Mary Brunton 
Self-Control 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In presenting to the public another Edition of Self-Control, the Author gratefully acknowledges the indulgence which her first literary attempt has received. The approbation with which it has been honoured, flatters her with the hope that her little work may not entirely fail in the purposes of usefulness which were her chief aim in its publication.<br><br>The commendations bestowed on Self-Control have been by no means unqualified. Strictures have been made upon various parts of the narrative, and objections stated against the probability of some of the incidents. Had these censures been pointed at the lessons which the tale was intended to convey, the Author would have felt it her duty, as well as her earnest desire, to remove them. Had the characters described in Self-Control been the portraits of living originals, she might have been bound to avail herself of any hint for rendering the likeness more complete. But where no higher interest is at stake than the credit of her own powers of invention, she feels herself at greater liberty; and sometimes where she might have bowed to superior taste and experience, she has been unable to reconcile contradictory authorities.