PREFATORY NOTICE. Frederika BREMER, the daughter of a Swedish merchant, became favorably known as a writer of Tales and Stories, in her own country, about ten years ago. But the literature of Sweden is little cared for in the other countries of Europe, and little read. While, therefore, her reputation rose rapidly and high at home, she was not heard of abroad. The Germans, as might have been foreseen, were the first to discover and make known her merits; and when, in 1841, Brockhaus, the great Leipzig publisher, projected his Ausgewählte Bibliothek der Classiker des Auslandes (Select Library of Foreign Classics), he began it with her "NEIGHBOURS." It was a fortunate opening; and, before the end of 1842, out of sixteen volumes which he had published, eight were composed wholly of her stories. It is apparently from this source, that Miss Howitt has had the pleasure of making known Miss Bremer's pretensions to the English public and to the American, beginning, as Brockhaus did, with "The Neighbours," which she translated last year. We trust she will find encouragement to go on, and complete the pleasant series she has undertaken. "THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTERS" appeared originally without the author's name. It was printed in two small volumes at Stockholm in 1834, under the title of Presidenten's Döttrar, berättelse af en Guvernant, and is the first in the series, Nya Teckningar utur Hvardagslifvet. It constitutes the fifth volume of Brockhaus's Library; but, in the German, a considerable number of passages are omitted, which are found in the Swedish; some of them of little consequence, but some containing touches of the pencil which should not have been omitted in the copy, since they add to the truth and expression of the sketches and portraits in the original. In the present translation, all. these passages have been carefully retained, in justice alike to the author and to the reader. It may be necessary to say, that the title of "President" is, probably, equivalent to that of Monsieur le Président, in French, or to that of Chief Justice, in English, as this is the more common use of the word in Sweden and in Germany, -though it would also be applied to a person who is president of any other public body, as well as of a court of justice. We will only add, further, that we present "The President's Daughters " to the American public, believing it to be the most interesting of the stories of Miss Bremer which have yet appeared in English; and that we intend to have it followed immediately by Nina and others, which, we hope, may deserve the favor we anticipate for this. BOSTON, May 5, 1843. THE PUBLISHERS. THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTERS. THE INTRODUCTION. "A learned woman, of what use is she? 66 cation. I might, indeed, have had something to say on the subject, but did not rightly understand how to express myself. "Certainly,"-I began; the President interrupted me. of this mother, imprint on their youthful minds the lessons which she would have given them, guide them according to her excellent principles, in relation to which, I will, in future, have the pleasure to explain myself more fully ;-give them the affection, the maternal care," - his emotion hindered him from going on, and he finished abruptly," and you can ask nothing which the gratitude of their father shall regard as too much." "If my blessed wife had lived longer, my daughters would have had in her a safe "AND my excellent young lady," added model, by which they could have formed the President, laying his hand very earnest themselves to perfection. God has deterly and expressively on my arm, remem- mined otherwise. My excellent young lady!” ber this well, for God's sake make no he continued, with as much ardor, as seriousprodigies of my daughters, no prodigies. ness and kindness," fill the place to them I wish for no shining or vain girls, learned, proud, or pedantic ladies; simple, sensible women, good housewives and mothers, is what I wish to have. They may have accomplishments, but only to entertain themselves and others agreeably; I prefer going to a concert, and paying my crown, when I listen to a prima donna. Above all, they must not read more than is requisite to enable them to converse easily and readily on subjects which are likely to be brought forward in common society. All greater reading, all curious learning, is hurtful to a woman, and draws her out of the sphere in which alone she can be useful in common life. My Frederika," the President continued, "my blessed wife, had this principle in the education of her daughters; in some things, to be sure, to follow the capricious requirements of the time in the forming of girls, but still never to depart in the least from the original form, which she believed assigned by the Creator for the life and being of woman; and this consists"— and the President pronounced every word with marked emphasis "in quiet domestic life, gentleness, order, indulgence to others, severity to one's self, in industry, and in the faculty of being agreeable either in society, or in daily life at home. She rejected every species of show and ostentation, all bold and public exhibitions, which are now, unfortunately, so common among our young women, and insisted that a woman could only be happy in her domestic circle, as a good daughter, an affectionate wife and mother, and at the same time well-pleasing to her Creator, and useful to her fellow-creatures." I listened to all this with a kind of edifi "The education of my two eldest daughters is nearly completed. Edla is twenty, Adelaide seventeen years old. They require now, above all things, the guidance of a female friend on their entrance into the world. My two little darlings, on the other hand, Mina and Nina, have every thing to learn, from their A B C. They are all dining to-day with my sister-in-law, and I expect them home every minute. I long to have it in my power to introduce them to you." At the same moment a carriage drew up to the door, and we saw the young ladies alight. The President rang hastily, and ordered lights, and I awaited, with a mingled feeling of curiosity, interest, and anxiety, the appearance of my future pupils. "Is she here? is she here already?" I heard called out, by a young and charming voice in the hall, and immediately after, four young ladies followed each other into the room. The first had a tall and slender figure, with plain features, a stiff and ungracious demeanour. She bowed coldly, and without approaching me. The President introduced her as Edla; then he presented Adelaide, and a young and beautiful creature |