FINIS.

APPENDIX

In presenting a work of this nature to the reader, the Author takes the opportunity of making an apology for the errors, typographical and otherwise, which may be found therein.  The difficulties under which he labored in procuring the publication of the book at this time, when the principal publishers of the South are so busily engaged in publishing works written in foreign parts, and which cost them nothing but the expense of publication, and the procuring of them through our blockaded ports.  The book which our readers have just completed perusing, is filled with many errors; too many, in fact, for any literary work to contain.  The excuse of the Author for these, is, that at the time the book was in press he was with the Army of Tennessee performing his duties, which prevented him from reading the proof sheets and correcting all mistakes which crept in during composition.  The party on whom devolved the duty of reading the proof performed his work as well as could be expected, for, in some instances, the errors were the fault of the Author, and not that of the printer, who labored under many disadvantages in deciphering the manuscript copy of the book; the greater part of which was written on the battle-field, and under fire of the enemy.  It is thus that in the first page we find an error of the most glaring character possible, but which might have been the Author’s, as well as the printer’s omission.  Thus, the Author is made to say that the “aristocracy” of New Orleans were “well known by that elegance and etiquette which distinguish the parvenu of society.”  Now the intention, as well as the words of the author, represented the “aristocracy” in quite a different light.  That line should have read “that elegance and etiquette which distinguish the well-bred from the parvenu of society, etc.”  Nevertheless, the whole sense of the sentence is destroyed by the omission of the italicised words, and the reader is left to infer that the aristocracy of New Orleans are the parvenu of society; rather, we must admit, a doubtful compliment, and quite in accordance with the following words, which go on to speak of “the vulgar but wealthy class of citizens with which this country is infested.”  Now we do not pretend for a moment to believe that our readers would imagine that we meant the sentence quoted in the sense it appears, and they may, perhaps, pass it over without noticing the errors complained of; but when such errors should not exist they become a source of much annoyance to the author, and could they have been rectified before it was too late, they should never have appeared in print.  In fact, after discovering that an error of so gross a nature existed in the first pages of the book, the author would have had the entire “form” reprinted, had not the extravagant price of paper, and its great scarcity, precluded the possibility of such an idea being carried into effect.  The errors, therefore, remain, and for them we would claim indulgence, although readily admitting that none is deserved.