by several little fancy pieces scattered among her familiar letters. Even her conversation was often enlivened with these graceful sports of wit and imagination. Of the three Pamphlets now republished among her Prose Works, the editor has only to observe, that though composed on particular occasions, these pieces were not formed to pass away with those occasions: they treat of subjects permanently interesting to the champion of religious liberty, to the conscientious patriot, and to the christian worshiper,—and they so treat of them, that while English eloquence is made a study, while English literature is not forgotten, their praise shall live, their memory shall flourish. It only remains to speak of her familiar letters. These were certainly never intended by herself to meet the public eye. She kept no copies of them; and it is solely by the indulgence of her correspondents or their representatives, an indulgence for which she here desires to offer her grateful acknowledgements, that the editor has been enabled to give them to the world. She flatters herself that their publication will not be considered as a trespass either against the living or the dead: some of them, particularly a considerable proportion of those addressed to Dr. Aikin, seemed to claim insertion as biographical records; and those written during her residence in France, in the years 1785 and 1786, appeared no less curious and valuable at the present day for the matter they contain, than entertaining and agreeable from the vivacity with which they are written. But it was impossible not to be influenced also by the desire of thus communicating to those admirers of Mrs. Barbauld's genius who did not enjoy the advantage of her personal acquaintance, a just idea of the pointed and elegant remark, the sportive and lambent wit, the affectionate spirit of sympathy, and the courteous expression of esteem and benevolence, which united to form at once the graces of her epistolary style and the inexpressible charm of her conversation. Mrs. Barbauld composed at different periods a considerable number of miscellaneous pieces for the instruction and amusement of young persons, especially females, which will appear in a separate form about the close of the present year. Hampstead, June 20th, 1825. POEMS. CORSICA. WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1769. A manly race Of unsubmitting spirit, wise and brave; Who still through bleeding ages struggled hard Too much in vain! THOMSON. HAIL, generous Corsica! unconquered isle ! The fort of freedom; that amidst the waves Stands like a rock of adamant, and dares The wildest fury of the beating storm. And are there yet, in this late sickly age, B Such bold exalted spirits? Men whose deeds, To the bright annals of old Greece opposed, Would throw in shades her yet unrivaled name, And dim the lustre of her fairest page! In this lone speck of earth! this spot obscure, And kindle at a fire so like their own? Such were the working thoughts which swelled the breast Of generous Boswel; when with nobler aim |