ADVERTISEMENT*
THE performance, with a fragment of which the reader has
now been presented, was designed to consist of three parts.
The preceding sheets were considered as constituting one of
those parts. Those persons who in the perusal of the chapters,
already written and in some degree finished by the author,
have felt their hearts awakened, and their curiosity excited as
to the sequel of the story, will, of course, gladly accept even
of the broken paragraphs and half-finished sentences, which
have been found committed to paper, as materials for the
remainder. The fastidious and cold-hearted critic may perhaps
feel himself repelled by the incoherent form in which
they are presented. But an inquisitive temper willingly accepts
the most imperfect and mutilated information, where
better is not to be had: and readers, who in any degree resemble
the author in her quick apprehension of sentiment, and of
the pleasures
and pains of imagination, will, I believe, find
gratification, in contemplating sketches, which were designed
in a short time to have received the finishing touches of her
genius; but which must now for ever remain a mark to record
the triumphs of mortality, over schemes of usefulness, and
projects of public interest.
