PREFACE. THE authoress feels much diffidence in sending forth to the world a tale which by its title gives promise of treating, not only of history, but of Scottish history-an act of presumption from which she is anxious to clear herself: and at the same time she wishes to reassure those readers who may not like historical novels from a woman's pen, that she has entered no further into public affairs than as they may have influenced the fortunes and feelings of the one admirable woman who forms the subject of the following memoir. Since in the human heart the same passions and the same emotions are found in all ages, she hopes she has not trespassed beyond the limits assigned to one who is conscious that all she writes bears the stamp of feminine authorship, in attempting the development of a female character, the firmness and tenderness of which may be gathered from Lady Nithsdale's own beautiful letter to her sister. The foundation of the story of the Hampshire Cottage is strictly true. The appearance, the characters, the sentiments, and the death of the old couple are entirely from nature. Their very Christian names have been preserved; and the circumstance of the blind old man feeling too low for the head of the little girl, who had outgrown his recollection, actually occurred to the authoress when visiting the cottage after a long absence. For reasons which perhaps may be understood by her friends, she adds, that the tale of Blanche was written' in the year 1832. London, June 26, 1835. |