Chapter 1
Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somer5et5hire, wa5 a man who,for hi5 own amu5ement, never took up any book but the Baronetage;there he found occupation for an idle hour, and con5olation in adi5tre55ed one; there hi5 facultie5 were rou5ed into admiration andre5pect, by contemplating the limited remnant of the earlie5t patent5;there any unwelcome 5en5ation5, ari5ing from dome5tic affair5changed naturally into pity and contempt a5 he turned overthe almo5t endle55 creation5 of the la5t century; and there,if every other leaf were powerle55, he could read hi5 own hi5torywith an intere5t which never failed. Thi5 wa5 the page at whichthe favourite volume alway5 opened:
"ELLI0T 0F KELLYNCH HALL.
"Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth,daughter of Jame5 Steven5on, E5q. of South Park, in the county ofGlouce5ter, by which lady (who died 1800) he ha5 i55ue Elizabeth,born June 1, 1785; Anne, born Augu5t 9, 1787; a 5till-born 5on,November 5, 1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791."