Inclos'd are verses which Emma sat down to write, her first,
on the eve after your departure. Of course they are only for
Mrs. H.'s perusal. They will shew you at least that one of
our party is not willing to cut old friends. What to call
'em I don't know. Blank verse they are not, because of the
rhymes.--Rhimes they are not, because of the blank verse.
Heroics they are not, because they are lyric, lyric they are
not, because of the Heroic measure. They must be called EMMAICS.--

* * * * *

The full charm of the long early letters, with their pleasant
expatiations on literary themes can scarcely be sampled without doing
violence. The various editions in which the letters are obtainable
will be found referred to in the bibliographical list at the end of
this little book. In illustration of their continued appreciation it
may be mentioned that three editions have been published during the
past year or so, each of which contains letters denied to the others.
The latest edition--that of Mr. E. V. Lucas--is also the fullest, both
in the number of letters included and in the elaboration of its
annotatory matter.

* * * * *

[Illustration: Holograph letter to John Clare, "the Peasant Poet."
Reduced facsimile from the original in the British Museum.]

[Transcript of the Handwritten Letter To John Clare.]