X PREFACE. 



avoid, that it has been used ; but an explanation 

 has been given of this term, for those to whom it 

 is not familiar, in the very first article in the vo- 

 lume, the Acacia. 



It has been observed, and objected against the 

 writer, that, in a former publication, of a similar 

 nature to the present, there was wanting a spirit 

 of religion, and that frequency of grateful reference 

 to the Creator, which would seem naturally to flow 

 from a contemplation of the wonders and beauties 

 of creation. As some conjectures, likely to be 

 injurious to her, have been formed with regard 

 to the cause of this omission, and as the same re- 

 mark may, with equal justice, be made upon the 

 present volume, she feels it necessary to say a few 

 words upon this subject. 



That she has not introduced the subject of re- 

 ligion, is certainly true ; but she thinks it can 

 scarcely be said with justice, that any book is want- 

 ing in a spirit of religion which treats of the beauties 

 of nature and of the pleasures to be derived from 

 them. It is natural to us all to feel grateful to- 

 wards those by whose means we enjoy any portion 



