THE PREFACE 



Owing to the noise of the rattling of carriages of every description before daylight, 

 and not being able to sleep, I got up, lighted my candle, made up my mind to endea- 

 vour this day to contribute more to the Work (The Almond Tumbler) that I am 

 engaged upon, than any other day I shall have it in hand. This day, 18th of Novem- 

 ber, 1852, is appointed for the solemn funeral of the mortal remains of the immortal 

 Wellington ; such a sight will take place this day as never was witnessed before in 

 England, and never will be witnessed again. He richly merited all that a grateful 

 Nation lavished or bestowed upon him. Filling the oflEice, he could not help the loss of 

 life ; he treasured and husbanded the lives committed to his charge, and did not spill a 

 single drop of blood more than could by any possibility be helped ; taking into consi- 

 deration what he had to accomplish, and it is a question whether any other man could 

 be found that would have spilled so little ; notwithstanding, he had some of the greatest 

 and bravest officers that ever lived. Owing to a grateful Nation paying their last debt 

 of gratitude to the spiritless body (for the spirit had returned to Godf who gave it) of 

 the Great Iron Duke. Take him for all in all, I believe him to be the greatest man 

 that has been born into the World, since Jesus Christ, in whom he trusted ; I believe 

 the Nation believes that he could glory and exult with a confidential hope, whenever he 

 uttered these words ; for I know that my " Eedeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at 

 the latter day upon the earth, and, though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet 

 in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, 

 and not another, though my reins be consumed within me." Job, xix. chap., 26th, 26th, 

 27th 



This grave is incomplete, craving the ashes of that great and good Statesman, the 

 late Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, Bart., the greatest and best Statesman this 

 Country ever produced. He had the Poor at heart, and caused the Widow and the 

 Orphan Childrens' heart to leap for joy. He was the cause of making provisions cheap 

 for the Poor. It was a great loss to the Nation at the time, there not being a Public 

 Funeral for so good a man. John Bull is a heavy, at the same time a deep thinking 

 man. He is not altogether forgetful, and may reason, the promise may be long de- 

 layed, but cannot come too late. This may be applicable to the raising of the monu- 

 ment to Nelson. Years may roll on before the Nation claims the ashes of the greatest 

 and best-hearted statesman it ever produced, to perfect the grave that lays under the 

 centre of the dome of Saint Paul's ; then will the Nation have its Trinity in Unity (I do 

 not mean the incomprehensible union of the three persons in one Godhead.) But 

 having the greatest Sailor, the greatest Soldier, and the greatest and best Statesman 

 this country ever produced, laying side by side and their dust mingling together. I 

 may not live to witness it, but believe it must take place to complete the grave. 



Mr. Moore, Paragraph 6, writes, give me leave to entertain you with the story, &c. 

 &c. I have only simply and plainly to inform you, that it is not my intention to 

 apologise to you in stating facts. 



When I had concluded my Treatise on the Almond Tumbler, 1851, and bid you fare- 

 well, after giving you my observations and reflections on the subject, I called your 

 attention to the " Wise Man's Saying," Pargraph 569, " There is a time for all things, 

 and the time had arrived for us to part." Judge of my surprise, in 1852, with pen in 

 hand, endeavouiing to compile a Work on Tame, Domesticated and Fancy Pigeons in 

 general, as encouraged by the acknowledged best Fanciers that ever lived, and Para- 

 graph 410, informed you there was nothing so base as ingratitude, and I cannot bring 

 my mind to bear otherwise, and brand myself with ingratitude, if I did not attempt to 

 compile a Work worthy your acceptance, after the highly complimentary Testimonials 

 of . the Press, besides many letters from all parts of the country to the same effect. 



