Mrs.Kinney, to whom it is addressed, was the wife of the Hon.

William Burnett Kinney, who was United States Minister at the Court of Sardinia in 1851.

After his term of office he removed to Florence, for the purpose of producing an historical work, but he did not live to accomplish it.

Mrs.Kinney, who was herself a poet, was also the mother of the well-known American poet and critic, Mr.E.C.

Stedman.[51] * * * * * _To Mrs.W.B.