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to look upon the beautiful world around, and feel ourselves a link in the great chain of Nature's complicate machinery.

It may somewhat surprise you, to find the timid girl, you once knew, thus departing from the quiet tenor of her way, and proclaiming her sentiments, uncalled for, to the world. Some years, since that time, have passed-years which, to her, have been years of contact with the world, though a limited portion of it: and those periods of revolving Time, though "short in retrospect they seem," sometimes have the power of transforming even characters of firmer mould, and more decided tone, than was hers. But, whatever changes the lapse of time may bring, methinks there will ever remain one green spot in my heart's affections, where grateful remembrance will dwell, of those friends who bore with kindness the errors of my youth, and extended to me in later years the benefit of their counsel and advice.

E. L.

PREFACE.

THE observations herein lightly thrown together have been gathered from a few years' experience, and an early entrance into scholastic life. It may be thought that I have announced my sentiments with a degree of decision and boldness unbecoming a novice in the arena of literature. Sensible, that, in thus daring to present my objections to the ruling spirit of the age, something of presumption may be imputed to me, yet I consider that the opinions, even of the meanest individual, may sometimes bear the impress of truth.

While I trust my heart will ever be open, and my hand ready, to soothe and alleviate the dis

tresses and calamities of the poor, I cannot advocate that, which, it is my firm conviction, will only add poignancy to the inevitable sufferings of their lot.

That my observations are what their title proclaims them to be, "Discursive Remarks," I must confess, and, consequently, wanting that concentration of thought, and accuracy of arrangement, which the subject requires. But I shelter myself under the universally-acknowledged fact, that "the inability to grasp a whole, is one of the predominant defects of the female mind."

I have not scrupled to avail myself, by quotation, of remarks from other writers: for when I met with my own sentiments expressed with more perspicuity and point than I could hope to represent them, I considered it would be an injustice to the subject, and a deprivation to the reader, to refrain from inserting them.

The incessant calls of duty upon my time and attention may be urged as some apology for brevity and unconnectedness of style: indeed, I have flown

to the exercise of my pen, as to a recreation only to be indulged within prescribed bounds: and to the compilation of this little work am I indebted for the enjoyment of many of the early morning hours of the returning spring.

GREAT MARLOW, BUCKS.
May 31, 1841.

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