THE

COUNTRY VICAR;

THE

BRIDE OF THRYBERGH;

AND

OTHER POEMS.

"Ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris."

HOR,

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1825.

PREFACE.

THOUGH few persons, on taking up a work, give themselves the trouble of reading the preface, yet there is generally expected to be one. If the author is altogether negligent in this point, it is often construed into a presumption, that he thinks his lucubrations, from their intrinsic merit, cannot fail of a favourable reception, and therefore he has no need either of endeavouring to obtain the indulgence of the reader, or of