University of Virginia Library

DEDICATORY EPISTLE

With your characteristic good-nature, you were
so indulgent as to copy into your paper, and speak
favourably of, certain fugitive anonymous letters on
Louisiana, of which I was the author, and which
originally appeared in the Natchez Courier in 1836;
suggesting, at the same time, that the writer of
them should imbody his information in a book. The
paper containing this critique was sent to me by a
friend; and I need not inform you, “who have
written,” with what self-gratulation I laid the unction
of your words to my soul, and with what avidity
I committed every good thing you had said of
them to memory. But I was then a fledgling in
type, and had never before trusted my wing to fly
above the gins and snares that editors spread out to
catch young birds withal! To find that I had
alighted in safety made me fancy myself in full
feather, and henceforth I boldly resolved to take
my flight with eagles; in plain words—to write a

book; a thing which, in my innocency, I had never
dreamed of doing. The result of this valorous determination
was shortly afterward made manifest
by the appearance, in 1836, of two volumes under
the title of “The Southwest.”

The first book, like the first sin, is the mother to
a numerous progeny. While collecting materials
for “The Southwest,” I chanced to light upon a
brief account of Lafitte's romantic abode on the
Isle of Barritaria, in the Bay of Caminada. It
struck me that it would afford a fine subject for a
story of Romance. I went to work; and a novel,
which I first denominated the “Buccaneer of Barritaria,”
but afterward called “Lafitte, the Pirate of
the Gulf,” was the fruit of my labours.

I had now gone too deep in literary transgressions
to turn back, and, the CACOETHES SCRIBENDI being
strong upon me, I forthwith wrote a third book, on
the early career of Colonel Burr, under the title of
“Burton, or the Sieges.” “Captain Kyd,” who did
so many wicked deeds “as he sailed,” soon after
made its appearance. And now the “Quadroone”
finishes the list of my offences.

Looking upon you, in some degree, in the light of
my “Peter in Literis,” as having, in a few kindly-penned
lines, which, when I afterward spoke of
them to you, had quite escaped your memory, imboldened
me to aspire to authorship, I now take
pleasure in employing the instrument you have
contributed to furnish for yourself in acknowledging

my indebtedness, and, with your permission, do
hereby cheerfully inscribe your name on the Dedicatory
page thereof.