Of the Poems in this class, "THE EVENING WALK" and "DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES" were first published in 1793. They are reprinted with some unimportant alterations that were chiefly made very soon after their publication. It would have been easy to amend them, in many passages, both as to sentiment and expression, and I have not been altogether able to resist the temptation: but attempts of this kind are made at the risk of injuring those characteristic features, which, after all, will be regarded as the principal recommendation of juvenile poems. EXTRACT FROM THE CONCLUSION OF A POEM, Composed upon leaving School. DEAR native Regions, I foretell My soul will cast the backward view, Thus, when the Sun, prepared for rest, A lingering light he fondly throws On the dear mountain-tops where first he rose. |