[ vi ]
voice of Praise, may at least arrest the arm of censure. A considerable portion of these poems has been privately printed, at the request, and for the perusal of my friends. I am sensible that the partial, and, frequently, injudicious admiration of a social circle, is not the criterion by which poetical genius is to be estimated, yet, "to do greatly," we must "dare greatly;" and I have hazarded my reputation and feelings in publishing this volume. "I have pass'd the Rubicon," and must stand or fall by the "cast of the die." In the latter event I shall submit without a murmur, for, though not without solicitude for the fate of these effusions, my expectations are by no means sanguine. It is probable that I may have dared much, and done little; for, in the words of Cowper, "It is one thing to write what may please our friends, who, because they are such, are apt to be a little biass'd in our favour, and another, to write what may please every body, because they who have no connection, or even knowledge of the author, will be sure to find fault if they can." To the truth of this, how-
