Page images
PDF
EPUB

LITERARY LEAVES

OR

PROSE AND VERSE

CHIEFLY WRITTEN IN INDIA

BY

DAVID LESTER RICHARDSON

SECOND EDITION

WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. I.

LONDON

W. H. ALLEN & CO. LEADENHALL STREET

1840.

AIMBORLIAD

PR5226 R3L5 1840 vil

TO MRS. G. G. RICHARDSON.

"MAIN

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 ΤΟ DISCOVER THE MERITS OF THE BOOK, SHOULD THERE BE ANY TO REWARD SEARCH-AND THAT YOU WILL OVERLOOK OR EXTENUATE ITS MANY

THE

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 PERSONAL INTERCOURSE WITH THE WRITER, AND THAT, WITH ALL YOUR NATURAL GIFTS AND 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.

[blocks in formation]

PREFACE.

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 consistent 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

« PreviousContinue »