The kingdom gained, and other poems

Preface

\ J HEN the manuscript for my first book of poems was sent to '' ^ the press, my mind was fully made up to write no more. But after the book was published and many of them sold, the solicitation of friends was so strong to continue to write that I was over-persuaded to do what 1 thought I had rightly decided not to do.

As I was not educated for a poet, and having spent thirty-two years of the best of my life in the mercantile business, I felt that it would be imposing on a generous public to write and publish another book.

But having disposed of nearly all of the first edition of a thousand books, and hoping that something better may be found in the next, I was led to undertake the great responsibility of coming before the public again with another book. If no one is benefited, then my work is lost. But if this book should please and benefit only a few, I should then feel that the unwritten blank left for me by this world will at least bear some traces of good ; and the highest hopes of your

friend and servant will have been realized.

The Authoe.