The Project Gutenberg eBook of The first of May: a new version of a celebrated modern ballad This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: The first of May: a new version of a celebrated modern ballad Author: Anna H. Drury Release date: June 16, 2021 [eBook #65625] Most recently updated: October 18, 2024 Language: English Credits: Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FIRST OF MAY: A NEW VERSION OF A CELEBRATED MODERN BALLAD *** THE FIRST OF MAY A NEW VERSION OF A CELEBRATED MODERN BALLAD BY ANNA HARRIET DRURY AUTHORESS OF FRIENDS AND FORTUNE, ETC. Sixth Edition [Illustration: colophon] LONDON WILLIAM PICKERING 1851 [Illustration] THE FIRST OF MAY. Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg By the Cinque Ports he swore, He’d make an Exhibition That was never seen before. By the Cinque Ports he swore it, And named an opening day: And letters wrote to left and right, To bid the universe unite Upon the First of May. Left and right the letters went, To city, realm, and coast; And answers came most civilly, By the return of post. Shame on the lazy Nation, That will not join her share, With Albert and Britannia, To swell the World’s great Fair! The parcels and the packages Come bundling in amain, By many a creaking waggon; By many a flying train; By many a van of Pickford’s, That filled with ponderous care, Makes every passer by exclaim, “Good gracious, just look there!” From autocratic Russia, Where growls the unctuous Bear, Who covers native Poles with grief, And British polls with hair; From France, the land of elegance, And witty elocution, Whose clever hands make all things well Except a constitution; From the far-off Republic, On Transatlantic waves, Who blazons stars of liberty Upon the stripes of slaves; From where the Alpine snows surround The workshops of the free; From where in fettered sadness burns The muse of Italy! * * * * * The Prince and the Commission A weary life they led: No time had they for dining, And rather less for bed. They couldn’t choose a building, They couldn’t find a site: And our good Queen Victoria Grew tired--as well she might. For good advice in pamphlets, And prophecies in calf, And groans to make him shudder, And sneers to make him laugh, And hints and threats and warnings, Plan, diagram, and view, Choked up the Prince’s davenport, And filled his pockets too. “To eastward and to westward,” ’Twas said, “alarm is spreading; “The foreigners will eat us “Out of house and home and bedding; “Taxation will be trebled, “And sadder far to tell, “Thanks to the horrid papers, “_The tickets will not sell!_” I wis, in all the Palace There was no heart so bold, But wished himself well out of it, When that ill news was told. Up rose at length Prince Albert, Up rose the whole Commission, And at the footstool of the throne They laid the Exhibition. Just then burst in a messenger, With cold sweat on his brow: “Look here, look here, my gracious Prince! “They say there’ll be a row!” Upon the fatal newspaper Prince Albert turned his eye, And saw a night of wretchedness Darken his sunny sky. And plainly and more plainly In history’s page he read, The gibes and jeers and sarcasms, Heaped on his luckless head: And the stigma of ridiculous, More terrible than guilt, Stamped by unborn Macaulays, On “the House that Albert built.” And plainly and more plainly He heard the words of doom, When all the year’s expenses Are checked by Joseph Hume; And the outcry of the journals, And the angry people’s hisses, And his loving consort’s mild reproof, “You know whose doing _this_ is!” And the Prince’s voice was sad, And dim his eye of blue: “It’s come to this, my gracious wife, “We don’t know what to do! “There’s not a soul contented; “The tickets will not sell; “And now the papers prophesy “Such things I fear to tell! “The French will spoil our morals, “The Russians cheat and _knout_ us-- “They’ll haunt us like musquitoes, “Like snakes they’ll twine about us-- “The Chartist and the Communist “Will hand in hand combine, “And break the Crystal Palace “About your head and mine! Then out spake Queen Victoria, And brightly glanced her eye: “I never heard such nonsense! “I only wish they’d try! “Don’t mind those vile reports, dear-- “’Twill all come right, you’ll see: “Just keep the workmen moving, “And leave the rest to me! “I’ll order out the carriage, “My royal robes I’ll wear, “And though the crowd be millions deep, “No matter--I’ll be there! “And in the face of rough John Bull, “Whate’er he means to do, “I’ll smile until he smiles again, “And gives a cheer for you! “There’ll be some foolish people there, “Indeed, where are they not? “Perhaps they’ll throw a stone or two, “Or fire a little shot: “They never hit me yet, dear, “Except upon my bonnet; “So don’t persuade me not to go-- “I’ve set my heart upon it! “Unpack the parcels, gentlemen, “As quickly as ye may: “Tell all your foreign colleagues, “I’ll hear of no delay! “Though foemen league in millions, “We’ll charm away their malice, “And walk together, arm in arm, “Right through the Crystal Palace!” “My heart of hearts,” the Prince replied, “You talk just like a book.” And the relieved Commissioners Cheered till the throne-room shook: And through the streets of London, Fast, fast, the news was borne; And strange was the commotion, Upon the morrow morn. Then none would hear of waiting; Then all were wild to go; Then did the ticket offices With claimants overflow; And every British lady Spared neither rhyme nor reason, To wring from consort or from sire A ticket for the season. Bright are the silks and satins That gleam in Howell’s panes; Matchless the lace of Hayward, The ribbon at Redmayne’s; Best of all gloves are Melnotte’s, That mortal ever wore; Best of all treats a young bride loves A Continental tour. But now, o’er Howell’s counter, No fairy buyers lean; No snowy fingers test the lace, Or ribbons blue and green; In vain are Melnotte’s prices Raised up to three-and-three; And vainly advertises The Steamboat Company! This year no golden harvest Shall prima donnas reap; This year no Baden Croupier Shall shear the travelling sheep; And the landladies of Brighton, Shall wail o’er cliff and down, Those cruel season tickets, That keep the world in town! * * * * * But meanwhile, preparations Are briskly carried on; And agonized exhibitors Are told they must begone. The floor is swept and sprinkled, The panes are polished bright, And all that isn’t finished Is hustled out of sight. Then come the season tickets, In carriage, cab, and brougham; And long before eleven, There is scarcely standing room; And as at every instant The ladies’ ranks increase, Pretty, to see the skirmishes They have with the police. But lo, the cry is “_Paxton!_” And as the waves divide, The Architect of crystal Comes forth with modest pride. Well may all voices cheer him, When they see what he has done; For such a graceful victory No mortal ever won! Now Statesmen and Ambassadors From all the globe flock in; And that warm-hearted gentleman, The Chinese Mandarin. And with his gallant comrade, The first in danger’s van, Comes England’s white-haired Hero, To welcome PEACE TO MAN. But when the face of Arthur Is seen amid the throng, A cheer that shakes the crystal roof, Bursts forth the ranks among. On the benches smiles no beauty But would his hand have kissed; For the fairest lip were honoured To touch that brown old fist. And when weak-minded foreigners Ask what it’s all about, With what enthusiastic pride All haste to point him out! “Now, welcome, welcome, Arthur!” The greetings still increase: “Thrice welcome on thy birthday morn, “To the Waterloo of Peace!” * * * * * Since five o’clock this morning, Nay, some have said, before, The folks have been collecting By myriads and more. Franticly strive officials To keep the passage free: As well might Brighton lobsters Attempt to stop the sea! For like a herd scholastic, Let loose from desk and form, John Bull and all his family, Carry the Park by storm. From Palace e’en to Palace, Can only heads be seen, That pushing past, in wild career, Policeman, Guardsman, Grenadier, Rush on to meet the Queen. Then round our good Victoria, As slowly on she past, A hundred winged whispers Come floating thick and fast. “What if these millions rise in arms? “Think on the Bourbon’s fate! “What if but _one_ assail thee? “Back--ere it be too late!” Round gazed she, as not deigning Such fears to entertain: Yes--if indeed they hated her, Then had she lived in vain! For the people’s glow of welcome Is the Monarch’s purest gem-- And her heart was calm and confident In its honest love for _them_! “O England--gallant England! “So tried--and yet so true! “You will not do your sovereign wrong, “Who trusts her all to you!” So she spake, and smiling showed The young heir by her side, And mid a thunder of applause, Sailed through the living tide. And now she gains the Transept, And now her royal throne: Now burst the sweet young voices, And swells the organ’s tone: Now with her Lord and children, And smiles of winning grace, She passes through the joyous crowd, That all may see her face. And that face will be remembered To many a distant day, When the glitter of the pageant Like a dream has passed away; And the frankness and the kindliness Of that auspicious scene, Shall link with all our better thoughts, Our English-hearted Queen! And in the homes of labour, When all have learnt to know The one sweet tie of brotherhood God knit for man below-- When honest toil is resting Beside his quiet hearth, And forgets the gloom of forge and loom, In his children’s fearless mirth; When the wrongs are all forgiven, And the law of kindness rules, When the swords are turned to ploughshares, And the prisons into schools; When rich and poor together, Flock to the House of Prayer, And not a cloud of bitterness Disturbs the sunshine _there_; When the actors in this pageant Have all been laid to rest, And the youngest head among us, Is white as Snowdon’s crest; May that glad generation Recal this glorious day, And Labour’s first Ovation, Upon the First of May! [Illustration] C. WHITTINGHAM, CHISWICK. * * * * * _Recently, by the same Authoress, in One Thick Volume, fcp. 8vo. price 8s. 6d._ EASTBURY. A TALE. “The charm of this pretty rural tale is, that it gives a faithful picture of life and manners in an English country parish in our own times. It bears that stamp of historical value which Jeffrey praised in the novels of Fielding. To those at a distance from such scenes, to the dwellers in great towns, for instance, or to Scotch cousins or American friends, or to any who wish to know what goes on in English Village Life in the days of Queen Victoria, we would say, amongst other books, read Miss Drury’s tale of ‘Eastbury.’” _Literary Gazette._ “Another book, still nearer to the elaboration of the novel in its analysis of society, its development of character, and its conversational vivacity--a book of singular moral beauty united with artistic skill--may be added to our little catalogue. It is called _Eastbury_--and is also the production of a lady. There is a great deal of quiet but constant action in this book--not merely outward movement, but mental emotion; it is strewn over with pictures of country life and scenery painted in with remarkable minuteness and effect; the characters that pass across the scene are people we all know perfectly well, and are sure to remember when we meet them again; and with a strong tinge of sincere religious feeling all through, it displays an intimate knowledge of particular phases of the world, which it pourtrays without the least tendency to that sort of pious affectation which so often destroys the efficacy of the religious novel. This may be said to be a religious novel in its spirit, which is sweet and full of goodness; in all else it paints society as we see it around us.”.... From the Article “_Little Books with Large Aims_.” _Fraser’s Magazine, July._ *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FIRST OF MAY: A NEW VERSION OF A CELEBRATED MODERN BALLAD *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. START: FULL LICENSE THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that: • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works. • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work. • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.F. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org. This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.