Select poems / by L.H. Sigourney [electronic resource]

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE

TO THE NEW EDITION OF SELECT POEMS.

THE present volume, carefully revised, having received the addition of several poems, and of two illustrative plates, the publishers hope will be thus rendered more acceptable to the public—who have regarded its previous editions with favour, as evinced by the following opinions:

Extract from a Review in the "American Monthly Magazine," N. York.

"Mrs. Sigourney's poems are scarcely less peculiar for their straightforward common sense, their pure and unobtrusive religion, and their deep vein of natural tenderness, than for their correct versification, their harmony, and their true poetry. Very different as she is in her general style from the English Sappho, for so, not absurdly, has Mrs. Hemans been styled, we conceive that there is still something kindred in their spirits. Mrs. Hemans is the high-souled and delicately proud poetess of an old dominion;—her lays are full of the noble chivalry of a state whose associations are of aristocracy; she is the asserter of hereditary nobility,—the nobility of thought, of action, and of soul,—no less than of broad lands and ancient titles; yet withal she has a thousand sweet and simple songs of the cottage and the lowly hearth. Mrs. Sigourney is the Hemans of a republic; and if she rather delights to dwell in the hamlet, to muse over the birth of the rustic infant, or the death of the village mother, it is, that such is the genius of her country,—the boasted associations of her land, are simplicity and freedom;—and as befit the muse of such a land, so are her meditations fain to celebrate the Virtues of her country's children."

From the "American Traveller," Boston.

"No poetess in our country has taken a purer flight through the realms of imagination than Mrs. Sigourney. There is a chaste dignity, a clear sweetness, a devotional delicacy, pervading all her effusions. She instructs while she delights, and elevates while she refines. Every page breathes the life of poetry, and the purity of religion. She pleases the aged and delights the young. The mourner may gather consolation from her musings, the thoughtless find themes for reflection, and the inexperienced may yield their imaginations and their hearts to her guidance, without fear of being betrayed into folly, or misled into error."

Extract from the "New-Hampshire Patriot."

"We are pleased with the liberal spirit of devotion which is scattered through every part of this volume. Whatever we meet with at the hand of man, we are delighted to see the brows of woman adorned with the blossoms of piety. The voice that sows the germs of thought in our minds, should be chastened by the holy influences of religion. The mild, peaceful doctrines of Jesus, should be implanted, before the wild passions of youth grow up. Hence, these poems are fitted for the nursery, as well as the parlour. We hope every woman will peruse them over and over, until she shall imbibe a measure of that spirit which gave them utterance."

From the "Saturday Courier," Philadelphia.

Not "Orient pearls at random strung,"But Western gems in casket set;Words that by seraphs might be sung,And flow'rs by Heaven's own dew drops wet.

"There should be a double pride connected with this beautiful work—a pride in the distinguished authoress, that her fellow countrymen have called for a fourth edition of her lovely gems—and a pride in those countrymen that one of America's daughters possesses the soul and the genius to write them. One word in commendation of Mrs. Sigourney's poems, would be considered unnecessary, as many of them are as familiar as household words. But the very elegant manner in which the publisher has got up the book, calls for special praise. In binding, ornamenting, and plates, it has every appearance of a four or six dollar annual, while in the perennial and sterling character of its letter press, it is worth half a score of them, and costs but about one-third, we believe, of one of them."

From the "Presbyterian," Philadelphia.

"From the many specimens of this lady's poetry, with which we have graced our columns, our readers will before this have concluded that she is with us an especial favourite. And in truth she is. Her pure taste, delicate imagination, piety, and what, in our opinion, is an indispensable attribute of a true poet, her good sense, have won our esteem. This volume contains many beautiful gems, and moreover, they are presented in a very pretty casket."

From the "United States Gazette," Philadelphia.

"The writings of Mrs. Sigourney are familiar to almost every American reader, and the general expression of praise which has been so liberally bestowed by the critic, the savant, and the mere general reader, is such as to warrant us in saying that she possesses more than ordinary merit, and indeed superior excellence characterizes the emanations from her pen. The volume which has just been published by Mr. Biddle, should be in the possession of every female reader in the country—its perusal cannot but excite the purest emotions, and produce the happiest impressions."

It contains poetry of a pure and elevated order, such as cannot but be read with admiration. No one possessing the ordinary attributes of humanity, or whose feelings are in accordance with a healthy sensibility, can peruse these poems without being forcibly struck with their excellence, and reminded of every thought, sensibility and feeling of the soul, of by-gone days, of youthful aspirations, and all those varied impulses of the heart, which at the time were sources of joy or grief, and in their reminiscence bring to the fountain of the soul, sensations, which if even they are of a saddening nature, are 'pleasant to the soul.' "

From the "Scioto Gazette," Chillicothe, Ohio.

"No American lady has written so much, or so well, as the authoress of the beautiful book now before us. None has exercised a better influence upon the minds of her readers. In social life, gentle, courteous, unassuming; warm in her friendships, and wise in her benevolent and well-directed sympathies, as a writer she is all the same. Her works are healthful in their character: and if unmarked by any of those startling flights which seem scarcely consistent with a well-balanced intellect, are yet well sustained and imbued with a pure and a truthful spirit. That several editions of Mrs. Sigourney's "Select Poems" should have been so rapidly demanded, is a gratifying indication of the soundness of the literary tastes of our country. We hope soon to see a complete edition of her prose and poetical works. It would form an indispensable addition to every well-selected American library."