proficiency in literary composition. Many of my minor pieces have
already seen the light in local and other newspapers, etc., and acting
on the advice of several literary friends I have at last gathered my
principal poems together in a permanent form. Should this effort not
meet with public favor, the offense--if such it be--is not likely to be
repeated, as I am now over sixty-five years of age. Many of the
productions of my humble Muse were conceived, and in a great measure
composed, while working at the bench--to which I am still confined, in
order to provide for my family's needs.

If the advice of Pope to some of the Rhymers of his day was needful,
viz., "to keep their effusions for _seven years_," I can say truly
most of mine have been kept that period nearly four times over. I would
not have the reader imagine that they have necessarily grown better by
being on the shelf; still this has afforded an opportunity for
polishing them up in some measure.

I may further say my "Emigrant Mechanic" was nearly or quite finished
before Mr. McLachlan's "Emigrant" was published, and before I had ever
heard of "The U. E.," a beautiful and very interesting Emigrant poem by
Mr. Kerby, of Niagara.

My warmest thanks are due the Rev. W. W. Smith, of Newmarket, Ont., for
his kindness in undertaking the preparation of these pages for the
press. Also for many valuable emendations.

Such as they are I send forth my unlearned rhymes, with the earnest
prayer that they may benefit the reader as much as they have benefitted
me, for I can say in the words of Coleridge, "Poetry has been to me its
own exceeding great reward."