In the late 1700's the Poughkeepsie
Journal occasionally printed contributions of poetry and prose signed "R," some of which have been ascribed by descendants to local farmer and surveyor
Henry Livingston, Jr. Here's an otherwise uncredited poem forwarded by "R." under the title "To KITTY with a painted Fan," and published in the Poughkeepsie
Journal on November 11, 1788. In the Poughkeepsie
Journal, "R." describes himself as "the Editor" (rather than author) of the poem and does not say who wrote it. The same poem had appeared over the signature of "J. G." more than thirty years before, in the March 1750 number of
The Gentleman's Magazine. The prose intro and body of the poem are essentially the same in both
versions. The only significant revision made by "R." the Poughkeepsie
"Editor" was to change the name of the addressee from "Mira" to "Kitty."
"To Mira" was reprinted under its original title in
The Lady's Preceptor (London, 1792), compiled by "Mr. Cresswick."
· Tue, Nov 11, 1788 – Page 4 · Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Newspapers.com
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