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In the accompanying biographical sketch of, the desire has been to present a short history of his ancestry, and of his early years, derived from documents in possession of his family, and from the immediate knowledge of his brother and sisters. As regards his talents and genius, they have preferred to refer to the criticisms of well-known artists and writers, a few of which have been inserted. This sketch, with his "Notes," and his musical compositions, they believe, will enable every one to form a just idea of Gottschalk, as an artist, composer, scholar, and man. R. E. P. (xxxi)