My poem may appear to be written in a careless,
off-hand manner — the subjects being suggested chiefly
by passing events — yet it contains the thoughts and



PREFACE. IX

observations of a long life-time. It has, in fact, cost
much labour, but I have endeavoured by art to make
it appear a work performed with ease. It was not
written to suit the views of any sect or party. I have
indulged both in praise and blame, and hit right and
left as I saw occasion. And yet I hope there is so
much variety in the poem that most persons may find
something or other in it to please them. Many, of
course, will not understand the humour which it con-
tains, and be startled at the grotesque ideas inter-
spersed here and there like the gargoyles of a Gothic
edifice, which shock some people's sense of refine-
ment, but which were not without a purpose in the
artist's original design. When my poem comes to be
critically examined, I trust that its qualities as a work
of art will be recognised, and that these qualities will
render it interesting to certain readers who would not
otherwise be attracted to some of the topics which
I have introduced, if those topics were discussed in
a dry didactic discourse. I sincerely hope that the
principles which are advocated in my poem may be
advanced by its means.
Perhaps I may be allowed to add, for the informa-
tion of any of my readers who may be interested in
the auto-biographical portions of my poem, and more
especially as an acknowledgment of my personal grati-



X PREFACE.
