I have included in the Bibliography the accounts of visits paid to Wordsworth by certain well-known Americans, a half-dozen poems on Wordsworth, and three or four unpublished Lectures.

I am exceedingly grateful to the many who (to my surprise) have answered my questions, and have given me of their valuable time. I am especially indebted to Mr. George P. Philes, of Philadelphia, and also to Mr. F. Saunders of the Astor Library, New York. Dean Murray of Princeton rendered me exceedingly gracious service, and but for Mr. Edwin H. Woodruff of Stanford University, California, I should not have known how or where to begin my investigations.

In all probability my work is not perfect. I would that it were. I only know that I have been enabled, by enthusiasm alone, to lay a foundation for Wordsworth Bibliography in America, that may be an assistance to future scholars, and will aid the next Wordsworthian who is brave enough to build enduringly.

C. M. St. John.

I
AMERICAN EDITIONS OF WORDSWORTH

INCLUDING A FEW WORKS WHICH ARE NOT STRICTLY EDITIONS OF WORDSWORTH

I have endeavoured to include in this list every distinctive American edition of Wordsworth, published during the poet’s lifetime, and since his death. There are many others, issued with the imprints of honourable publishers; which, upon investigation, were found to be English reprints; to say nothing of those editions made from worn-out plates, and issued by houses of less reputation for honourableness. I was puzzled to account for so many editions of Matthew Arnold’s Selections, some of them bearing the imprint of Harper Brothers, some of Macmillan, and several of Crowell. The Harpers wrote me that these various publications were possible in view of the fact that there was no copyright of the work, and that all of them might properly be called American Editions. I have not placed those bearing the Macmillan imprint, of course, among purely American editions. Nor have I included the several cheap ones of Crowell. The one of Crowell, given in the list, is copyrighted by the Crowell Company.

The fact that the introduction of Wordsworth’s poetry into America is so easily authenticated, and that the history of it is so concise, is my apology for deviating from ordinary bibliographical rule in including among the regular editions certain numbers of America’s first Literary Journal, and two or three other volumes.

I have confined myself to a simple chronological arrangement of the Editions, with place of imprint, name of publisher, number, and size of volumes. This makes the most convenient list for easy reference, especially as I have tried to mention technical points of difference.