R3LS
1840
vil /
"MAIN

TO MRS. G. G. RICHARDSON.

MY DEAR AUNT,

ON THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THIS WORK I ADDRESSED IT TO ALL MY

PERSONAL FRIENDS WITHOUT DISTINCTION, BUT I DEDICATE THE PRESENT

EDITION EXCLUSIVELY TO YOURSELF.

I FEEL ASSURED THAT YOUR KIND

PARTIALITY WILL INDUCE YOU TO ACCEPT THE COMPLIMENT, SUCH AS IT IS,

IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT IS OFFERED-THAT YOU WILL DELIGHT

TO

DISCOVER THE MERITS OF THE BOOK, SHOULD THERE BE ANY TO REWARD

THE

SEARCH-AND THAT YOU WILL OVERLOOK OR EXTENUATE ITS

MANY

IMPERFECTIONS.

TO BE ABLE TO FLATTER MYSELF WITH THE HOPE, THAT IN PERUSING

THE FOLLOWING PAGES IT WILL SEEM TO YOU AS THE RENEWAL OF A PER

SONAL INTERCOURSE WITH THE WRITER, AND THAT, WITH ALL YOUR NATURAL

GIFTS

ELEGANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU WILL DERIVE SOME LITTLE

PLEASURE FROM HIS HUMBLE LABOURS, IS A GRATIFICATION THAT MAY

EVEN ALLEVIATE THE PAIN OF ABSENCE.

THE YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED SINCE WE LAST MET, AND THE VAST WORLD

OF WATERS NOW ROLLING BETWEEN US, HAVE HAD NO OTHER EFFECT UPON

MY HEART THAN TO MAKE IT YEARN TOWARDS YOU WITH A MORE IMPATIENT

AND IRREPRESSIBLE AFFECTION.

BELIEVE ME TO REMAIN,

WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT AND GRATITUDE,

YOUR FRIEND AND NEPHEW,

D. L. RICHARDSON.

COSSIPORE, JANUARY, 1840.

250866

I PUBLISHED the first edition of this work with fear and

trembling; and though I have somewhat less anxiety on the present occasion, I am very far indeed from feeling confident of success. The

very

kind and favorable terms in which both the London and Calcutta critics have been pleased to speak of my productions, and the many flattering and most valuable letters that I have received from my native country from authors of unquestionable genius and high celebrity, and to most of whom I am personally a stranger, have encouraged me to publish this new editionthe first being out of print. I could wish it were consis-. tent with delicacy to mention the names of those eminent individuals who have condescended to recognize the claims of an obscure countryman in a foreign land. But though, if it were fitting, I should eagerly adduce such authorities in my favor, and it might possibly be attributed to vanity or presumption, I can safely say that I should be actuated by a very different feeling. They who are confident of their own merits do not readily admit the necessity of such support.

Besides, I know how much should be deducted from the praises of a private correspondent, even when that correspondent is a stranger, and has no other