ADDRESSED TO THE DAUGHTER OF A Nobleman, ON THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND MORAL IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. BY ELIZABETH HAMILTON, AUTHOR OF LETTERS ON THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND, By W. Flint, Old Bailey. 1806. PREFACE. IN submitting the ensuing pages to the ordeal of criticism, the author has no hopes of their passing unscorched through its tremendous flames: nor is she weak enough to expect that any thing she can urge will induce her judges to temper for her the heat of the burning ploughshare. Were she not provided with a talisman, of which she has in many instances proved the efficacy, she would shrink hopeless from the trial; but confident that upon this occasion it will not be found to have lost any of its virtue, she binds binds it to her bosom, and proceeds, if not without apprehension, at least without dismay,.. It is, indeed, only on the generous and candid, that the talisman of good intentions can exert its friendly influence; but it is the approbation of such minds alone, that she feels any solicitude to secure. Of such minds she is anxious to conciliate the esteem, and would spare no pains to purchase their dignified support-their unequivocal suffrage. In order to render her plea availing, she thinks it may be expedient to say a few words in explanation of the motives which induced her to write, and which led her to publish the letters of which these volumes are composed. The motives are extremely simple. She wrote to gratify her feelings, by keeping up this species of intercourse with a family of amiable children, to whose interests she had for |