Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania.

MISTIC

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

SINCE the story here offered to the public first appeared in the French language, an added importance has been given to the historical incidents which it presents, by events of more recent date.

The marriage between the royal houses of England and Denmark of the last century is recalled with a new interest, in connection with the similar, but more auspicious event of our own times.

The history of the unfortunate Queen Matilda has recently been brought nearer to the recollection and sympathies of the English nation, by the interesting memoir of Mr. William Wraxhall.

The career of Struensée can hardly fail to suggest that of a minister equally despotic of the present day. Yet there is in reality less of resemblance than of contrast between the usurper of sovereign power in Denmark—who ruled a feeble king for the good of the people—and the unscrupulous statesman who is now permitted by Prussia (the oppressor of Denmark) to encroach so largely upon the liberties of the people.

The translator trusts, that in the attempt to render LE DOCTEUR ROUGE into good English, the spirit of the original has not been materially impaired.

H. D'A.

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