XVI PREFACE. 
and I beg to return my sincere thanks to all contributors 
for the very numerous and interesting communications with 
which I have been so generously supplied. 
To Mr. Alexander Fussell, for the ability, invention, 
and good taste which have enabled him to give truth of 
character, variety, and effect to nearly five hundred of the 
drawings on wood here employed, my best acknowledg- 
ments are due; and more particularly so to Mr. John 
Thompson and his sons, for the skill, the zeal, the success, 
and I may add the pleasure, with which they have la- 
boured throughout this very long series of engravings ; 
while the attractive appearance of the work has been 
greatly increased by the care and attention bestowed on 
the printing at the establishment of Messrs. Bentley, 
Wilson, and Fley. 
Lastly, I beg to express my gratification, and record my 
grateful thanks to all my liberal friends and subscribers 
for the encouraging opinions, and the valuable support, 
with which these volumes have been received. 
Ryder Street, St. James, 
May, 1843. 
