OR,

RIGHT versus MIGHT.

BY ADRIAN.

Ask thy own heart-and conscience boldly answers-
Man is thy brother, though thou be a King
And he a beggar. Man was stamped by Heaven
In God's blest image-sovereign-free-immortal!
But Man is fallen. Man now betrays his brother.

WALLACE-A TRAGEDY.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1846.

1263

LONDON:

Printed by Schulze & Co., 13, Poland Street.

NOT

TO THE RICH, OR THE POOR,

NOT TO ONE PARTY, CLASS, OR FACTION,

BUT TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL

OF THAT GREAT AND GLORIOUS COMMUNITY

THE BRITISH PEOPLE.

WITH EARNEST WISHES, AND HEARTFELT PRAYERS

THAT THEIR INTERNAL WELFARE

MAY EQUAL IF NOT SURPASS THEIR OUTWARD

SPLENDOUR,

THESE VOLUMES ARE INSCRIBED

BY ONE

WHO WOULD NOT STOOP TO THE PROUDEST,

OR TURN FROM THE MEANEST,

BUT WHO JOYS TO HAIL EACH AND ALL,

FRIEND AND BROTHER.

EVELYN STUART.

CHAPTER I.

Mingling the meek and vestal fires
Of other worlds with all the bliss,
The fond, weak tenderness of this.
A soul, too, more than half divine,

Where, through some shades of earthly feeling
Religion's softened glories shine,

Like light through summer foliage stealing.

MOORE.

FAIR ladies, we crave your pardon, (if indeed we are so highly honoured that ladies deign to look upon these pages), we crave your pardon for daring to venture upon sacred ground, for presuming to explore the mighty secrets of a female heart; perchance our intentions may excuse our boldness. An author, whatever his object, his ambition, or his desire, can achieve nothing, can fulfil nothing, without some "fair spirit for his minister," without some assistance from the ranks

VOL. I.

B