ABSTRACT
I ADDRESS these lines - written in India - to my relatives in England. My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the
right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Hemcastle. The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit. Irequest them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative. And I declare, on my word ofhonour, that what I am now about to write is, strictly and literally, the truth.
