Collins's Poems

Mr. John Ragsdale, of Richmond, in Surrey, who was the intimate friend

of Collins, states that some of his Odes were written while on a visit

at his, Mr. Ragsdale's house. The poet, however, had such a poor opinion

of his own productions, that after showing them to Mr. Ragsdale, he

would snatch them from him, and throw them into the fire; and in this

way, it is believed, many of Collins's finest pieces were destroyed.

Such of his Odes as were published, on his own account in 1746, were not

popular; and, disappointed at the slowness of the sale, the poet burnt

the remaining copies with his own hands.



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