The _Annual Anthology,_ Vol. I., 1799. Vol. I. of the _Annual Anthology_, edited by Southey for Joseph Cottle, was issued in September, 1799; and that was, I believe, this poem's first appearance as a whole. Early in 1799, however, Charles Lloyd had issued a pamphlet entitled _Lines suggested by the Fast appointed on Wednesday, February 27, 1799_ (Birmingham, 1799), in which, in a note, he quotes a passage from Lamb's poem, beginning, "some braver spirits" (line 23), and ending, "prey on carcasses" (line 36), with the prefatory remark: "I am happy in the opportunity afforded me of introducing the following striking extract from some lines, intended as a satire on the Godwinian jargon." Writing to Southey concerning this poem, Lamb says:-"I can have no objection to you printing 'Mystery of God' [afterwards called 'Living without God in the World'] with my name, and all due acknowledgments for the honour and favour of the communication: indeed, 'tis a poem that can dishonour no name. Now, that is in the true strain of modern modesto vanitas." * * * * * Page 21. _BLANK VERSE_, BY CHARLES LLOYD AND CHARLES LAMB, 1798. Charles Lloyd left Coleridge early in 1797, and was in the winter 1797-1798 living in London, sharing lodgings with James White (Lamb's friend and the author of _Original Letters, etc., of Sir John Falstaff_, 1796). It was then that the joint production of this volume was entered upon. Of the seven poems contributed by Lamb only "The Old Familiar Faces" (shorn of one stanza) and the lines "Composed at Midnight" were reprinted by him: on account, it may be assumed, of his wish not to revive in his sister, who would naturally read all that he published, any painful recollections. Not that she refused in after years to speak of her mother, but Lamb was, I think, sensitive for her and for himself and the family too. As a matter of fact the circumstances of Mrs. Lamb's death were known only to a very few of the Lambs' friends until after Charles' death. It must be remembered that when _Blank Verse_ was originally published, in 1798, Mary Lamb was still living apart, nor was it known that she, would ever be herself again. It was this little volume which gave Gillray an opportunity for introducing Lamb and Lloyd into his cartoon "The New Morality," published in the first number of _The Anti-Jacobin Review and Magazine_ (which succeeded Canning's _Anti-Jacobin_), August 1, 1798. Canning's lines, "The New Morality," had been published in _The Anti-Jacobin_ on July 9, 1798, containing the couplets:-- And ye five other wandering Bards that move In sweet accord of harmony and love, C----dge and S--th--y, L----d, and L----be and Co., Tune all your mystic harps to praise Lepaux!