Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source: Google Books
"https://books.google.com/books?id=l_QDAAAAQAAJ"
(provided by Oxford University).
2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].

MR. JAMES'S RECENT FICTIONS.
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NOW READY,

THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES: a Christmas Tale for 1848. By G. P. R. James, Esq. Foolscap 8vo, 5_s_.

MARGARET GRAHAM: a Tale founded on Fact. In 2 vols. post 8vo, £l 1_s_.

====================================================================== _The Sixteenth Volume of the New and Illustrated Edition of_ THE WORKS OF G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. Will be published on the 1st of April, 1848. ========== This new and attractive Series of Mr. James's Works is published Quarterly. It commenced on the 1st of July, 1844, and the following Volumes have already appeared:--

Vol. I. containing THE GIPSY July 1st, 1844.
Vol. II. -- MARY OF BURGUNDY Oct. 1st, 1844.
Vol. III. -- THE HUGUENOT Jan. 1st, 1845.
Vol. IV. -- ONE IN A THOUSAND April 1st, 1845.
Vol. V. -- PHILIP AUGUSTUS July 1st, 1845.
Vol. VI. -- HENRY OF GUISE Oct. 1st, 1845.
Vol. VII. -- MORLEY ERNSTEIN Jan. 1st, 1846.
Vol. VIII. -- THE ROBBER April 1st, 1846.
Vol. IX. -- DARNLEY July 1st, 1846.
Vol. X. -- THE BRIGAND; OR CORSE
DE LEON Oct. 1st, 1846.
Vol. XI. -- THE KING'S HIGHWAY Jan. 1st, 1847.
Vol. XII. -- THE GENTLEMAN OF THE
OLD SCHOOL April 1st, 1847.
Vol. XIII. -- HENRY MASTERTON July 1st, 1847.
Vol. XIV. -- FOREST DAYS Oct. lst, 1847.
Vol. XV. -- THE LITTLE BALL O' FIRE Jan. 1st, 1848.
*** The Third Volume, in addition to the usual Illustration, contains
a new and highly-finished Portrait of the Author.

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The following are Extracts from a few of the favourable Reviews which have appeared of this Series:

"The writings of James are so well known to the readers of fiction, that it is unnecessary to call their attention to them. This edition is well got up, the type is clear, sharp, and legible, and the size convenient for the reader, and appropriate for the shelves of a bookcase. The book, as it is, will form a pleasing addition to the collections of literature of the class to which it belongs.--_Times_.

"This is a most admirable edition of the works of this popular author, convenient in size, and handsome in appearance. It, moreover, possesses the advantage of being revised and corrected by the author, --no small recommendations, since the generality of Mr. James's works being connected with history, a careful perusal of his productions increases their value."--_Atlas_.

"Mr. James is a writer whose vraisemblance is always so perfect, and even what he invents so like truth, that we can never fancy we are reading fiction, nor indeed are we, in the historical portions of his publications,--and these form the far greater division,--which are all drawn from deep study and elaborate comparison."--_Literary Gazette_.

"Mr. James is a pure and pleasing writer, and we are glad to see that his Works are now to be thrown into a handy, handsome, and accessible shape."--_Scotsman_.

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LONDON: PARRY & CO., 32 & 33, LEADENHALL STREET.
EDINBURGH: OLIVER AND BOYD.
GLASGOW: R. GRIFFIN & CO.

NEW WORK by the AUTHOR of "COLIN CLINK."

------------

In 3 vols. post 8vo, price £1 11_s_. 6_d_.

WOODHOUSLEE:
OR
THE ASTROLOGER.

BY CHARLES HOOTON, ESQ.

======================================================================

New & Illustrated Edition of Mr. AINSWORTH'S Works.

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_Price 10s. 6d. elegantly bound_.

IN ONE VOLUME, MEDIUM OCTAVO,

A NEW AND SUPERB EDITION OF

THE MISER'S DAUGHTER:
A Tale.
By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ.

With Magnificent Illustrations on Steel by George Cruikshank.

------------

Also, in One Volume, Medium 8vo, price 10s. 6d. cloth.

OLD SAINT PAUL'S,

A TALE OF THE PLAGUE AND FIRE OF LONDON.

Splendidly illustrated on Steel by Franklin and Hablot K. Browne.

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_Price 10s. 6d. elegantly bound_.
IN ONE VOLUME, MEDIUM OCTAVO,
A NEW AND SUPERB EDITION OF

WINDSOR CASTLE,
An Historical Romance.
By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ.

With Magnificent Illustrations on Steel by George Cruikshank and
Tony Johannot, with Designs on Wood by W. A. Delamotte.

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LONDON: PARRY & CO., 32 & 33. LEADENHALL STREET.

THE WORKS

OF

G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.

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VOL. XV.

THE LITTLE BALL O' FIRE

[Frontispiece: The Little Ball O' Fire] Hablot K. Browne H. K. Browne & R. Young

"If you do not instantly quit me, sir," she exclaimed in a loud and vehement voice, "I will call those who can and will protect me against your daring insolence."

THE WORKS

OF

G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.

REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR.

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.

"D'autres auteurs l'ont encore plus avili, (le roman,) en y mêlant les tableaux dégoutant du vice; et tandis que le premier avantage des fictions est de rassembler autour de l'homme tout ce qui, dans la nature, peut lui servir de leçon ou de modèle, on a imaginé qu'on tirerait une utilité quelconque des peintures odieuses de mauvaises m[oe]urs; comme si elles pouvaient jamais laisser le c[oe]ur qui les repousse, dans une situation aussi pure que le c[oe]ur qui les aurait toujours ignorées. Mais un roman tel qu'on peut le concevoir, tel que nous en avons quelques modèles, est une des plus belles productions de l'esprit humain, une des plus influentes sur la morale des individus, qui doit former ensuite les m[oe]urs publiques."--MADAME DE STAEL. _Essai sur les Fictions_.

"Poca favilla gran flamma seconda:
Forse diretro a me, con miglior voci
Si pregherà, perchè Cirra risponda."
DANTE. _Paradiso_, Canto I.

VOL. XV.

THE LITTLE BALL O' FIRE.

LONDON:
PARRY AND CO., LEADENHALL STREET.
M DCCC XLVIII.

THE

LITTLE BALL O' FIRE

OR,

The Life and Adventures

OF

JOHN MARSTON HALL.

BY

G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.

AUTHOR OF
"MARGARET GRAHAM," "THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES," ETC.

"Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten!"
Götz von Berlichingen.

LONDON:
PARRY AND CO., LEADENHALL STREET.
M DCCC XLVIII.

TO

HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY

ALEXANDRA FEODEROWNA,

EMPRESS OF ALL THE RUSSIAS.

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Madam,

I should have confined myself to expressing, in terms of unfeigned admiration and respect, my gratitude for the interest which Your Imperial Majesty is pleased to take in the literature of my country, and in the efforts of so humble an individual as myself, had I not felt that the work which you have permitted me to inscribe to your name is in every way unworthy of being presented to one, alike illustrious by talents and virtues, and by rank.

At the time that Your Imperial Majesty's gracious message was communicated to me, the following pages were not only written, but in the press; and my strong desire to obey your commands without any delay, induces me to dedicate this work to you, although it is in some degree connected with a former production, already, I believe, in Your Majesty's possession.

Under other circumstances, I might have laboured, though I certainly should have laboured in vain, to produce a work worthy of your acceptance; but I must then have delayed long what I was eager to perform promptly; and, most assuredly, nothing that I could have written would have worthily testified the admiration and pleasure with which I have marked, from afar, the immense efforts of yourself and your Imperial Consort to encourage literature and science in your dominions, and to improve the moral and social condition of your subjects.

That those efforts may be crowned with the most brilliant success, and repay you, to the last of your days, with the noblest recompence that monarchs can receive,--the blessings of a happy and enlightened people,--is the sincere prayer of

Your Imperial Majesty's

most humble

and most obedient Servant,

George Payne Rainsford James.

THE

LITTLE BALL O' FIRE

OR,

JOHN MARSTON HALL.