"Southwell, Jan. 13. 1807. "I ought to begin with _sundry_ apologies, for my own negligence, but the variety of my avocations in _prose_ and _verse_ must plead my excuse. With this epistle you will receive a volume of all my _Juvenilia_, published since your departure: it is of considerably greater size than the _copy_ in your possession, which I beg you will destroy, as the present is much more complete. That _unlucky_ poem to my poor Mary[57] has been the cause of some animadversion from _ladies in years_. I have not printed it in this collection, in consequence of my being pronounced a most _profligate sinner_, in short, a '_young Moore_,' by ----, your ---- friend. I believe, in general, they have been favourably received, and surely the age of their author will preclude _severe_ criticism. The adventures of my life from sixteen to nineteen, and the dissipation into which I have been thrown in London, have given a voluptuous tint to my ideas; but the occasions which called forth my muse could hardly admit any other colouring. This volume is _vastly_ correct and miraculously chaste. Apropos, talking of love,... "If you can find leisure to answer this farrago of unconnected nonsense, you need not doubt what gratification will accrue from your reply to yours ever," &c. To his young friend, Mr. William Bankes, who had met casually with a copy of the work, and wrote him a letter conveying his opinion of it, he returned the following answer:-- LETTER 10. TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES. "Southwell, March 6. 1807. "Dear Bankes, "Your critique is valuable for many reasons: in the first place, it is the only one in which flattery has borne so slight a part; in the _next_, I am _cloyed_ with insipid compliments. I have a better opinion of your judgment and ability than your _feelings_. Accept my most sincere thanks for your kind decision, not less welcome, because totally unexpected. With regard to a more exact estimate, I need not remind you how few of the _best poems_, in our language, will stand the test of _minute_ or _verbal_ criticism: it can, therefore, hardly be expected the effusions of a boy (and most of these pieces have been produced at an early period) can derive much merit either from the subject or composition. Many of them were written under great depression of spirits, and during severe indisposition:--hence the gloomy turn of the ideas. We coincide in opinion that the '_poësies érotiques_' are the most exceptionable; they were, however, grateful to the _deities_, on whose altars they were offered--more I seek not.