AND so ends a task which I commenced with great diffidence, have pursued with great pleasure, and concluded with relief.

If but a tithe of my pleasure is transmitted to my readers as the result of wading through these pages, I am more than satisfied.

In compiling the work I have at least refuted the accusation of my old friend Gilbert in his “Foreword,” that I have “an underlying principle never do anything for myself that I can induce others to do for me,” as every word has been written by me, and not even dictated, so that to myself alone will attach any blame or praise which it may evoke.

Some of the responsibility, however, may belong to Mr. Lloyd Williams, the genial editor of Black and White, who was the first to propose that I should contribute certain articles to his paper, for the embodiment of which in this book I am gratefully indebted.

Finally I promise that I will never do it again, or at least, should great pressure be applied, “hardly ever”!