There is no virtue more amiable in the softer sex, than that
mild and quiescent spirit of Devotion, which, without en-
tangling itself in the dogmas of Religion, is melted by its
charities and exhilarated by its hopes.

CowfER.
To be good and disagreeable, is high treason against virtue.

ELIZABETH SMITH.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T, CADELL AND W. DAVIES,

IN THE STRAND ;

AND W. BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH.

Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode,

Printers-Street, London.

955 MIST

e

vol

PREFACE

All is said,” says La Bruyere, “ and we come too late ; since it is more than five thousand years that men have reflected."

In the age when this complaint was made, the path of literature was comparatively unbeaten; many beautiful and unfrequented spots remained to reward the diligent traveller; many portions of terra incognita' might still be found rich in golden fruit.

But, though more than a hundred and fifty years have elapsed, since this discouraging sentence was pronounced; it has neither fettered the pen of the author, nor restricted the expectations of the reader ;