THE

TALE

OF

A MODERN GENIUS;

OR,

THE MISERIES OF PARNASSUS.

IN A SERIES OF LETTERS.

"His was indeed such wayward doom
As seldom 'gainst man's sins is hurled;
His horoscope was dashed with gloom,
His cloud came with him to the world
And clipped him round, and weighed him down,
A deep, revokeless malison!"

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

LONDON:

J. ANDREWS, 167, NEW BOND STREET.

CONTENTS.

VOL. III.

LETTER LXXVI.-THE Epic Poem completed

-uncertainty of its publication-joy at see-

ing the first sheet from the press.-Attempts

a school.-Hopes depending on the reviewers

of the day,.....

LETTER LXXVII.-The author travels to sell

the copies which remain on hand.--Miss O'

Keefe. ---The city of Winchester-its antiqui-

ties, &c.-The poor Cornish bard,

......

LETTER LXXVIII.-Rambles in the West of

England. Storm.-The Poet Laureate.-

Visits Paignton again.-Sectarian preachers.

-Lines on reaching the spot where the au-

thor last parted with Mary.-Carrington, the

poet.-A quack doctor turned historian,...

LETTER LXXIX.-From Mr. R

to Sylva-

ticus.-Dr. Turton's opinion of the author's

poem,

PAGE.

1

7

20

LETTER LXXX.-The author's arrival again in

Cornwall.-Polwhele and the Truro poetas-

ters.-The Pursuit of Pharoah, a poem,....

LETTER LXXXI.-From Mr. Welch to Sylva-

ticus-his opinion of the author's poem,....

LETTER LXXXII.-Arrival in London of the

author with testimonials of his work-visits

the booksellers.-Letters from some of the

London critics on its merits.-The Rev. H.

H. Milman's opinion,

LETTER LXXXIII.-Highly successful.-Sells

the copyright of his poem, and obtains per-

mission to dedicate the second edition to His

Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex,

LETTER LXXXIV. From the Rev. J. Allport

to Sylvaticus-his opinion of the merits of the

author's poem,

LETTER LXXXV.-The author returns home in

high spirits to his little school.-Commences

a second Epic.-The haunted house, a village

ghost story,

LETTER LXXXVI.—Unfavourable news from

the London booksellers.-Intends to set out

again to London, with first part of his new

Epic,

PAGE.

34

41

45

50

52

55

63

LETTER LXXXVII.-From Messrs. P. and M.,

declining to publish it,

Maria.-Disappointed everywhere, but em-

ployed to write a little volume of poems for

juvenile readers,- Encouraged to write a

Tragedy,

LETTER LXXXIX.-Returns to L, finds

his school much diminished.—Great distress.

PAGE.

66

-Writes a Tragedy—a friend's opinion of it,

-The piece sent to Drury-Lane-Elliston

refuses it. Leaves home.--A sad parting.-

Reaches London.-MS. refused by all the

booksellers-unexpectedly meets Mr. K-,

who agrees for the MS. and pays a sum in

advance, with which he again reaches home, 73

LETTER XC.-Disappointed in Mr. K.—sinks

under accumulated disappointments,

LETTER XCI.-From the Rev. Mr. Allport to

the author, with cheering encouragement and

relief, .

LETTER XCII.—From the same, with brighten-

ing prospects,

cess on behalf of the author,

LETTER XCIII.-From the same-further suc-

84

87

89

90