Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books (Oxford University) Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=nXoEAAAAQAAJ& (Oxford University) 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. THE HUGUENOT. VOL. I. London: Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square. THE HUGUENOT A TALE OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE GIPSY," "THE ROBBER," &c. &c. * * * IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. * * * LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1839. DEDICATION. * * * TO CHARLES RUDOLPHE LORD CLINTON, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, Although I, of course, look upon the book, which I now venture to dedicate to one whom I so much esteem and respect, with those parental prejudices which make us often overlook all defects, and magnify any good qualities in our offspring, yet, believe me, I feel that it is very far inferior to that which I could wish to present to you. Do not, then, measure my regard by the value of the work, but accept it only as a very slight testimony of great esteem; and, at the same time, allow me, even in my Dedication, to say a few words concerning the book itself. I will not trouble you or the public with any reasoning upon the general conduct of the story--why I suddenly changed the scene here, or flew off to another character there,--why I gave but a glimpse of such a personage, or dwelt long and minutely upon another. I believe and trust that those who read the work attentively will discover strong reasons for all such proceedings, and I am quite sure that much thought and care was bestowed on each step of the kind before it was taken. Your own good taste will decide whether I was right or wrong, and blame or approve, I know, whatever I might plead. The public will do so also; and, as a general rule, I think it best to conceal, as far as possible, in all cases, the machinery of a composition of this kind, suffering the wheels to produce their effect without being publicly exhibited.