- ... To a Lady, whose singing resembled that of an absent Sister 164 то WASHINGTON IRVING, ESQUIRE. DEAR SIR: Since the publication of my daughter Margaret's Poems, I have been solicited to revive the writings of my lamented Lucretia. The public has manifested so much interest, and expressed such unqualified admiration of their merits, and so much forbearance in criticising the errors of these juvenile productions, that I feel myself, in a measure, bound to comply with their wishes. As a testimony of my grateful respect, will you permit me, sir, to dedicate this little volume to you, with the sincere and united thanks of my family, for the truly touching and elegant manner in which you have executed your voluntary task. I am called upon for a life of my Lucretia. Broken as I am in health and spirits, I am not equal to the effort; but the kindness of Miss Sedgwick has obviated that difficulty, and I am happy in being able to substitute the following elegantly written memoir from the pen of that highly gifted lady, which is incorporated in Sparks's American Biography, for the broken and unconnected narrative which a griefworn, and almost broken-hearted mother would have produced |