To turn to the present volume. The _Tales of the Hall_ (Bks. XII-XXII), which occupy its earlier pages are, like the previous _Tales_ contained in Vol. II, printed from the edition of 1823; and the variants are taken from the first edition (1819) and from the “Original MS.” readings given as footnotes in the edition of 1834. The _Posthumous Tales_ are printed from Vol. VIII of the _Poetical Works of Crabbe_ edited by his son (1834). The sources of the variants in the _Posthumous Tales_ will be indicated immediately. With regard to the remaining contents of the present volume, it may be convenient if I here, in accordance with a promise made in the Preface to Vol. II of the present edition, furnish some account of the Crabbe MSS. now in the possession of the Cambridge University Press, as well as of certain other collections of MSS. of which I have been fortunate enough to be allowed to make use. In each case, I have, for purposes of reference, indicated the marks by which, in a list given at the end of the Bibliography included in the present volume, the previously unpublished pieces by Crabbe, here printed from transcripts of the originals in the several collections, have been distinguished. The MS. books acquired by the Cambridge University Press (U.P.) are five in number. One of these, half-bound in red, is throughout in Crabbe’s handwriting, and contains, together with fragments of the _Posthumous Tales_ I, III, VI, VII and X, and a version of _Lines written at Warwick_ (p. 428), in each case offering some variants which have been duly noted, _Joseph’s Dream_ (p. 521) and some other pieces now printed for the first time. The writing, partly in pen, partly in pencil, on the first and the last four pages of this volume, has been disregarded, as not sufficiently coherent to warrant an attempt at printing it. A note superscribed “Duchess of Rutland, Oct. 11th, 1824” (perhaps the lines in question were written in the Duchess’s album) states that the verses here entitled _On a View of Barford_ (p. 505) refer to a picture drawn by Miss Bagot of that house, when occupied by Mr and Mrs Mills. This note further states that _An Inscription at Guy’s Cliff_ which Crabbe has marked as “By ——,” and the verses added by him (p. 504) refer to a picture of Guy’s Cliff near Leamington, the property of Mr Bertie Greathead. Another note explains that the verses _On a Drawing of Cadlands_ (p. 518) refer to a picture of Mr Drummond’s seat of that name by Lady Elizabeth Drummond; and that the “drawing by the Hon. Mrs. Smith (Eliza Forrester)” (p. 519) consisted of “a Landscape and other pieces.” This MS. book also contains an earlier copy of the lines entitled _La Femme Jalouse_ (p. 507). The last three stanzas of the poem on a drawing of _Brompton Park Cottage_ (p. 506) are added from the version given in this MS. book. From it are also taken a few readings in the stanzas _For the Drawing of the Lady in the Green Mantle_ (p. 520). From it is also