICT is retained in this Edition, but omitted in that, and that the Arrangement of the Poems in the First Volume somewhat differs. The Reader, however, by turning to them as they follow in the preceding Table of Contents, will have them as they are arranged in the last London Edition.

PHILADELPHIA,
January, 1802. S

JAMES HUMPHREYS.

PREFACE.

THE First Volume of these Poems has already been submitted to general perusal. It was published as an experiment which, I hoped, might be of some use to ascertain, how far, by fitting to Metrical arrangement a selection of the real language of men in a state of vivid sensation, that sort of pleasure and that quantity of pleasure may be imparted, which a Poet may rationally endeavour to impart.

I had formed no very inaccurate estimate of the probable effect of those Poems: I flattered myself, that they who should be pleased with them would read them with more than common pleasure; and on the other hand I was well aware, that by those who should dislike them they would be read with more than common dislike. The result has differed from my expectation in this only, that I have pleased a greater number than I ventured to hope I should please.

For the sake of variety, and from a consciousness of my own weakness, I was induced to request the assistance of a friend, who furnished me with the Poems of the ANCIENT MARINER, the FOSTER MOTHER'S TALE, the NIGHTINGALE, the DUNGEON, and the Poem entitled Love. I should not however, have requested this assistance, had I not believed, that the Poems of my friend would, in a great measure, have the same tendency as my own, and that though there would be found a difference, there would be found no discordance in the colours of our style; as our opinions on the subject of Poetry do almost entirely coincide.

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