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OR,

THE UNKNOWN RELATIVES.

BY CATHERINE SINCLAIR,

AUTHOR OF

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MODERN ACCOMPLISHMENTS," HOLIDAY HOUSE," SIR EDWARD GRAHAM,"

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JANE BOUVERIE,” THE JOURNEY OF LIFE," ETC.

"If authors must write, they had better compose
Their stories too marvellous almost for prose;

Add some incidents, too, which are strange above measure."

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TO ALEXANDER SINCLAIR.

IN attempting to represent the happiness of a Protestant family circle, it is impossible for me not to think of that Brother whose inestimable friendship makes my home what it is; and in delineating the advantage bestowed on Protestants by their free access to the Bible, the pleasing recollection is ever before me, how long we have studied its pages daily together. Having been hitherto precluded from consulting the wishes of

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any one on the subject of these volumes, I now request that you and all my family circle will, when for the first time you read this narrative, treat them as you always treat the Author, being "to every fault a little blind." or rather, if possible, completely so.

September 15, 1852.

PREFACE.

"But oh! my soul, avoid the wondrous maze,
Where reason lost in endless error strays."

CowPER.

THE object of this narrative is to portray, for the consideration of young girls now first emerging into society, the enlightened happiness derived from the religion of England, founded on the Bible, contrasted with the misery arising from the superstition of Italy, founded on the Breviary; and in exemplifying both from the best authorities, it has been done with a most careful and most laborious reference to the standard authors of the English Church, and of the Popish persuasion.

If an India-rubber quill could be invented to rub out every word that should not be written, the author would be particularly happy to obtain the advantage of it on this occasion,

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