TALES AND TRIFLES, FROM BLACKWOOD'S AND OTHER POPULAR MAGAZINES. BY THE LATE WILLIAM MUDFORD, ESQ., AUTHOR OF THE SILENT MEMBER, ETC., AND FORMERLY EDITOR OF THE COURIER AND JOHN BULL NEWSPAPERS, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON PUBLISHED FOR THE EXECUTORS BY WILLIAM TEGG AND CO., CHEAPSIDE. MDCCCXLIX. PREFACE. But few observations will be necessary in introducing to the notice of the public the accompanying Tales. The approbation with which they were received, as they successively appeared in Blackwood's and other leading Magazines, during the life-time of their lamented author, is a sufficient guarantee for thus collecting and issuing them in a more complete and portable form. Should they meet with encouragement-and surely the interest in them can in no way be abated by the ii. lapse of time, for the scenes and occurrences they so vividly, yet faithfully, portray, still retain all their original freshness,-they will probably be followed by a second, if not a third, series. Of the writer little need be said. He occupied for many years a prominent position in the political world, in connection with the London and Provincial Press, and was also the author of various popular works-circumstances which are deemed sufficient passports to a welcome for any of his productions. Canterbury, Jan., 1849. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. PAGE. MALAVOLTI (a Neapolitan Story)...... 56 THE FIRST AND SECOND HUSBAND.. 88 |