THE

HOUSE OF ELMORE.

A FAMILY HISTORY.

"When will the ancient curse be still'd, that weighs
Upon our house? Some mocking demon sports
With every new-formed hope, nor envious leaves
One hour of joy. So near the haven smiled-
So smooth the treacherous main-secure I deem'd
My happiness; the storm was lulled; and bright
In evening's lustre gleamed the sunny shore :
Then through the placid air the tempest sweeps,
And bears me to the roaring surge again!"

SCHILLER.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,
SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN,
13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

OTI

PRINTED BY CHARLES BEVAN AND SON,

STREET'S BUILDINGS, CHAPEL STREET, GROSVENOR SQUARE.

ΤΟ

CONRAD HUME PINCHES, ESQ.,

OF CLARENDON HOUSE, KENNINGTON.

THIS STORY

IS

DEDICATED,

IN REMEMBRANCE OF OLD TIMES,

BY

THE AUTHOR.

THE HOUSE OF ELMORE.

INTRODUCTION.

REMINISCENCES of the past seldom bring bitterness to our wandering memories. With most men there is allied with such - like recollections, a sad, sweet, holy calmness, that teaches the lessons of content and love; that hallows forms over which the dark curtain has long since dropped; that passes over bygone griefs, misfortunes, and regrets so lightly, that they become fair mental resting-places; that reconciles us to the great home-losses, the household gaps for ever blank and void, pointing at the same time to the doctrine of resignation from the pages of the Book. Such men I can envy.

VOL. I.

B