The Story which occupies this volume was intended originally to be told in verse; and a great portion of it was at first written in that form. This fact, as well as the character, per haps, of the whole work, which a good deal par takes of the cast and colouring of poetry, have been thought sufficient to entitle it to a place in this general collection of my poetical writings. How little akin to romance or poesy were some of the circumstances under which this work was first projected by me, the reader may.