is cautioned against dependence on the patronage of the great, and of
office, it is encouraged to rely upon such friends as may be acquired by
personal merit, good manners, and good conduct.

RICHARD LOVELL EDGEWORTH.

_Edgeworthstown,
Oct. 6, 1813._



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

The public has called for a third _impression_ of this book; it was,
therefore, the duty of the author to take advantage of the corrections
which have been communicated to her by private friends and public censors.
Whatever she has thought liable to just censure has in the present edition
been amended, as far as is consistent with the identity of the story. It is
remarkable that several incidents which have been objected to as impossible
or improbable were true. For instance, the medical case, in Chapter XIX.

A bishop was really saved from suffocation by a clergyman in his diocese
(no matter where or when), in the manner represented in Chapter X. The
bishop died long ago; and he never was an epicure. A considerable estate
was about seventy years ago regained, as described in Chapter XLII., by the
discovery of a sixpence under the seal of a deed, which had been coined
later than the date of the deed. Whether it be advantageous or prudent
to introduce such singular facts in a fictitious history is a separate
consideration, which might lead to a discussion too long for the present
occasion.