Author: George Richardson

Publisher:

Published: 2015-07-10

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 9781331106944

Excerpt from Patriotism in Three Cantos; And Other Poems At a period, probably without precedent in the annals of any provincial district, when the press has for some years past, and is still, issuing upon the great ocean of literature a variety of works by persons of acknowledged genius and talent in that sacred emanation of the soul - that pure Castaly of thought which floweth from the inmost fountain of the human heart - Poetry, as well as from the more general votaries to prosaic composition - the Author of the following pages ventures, not obtrusively or arrogantly, he hopes, but with respectful deference, and proper humility, to stand forth. The Author would avoid trifling with the reader's patience, and consequently is not disposed to enter at length into the details of early life; nevertheless, he trusts that a brief and "unvarnished" sketch of his autobiography may not be deemed assumptive or uninteresting. Born in the vicinity of Ancoats, Manchester, of humble, industrious, and respected parents, whose means, at the time of his youth, were scanty, and being one of thirteen, he was, from stern necessity, placed to business at a very early age; yet, whatever may have been his position, he does not desire to excite, by coloured or specious plausibility, any partial consideration, with the view of blunting the barb of criticism for the want of common scholastic knowledge, and the lack of the higher ornamental touches of classical diction; he would prefer, therefore, to submit, with becoming independence, to the candid and impartial critic. Amid his daily labour, the Genii Poetry and Painting, as with emulative spirit, alternately had influence, and in turn triumphed over the mind of the Author; perhaps, however, in his adolescence, the latter held more clearly her dazzling imagery and fascinating mirror before his ideal fancy, and every short relaxation from toil was seized with vigilance for the pencil or crayon, in landscape or figures; whilst the etherial voice and spirit of the former would occasionally rush, as if with divine melody, upon his ear, falling with thrilling influence upon the heart, and issuing thence, with hallowed fervour, through every chord - touching the most minute action and principle of his nature. During a portion of his first business avocation, he had the benefit of educational improvement for a few afternoons in each week at the Academy of Mr. John Reynolds, then of Lever-street, where Mr. William Harper, the Author of "Genius," well and deservedly known and appreciated amongst the literati of Manchester, was a fellow pupil. About the year 1821, being then about fourteen years of age, the Author was placed in a foreign export house of high respectability - a removal very agreeable, and far more genial to his mind, as it afforded more leisure for the pursuance of his favourite study, which was drawing with the pencil or pen, and occasional attempts at water-colouring. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.