Publisher's Preface.

IN placing before the public this first collected edition of RoSCOE'S POEMS, a short account of the motives which induced the publication will probably be deemed necessary.

That Mr. Roscoe had written numerous pleasing poems had long been well known; but having been published many years ago, and in various forms, they became scarce, and difficult to be collected; and even when obtained, they were scattered through so many publications as rendered the reference a tedious task.

When the Roscoe Centenary was first proposed, a suggestion was made that one of Mr. Roscoe's poems, "The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast," should be published; but in view of the above circumstances, and of the merit of the Poems, the present publisher considered a collected edition of them would be suitably received by the public. Not only so, but anxious that his fellowtownsmen should not appear to neglect a phase of Mr. Roscoe's Literary character, in which he is so highly and deservedly esteemed in other places, he resolved that the Literature of this town should no longer be wanting in such respect, and that it should be his mite contributed towards the honour of the occasion. Hence the present publication.

It is also hoped that this publication will furnish another link in our knowledge of the mental and moral history of our gifted townsman. His Historical and other works are the fruit of more mature years, and, as history, are not peculiarly fitted to exhibit the FULL development of the man. But Poetry is at all times an intelligible record of the tone and feeling of the inner life, and even as such alone is peculiarly valuable. From his "Ode to a Liverpool Institution," we should naturally expect to find in him, the cultivated admirer and supporter of the Arts; from his "Wrongs of Africa," the unflinching assertor of human liberty against oppression and injustice; from his Sonnets, the affectionate parent and friend; and from his Hymns and Invocations, the devout and reverent worshipper of the Most High, as manifested in every sphere of His being. And in exact correspondence with these was his life; developing and realising the Apostolic injunction- -"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." To adopt the elegant language of Washington Irving, "He has shut himself up in no garden of thought, no elysium of fancy; but has gone forth into the high-ways and thoroughfares of life; he has planted bowers by the way-side, for the refreshment of the pilgrim and the sojourner, and has opened pure fountains, where the labouring man may turn aside from the dust and heat of the day, and drink of the living streams of knowledge. There is a 6 daily beauty in his life,' on which mankind may meditate and grow better. It exhibits no lofty and almost useless, because inimitable, example of excellence; but presents a picture of active, yet simple and imitable virtues, which are within every man's reach, but which, unfortunately, are not exercised by many, or this world

would be a paradise." "He may be regarded," says the Hon. G. C. Verplanck, “as having almost created his own mind, springing up and forcing its way through a thousand obstacles; as self-prompted, self-sustained, and almost self-educated; conquering every obstacle, and making his own road to fame and fortune; and after becoming one of the ornaments of the nation, turning the whole force of his talents and influence to advance and embellish his native town."

In conclusion, the publisher has to express his obligation to J. A. Picton, Esq.; Joseph Mayer, Esq., F.S.A.; J. Boardman, Esq.; and Mr. W. Nicol, of the Mechanics' Institution, for their kindness in furnishing him with much information, and many of the poems, which otherwise he would have had great difficulty in obtaining.

12, SOUTH CASTLE STREET, LIVERPOOL,

March, 1853.