IT seems a foolish thing to send into the world a book requiring a preface of apologies and yet more absurd to presume that any deprecation on the part of the author could possibly win indulgence for what should be in itself worthless. For this reason, and with a very deep feeling of the kindness I have already experienced from the public, I should now abandon these little volumes to their destiny without one word of preface or re- mark, but that a certain portion of their contents seems to require a little explanation. It was the wish and request of my friends, many months ago, that I should collect various literary trifles which were scattered about in print or manuscript, and allow them to be published together. My departure for the Continent set aside this intention for the time. I had other and objects in view, which still keep fuII possession of my mind, and which have been suspended not without reluctance, in order to prepare these volumes for the press -neither had I, while travelling in Germany, the sIightest idea of writing any thing of that country so far from it, that except during the last few weeks at Munich, I kept no regular notes but finding, on my return to England, that many particulars which had strongly excited my interest with regard to the relative state of art and social existence in the two countries appeared new to those with whom I conversed, -after some hesitation, I was induced to throw into form the few memoranda I had made on the spot, They are now given to the public in the first volume of this little collection with a very sincere feeling of their many imperfections, and much anxiety with regard to the reception they are likely to meet with yet in the earnest hope that what has been written in gerfcct simplicity of heart, may be perused both by my English and German friends, particularIy the artists, with indulgence that those who read and doubt may ba awakencd to inquiry, and those who read and believe may be led to reflection and that those who differ from, and those who agree with, the writer, may both find some interest and amusement in the literal truth of the facts and irnpressions she has ventured to record. It was difficuIt to give sketches of art, literature, and character, without making now and then some pesonal allusions but though I have often sketched from the life, I have adhered thoughout to this principle-never to give publicity to any name not already before the public, and in a manner publtc property. While writing this prefa.ce, I learn that the subject of the little sketch at the end of the first volume is expected to return to England beforc she has finally quitted her profession. The first impulse was, of course, to cancel those pages which were, written long and under a far different impression, feeling that their purport might exposc either the gifted person alluded to, or the author to misconstruction....