[Felicia Hemans, poet.] Autograph Poem, with corrections, titled 'The Cross of the South.'

3pp, 4to. Bifolium. On wove paper with Whatman watermark dated 1820. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight loss of paper at one corner of second leaf, resulting in loss of one word of text. Folded twice. From the papers of William Jerdan, editor of the Literary Gazette, who published the poem with one other ('In the Ivy'), in the edition of 23 June 1821, giving the identity of the author given in a footnote: 'We have to thank the elegant pen of MRS. HEMANS, for these two exquisite poems. Ed.' Heman's manuscript is endorsed by Jerdan: 'Poetry origl | 231 | W J | Mrs. Hemans'. The poem - which is preceded by a long epigram from 'Dr Humboldt's travels.' - is thirty-six lines long, arranged in nine four-line stanzas. Pretty much a fair copy, but with three minor emendations. The first stanza reads: 'In the silence and grandeur of midnight I tread, | Where Savannas in boundless magnificence spread, | And bearing sublimely their snow-wreaths on high, | The far Cordilleras unite with the Sky.' There is a short footnote.