Text: William M. Griswold, “[Prefatory Note],” Passages from the Correspondence and Other Papers of Rufus W. Griswold, Cambridge, MA: W. M. Griswold, 1898, p. 3

[page 3, unnumbered:]

It is not expected that many persons will be interested in the small talk of authors and journalists of fifty years ago, especially as the literary history of the time is neither respected by scholars nor favored by fashion. It is possible, however, that the time may come when this period will be that deserving of more careful study, and in that case these documents may be found of value.