ΤΙΜΟΝ,

BUT NOT OF ATHENS.

On peut long temps, chez notre espèce,
Fermer la porte à la raison;

Mais, dès qu'elle entre avec adresse,
Elle reste dans la maison,

Et bientot elle en est maitresse.

VOLTAIRE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON

SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.

1840.

672.

LONDON:

BLATCH AND LAMPERT, PRINTERS, GROVE PLACE, BROMPTON.

PREFACE AND DEDICATION.

SOME books are written for our learningothers for our amusement-and here and there, we have one that is written for both purposes. It is with the latter that the present volumes aspire to be ranked.

Children and men and women with the minds of children-are pleased only with a plot which keeps their curiosity in play, and with adventures which apply to their fancy and their feelings, but which, when they come to the end, leave their heads no wiser, and their hearts no better than before. It is even well if they are not worse. To this class of readers these volumes are not dedicated

To whom then?

To You!-provided you are among the few, that, in reading, do not consider all thought to be superfluous-but not otherwise.