part of the whole journey—the waiting, for no less a time than five long, tedious, and most miserable hours, at our own custom-house, before we could get our baggage searched. We had been allowed to take nothing on shore with us; all was left in the vessel. At length we were called, in our turn, to the search. I declared all that I had that was taxable - it was not much: some eau de Cologne, the glass crucifix, the little graphic books of Switzerland, and the work-box. On Mr. Bray reminding me aloud that I had forgotten to name a Dutch work, which was the translation of one of my own, the gentleman of the customs bowed to me very politely, and said such should certainly pass duty free; nor would he let me pay for my trifles that I had declared to him; nor did he require us to open any other trunk than that which contained these things, being satisfied I had spoken the truth in each particular. This convinces me that, even in a worldly sense, honesty is the best policy, at a custom-house as well as in all other places. We procured a coach, and were glad once more to direct our steps, after so long, so varied, and so prosperous a journey, to the restingplace of our present home, thankful to a good Providence for that protection which had been vouchsafed to us throughout the whole of our wanderings, amidst the mountains and lakes of Switzerland, and all other parts of our tour. Hoping that it may have been the means of affording you some amusement and interest, in the perusal of these letters, I remain, my dear Brother, Very affectionately yours, ANNA ELIZA BRAY. THE END. LONDON: Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, LIST OF MRS. BRAY'S WORKS. TRIALS OF THE HEART. In Three Vols. TRELAWNY OF TRELAWNE; or, THE PROPHECY; a Legend of Cornwall. In Three Vols. WARLEIGH; or, THE FATAL OAK; a Legend of Devon. In Three Vols. FITZ OF FITZ-FORD; a Legend of Devon. In Three Vols. An DE FOIX; or, SKETCHES OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. Historical Romance, in Three Vols. THE WHITE HOODS. An Historical Romance, in Three Vols. THE PROTESTANT; a Tale of the Reign of Queen Mary. In Three Vols. THE TALBA; or, MOOR OF PORTUGAL. An Historical Romance, in Three Vols. THE BORDERS OF THE TAMAR AND THE TAVY. An Historical, Biographical, and Descriptive Work, in a Series of Letters, addressed to Robert Southey, Esq. In Three Vols. (Published by Mr. Murray.) LETTERS; written during a Tour through Normandy, Britanny, and other parts of France. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF THE LATE CHARLES ALFRED STOTHARD, F.S.A. &c. &c. LETTERS addressed to Robert Southey, Esq., with some Account of Mary Maria Colling, and her Fables, and other Pieces in Verse. Extracts from Critical Opinions of the above Works. Trials of the Heart. The tales in which the Trials of the Heart are described are delightfully written; as works of fiction they abound in all the poetry of imagination, tempered with judgment, and reduced to the purposes of actual existence; as narratives of facts, they are sublimated by the genius of the writer from the dulness of detail and the tediousness of repetition. There is throughout all these tales a moral feeling always perceptible, but never obtrusive; morality is taught by example, and not thrust upon the reader by the dictation of ostentatious precept. These volumes contain a variety of tales, all differing in incident, and in the delineation of character; yet all equally replete with truth, and all written with a delicacy of feeling and an accuracy of taste, the happy unity of which causes no other regret than that the series is not longer, and the pleasure of the reader protracted to greater length. The Times. Trials of the Heart. These volumes cannot be too warmly recommended. Of the numerous accomplished female writers of the day, none has ever surpassed Mrs. Bray in her extent of reading, store of historical information, richness of fancy, splendour of imagination, depth of pathos, or command over the feelings and passions of her readers. — Naval and Military Gazette. Trials of the Heart. There is nothing wanting to render each narrative perfect in its kind. They are highly suggestive, natural, and pathetic, and their domestic interest is heightened all throughout, by a wide spirit of Christian philanthropy. Monthly Chronicle. In conclusion, we must express our high admiration of the genius of Mrs. Bray. We think that she deserves to be ranked as one of the greatest female writers of England. Magazine. Monthly Trials of the Heart. Mrs. Bray has charmed us with her sketches of scenery: her delineations of human character appeared to us truthful and original. Her writings are richly diversified, her feelings intense, her appreciation of the workings of the human bosom subtle and searching: she can, at will, probe the human heart, and lay it open in most passionate moments. Monthly Review. Trials of the Heart. This is a collection of short and striking tales, written in Mrs. Bray's best manner, and with her usual good moral purpose. They are very various as to time, place, incident, and character. In each there is much to recommend, and they are all amusing. In them the Author has drawn upon her experience as a traveller, and describes a striking part of France; few English travellers have explored it since, and none, certainly, have come up to her descriptions of it. The Metropolitan Magazine. Trials of the Heart. On the whole, this new work of Mrs. Bray will be found excellent in moral tendency, fraught with much valuable knowledge of the human heart in its strength as well as its weaknesses, and by no means deficient in amuseNew Monthly Magazine. ment. Trials of the Heart. These tales are admirable in their moral tendency, and, as they are written with genius, are effective in moral influence. They captivate the attention of the reader in no ordinary degree. The Adopted is a Breton tale of the French Revolution: the finale is admirably worked up, full of pathos and power. Court and Lady's Magazine. Trials of the Heart. These Tales are sermons in disguise : not only do they instruct the human heart, but they evince a deep knowledge of it: for simplicity, truth, and vigour of diction they rise to the rank of the best models; whether they will be fully appreciated by the present age we know not, but we may safely predict they will take their rank in future |