SIR JOHN GURNEY, Knt., 



4c. &,c. SiC 



My Lord, 



When the following pages were 

 begun, the object was simply to amuse some 

 saucy boys w^ith whom Heaven has blest my 

 fire-side ; their laugh, however, was shared 

 by grown-up children, who were good- 

 naturedly pleased to suggest that the addi- 

 tion of a little practical information might 

 give a value to the preliminary nonsense ; 

 and finally, my printer, (who has long toiled 

 with me in graver occupations, and whose 



retrospect of a useful and benevolent life 

 a2 



