XX INTRODUCTION. 



Antiquated maids and childless matrons not 

 Unfrequently bestow their affections upon 

 dogs, cats, and birds. Bantams, pigeons, and 

 canary-birds have their particular fanciers ; 

 and many are the strange fancies besides. 

 Professors of many of the above-recited pur- 

 suits are styled Antiquaries, Virtuosi, Con- 

 noisseurs, Amateurs, Dilettanti, Fanciers, 

 &c. &c. ; and the epithets, sometimes not 

 inaptly applied to them, are learned, curious, 

 f skilful, clever crack-brained, foolish, mad, 

 &c. &c. ; and many men are such eccentrics 

 and latitudinists, that, in the course of their 

 lives, they will embrace the whole circle of 

 fancies, and frequently become the dupes tea 

 times over of the knaves, quacks, and varlets 

 of pretended science in each pursuit. Every 

 age, it is true, has its hobby or ruling passion 

 of some sort or other, which varies with our 

 years, as we pass from childhood to youth, 



