PEEFACE. 



THESE Sketches aspire to little more than a delinea- 

 tion of such occurrences as are naturally met with 

 by lovers of the gentle craft. They are endued by 

 the author with a colloquial form and texture, chiefly 

 because he is of opinion that, so habited, they accord 

 better with the spirit of the subject to which they 

 refer. Had it been otherwise, he should not have 

 obtruded upon a mode of composition already pre- 

 occupied by the patriarch Walton, Sir Humphrey 

 Davy, and others. Further apology, however, he 

 deems unnecessary, as he is not aware, throughout 

 the following chapters, of having laid himself open 

 to any censure as a plagiarist. 



The dramatis personce of his dialogue are, it may 

 be stated, generally fictitious, although, as in most 

 works of a similar nature, not altogether without 

 their originals. It merits, however, no enquiry who 

 these are, and the author disclaims all intention of 

 throwing any light upon the subject. 



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