yet I have endeavoured occasionally to supply the want of his cherishing beams, by working up my poetical fervor to an unusual glow; from thinking, whatever other people may imagine, that I have by fits and starts, a tolerable good knack at versifying, and possess some small share of poetic fire.

I shall incorporate Mrs. Day's poetry with her Husband's, by numbering the pages as if it were a conti nuation of his, (though all Mr. Day's detached pieces of poetry worth publishing I have now printed,) because, as in life their whole souls were wrapped up in each other, I think it congenial with their mutual ardent affection, that their minds embodied, as it were, by printing their poetry, should appear united upon paper; and I am sure, if their departed spirits could see what was doing here below, and had no objection to my printing a few of their poetical blossoms, they would approve of such an union.

It was from the extraordinary similarity in their taste, disposition, and understanding, from their hearts and minds being so exactly in unison, that I have not written

an

an epitaph or memento of Mrs. Day's death, and not from want of poetic inspiration, or zealous affection; I considered an epitaph on her, would be only an enumeration of similar virtuous qualities with those of her deceased Husband, and therefore, though her death was as heartfelt, irreparable a loss to her friends as her Husband's to his, I did not give way to the impulse of grief by writing one, supposing what I had said of Mr. Day's mind and disposition in my epitaph upon him, would apply as much to his surviving wife, as to himself, touching all those excellent and great mental qualifications, which may be alike possessed by either sex. I have therefore always considered my verses on Mr.Day's death, in some measure as applicable to both.

The pleasing simplicity which prevails through Mrs. Day's poetry, whatever its poetical merits may be, is an exact and faithful representation of the genuine goodness of her heart, and the unaffected simplicity of her manners, as all who had the pleasure of knowing her will acknowledge; which characteristic occasioned her an unusual number of sincere female friends, ardent in their friendship to her, as the sun at noon-day. Her piety

D 2

piety too, which forms so distinguishing a feature in almost all her juvenile productions, appears as ardent as their friendship:

That her friendship kept pace with that of her friends, and throbbed with as strong and quick pulses, I am thoroughly convinced of from my own experience.

Characters of some of Mrs. Day's most intimate Friends, written when she was

fourteen.

CHARACTER OF MISS A. W.

PURE exalted Soul, that's richly fraught
With native sense, and dignity of thought:
Tun'd to those finer feelings of the breast,
By numbers feign'd, but ah! by few possest.
Her's, tender softness mix'd with gen'rous fire,`
And all that heartfelt goodness can inspire.
Her friendship strong, and ardent as her soul,
Fix'd as magnetic needle to the Pole;
Whilst scorning all the varying forms of ait,
Truth is the sacred inmate of her heart.
Thus would my pen that mental image trace,
Which nothing e'er can from my mind efface,

CHARACTER OF

MISS P. W.

IN her the head and heart their treasures blend,
With sense to charm, and worth to fix the friend,
Enlighten'd knowledge, deep reflexion join'd
To polish'd taste, and elegance of mind.
Her virtues flow, pure from their parent source,
Religion's vital, animating force;

And all her passions Reason's voice obey,
The willing captives of such gentle sway.
Tho' oft unable to relieve distress,
She feels the warm expanded wish to bless,
That sacred wish ascends the realms above,
A grateful off'ring to the God of Love.

CHARACTER