which more ambitious and extended compositions

naturally challenge.

"The Nightingale may claim the topmost bough;

While the poor grasshopper but chirps below ;

-And he would indeed be a stern censor who reproached the latter with not rivalling the grander or sweeter minstrelsy of the former.

To that more indulgent class of poetical readers whose tastes lead them to seek only a little pure and placid literary amusement after the day's turmoil is over, and who will condescend

"To read from some humble poet,

Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or as tears from the eyelids start;
Who, through long days of labour,

And nights devoid of ease,

Still heard in his soul the music

Of calm sweet melodies.-"

to such I may, without presumption, express a hope that in some of the lyrics now offered they will find relaxation not unmingled with pleasure.

Tendering my grateful acknowledgments to all those who have given me a word of advice or encouragement, and trusting, dear reader, that, should you, in the present collection find little great to admire, you may find perhaps as little greatly to condemn-I venture, with that hope, to "throw them on the waters."

Longfleet, near Poole,

20th September, 1866.

THOMAS COX.