PREFACE TO THIS EDITION.

Thirty years have passed since the publication of the first edition of the POETS OF AMERICA, and every year has added to the materials of which it was composed. DR. GRISWOLD made such ample use of these additional materials in the different editions through which his work went, that the last issued during his life may be said to have brought the work down to that time. Such being the case, the present editor has confined himself to the period which has since elapsed, and which may be said to have commenced in 1855. His first intention was to have revised DR. GRISWOLD'S volume, correcting any errors that he might discover, and substituting later, and, in some cases, perhaps, better specimens of the authors quoted; but a little reflection convinced him that it was not advisable to do so. DR. GRISWOLD had done this work, and whether it was well done, or ill done, it had taken its place among standard works of the same character. It was an authority, and as such it was not to be rashly disturbed. Had its preparation fallen originally to the present editor, he would probably have given it a different form, and would certainly have dissented from some of DR. GRISWOLD's critical opinions. Fortunately for him, however, this arduous and thankless task was accomplished, and but little remained to be done. Whether this, which was simply to continue DR. GRISWOLD's work to the present time, has been satisfactorily performed, is not for him to decide. He has avoided one fault, or what might have been considered a fault in him; he has expressed no opinions concerning the poets whom he has added to DR. GRISWOLD'S collection.

The reasons which determined this omission on his part, as well as his intention to leave DR. GRISWOLD's own work intact, were submitted to some of his literary friends, who acquiesed in their justice. "If I were in your place," was the advice one gave, "I should not mix my work and GRISWOLD'S, but leave the latter precisely as he left it. Every reader now will want GRISWOLD's book (at least I do), with his biographies, critical remarks, and selections. The latter are as good as necessary, giving, in almost all cases, the author's best and most characteristic poems; while his criticisms would lose their

historical value if meddled with. To be sure he got into a good deal of hot water (there, by the way, is a warning to you, in dealing with the new names,) but all that has passed away. No one can complain if you let his articles stand, while there might be a great deal of complaint if you meddle with them."

"You think of proceeding," another wrote, "in the additions you are to make to GRISWOLD'S AMERICAN POETS, just as I should were I in your place. It would not become a poet to assign to his contemporary brethren the place which they are to hold in our literature, and it would be most ungracious in you to intercept any praise which might otherwise come to them, and to which they would naturally think that they have a fair claim. Poets are a sensitive race, as has been said a million times, beginning with HORACE, and you could not speak disparagingly of any, except the most modest of the tribe, without being suspected, by them at least, of a disposition to stand in the way of rival,merit."

The editor returns his thanks to the poets whom he has added to this collection for information furnished in regard to themselves and their writings, and for permission to select what he chose from the latter. His thanks are especially due to MESSRS. J. R. OSGOOD & Co. for the liberal use they have enabled him to make of various volumes of which they are the publishers, without which this collection could not have been completed.

NEW YORK, Aug. 15th, 1872.

R. H. STODDard.