ployef, who went and laid his hand upon a book ; I saw the boy coming with a book in 

 his hand, I thought it was something about Pigeons, never thought it was Moore's 

 work ; to my astonishment and delight it was the identical work I was in search of, 

 having it in my hands, I thought my eyes would have darted out of the sockets of my 

 head when I beheld the book, I thought, " I'll be blessed if ever this book leaves my 

 hands, whatever the price." I paid the price, the boy had his shilling, all pleased with 

 the transaction. 



I began to think upon the work, recollecting it contained so much matter I had read 

 before in other works, I was determined to see what amount of original matter be- 

 longed to each writer upon Pigeons, took Moore's 1735, then Mayor, 1765, compared 

 them as I read, interlined Mayor's work, what I found in Moore, that which was not 

 interlined, I considered original matter, I adopted this plan with all the works that was 

 in my possession, I am not aware there are any I am not possessed of that is worth 

 having ; I never hear talk of any ; and having John Boys, Esq.'s beautiful Observa- 

 tions and Reflections, derived from fifty years experience, the idea struck me what use 

 I would make of them, entertaining so high an opinion of the late John Moore's 

 Work, as I heard there was not another copy, believing there could not be more than 

 two or three copies in the world, I thought it a pity so valuable a work from which all 

 others have grown out, should be lost for ever to the Pigeon Fancier, (for ought you and 

 I know the book may have been stole from the gentleman to whom it was lent, and no 

 wonder the Fancier could not get it back again, and that I purchased the work ; I think if 

 it was so, it is excusable, considering the use I intend making of the book). I thought 

 1 would publish the work entire, and give the original matter due to other authors, be- 

 sides endeavouring to make a few remarks from observations, as ideas struck nae, when 

 my Almond Tumbler was printed, I regretted I had not numbered the paragraphs, it 

 was too late then. I borrowed the idea from Cobbett's grammar, to paragraph this 

 work. 



When I brought out my Almond Tumbler, and read the manuscript over to you and 

 Wolstenholme, only two original ideas was added to the manuscript, the one, the trick 

 of breaking the upper mandible of the beak, to form a straight or up beak. The other 

 was the late Sir John Sebright's remark, he would breed feather in three years, 

 would take six years to breed head and beak ; this was due to Mr. Wolstenholme. Your 

 labour was different, although you could not give me a single idea, that of transposing, 

 you know some stated Wolsteisihome was the Author. I came to the determination 

 that this Work should go forth with all its faults — no doubt, are many — without its 

 being read over to any one, rather than be nettled and stung by a few pismires. There 

 may be good attending this, if these few will exercise their grammatical knowledge (or 

 the want of it) ; then again, if they cast them up, it will improve them in their arith- 

 metic. Should it require transposing, which it will, they can do with it as the cat does 

 with the kitten — endeavour to lick it into liking. Why I should have taken notice of 

 these few, that resemble the dog in the manger, that would not write themselves (to in- 

 struct the young and inexperienced Fancier), found fault with me for attempting; 

 besides stating they did not believe I had the ability to write ray Almond Tumbler. 

 Will these few believe now what they read, and exercise their abilities upon it, or will 

 they attempt, after my weary head is laid low, in a cowardly lying way, lay claim to the 

 Work, on Tame and Domesticated Pigeons, as being the Author, or having aided or 

 assisted me in any way. Let them come forward in my life-time, not after I am dead, 

 that I may be able to prove to the contrary ; but enough of this. The idea struck me 

 I would endeavour to contribute my mite in rescuing the Work from the hands of rude 

 Old Time, and hand it down for some years yet to come to my Brother Fanciers, be- 

 lieving no other Fancier had the intention. I am sensible as you are, when you come 

 to read the Work over, you will discover inelegancies of ideas. I believe, had you been 

 in England, I should have read the Work over to you, you knowing it woiild not do to 

 dub you as the Author. But then, the Unmerciful Pruning knife ? you are so fond (jf. 

 The style I should have liked best to have brought it out, provided I had the ability to 

 imitate, was Dr. Franklin's "Poor Richard," more than the powerful and accomphshed 

 reasoner Locke " On the Understanding ;" as I cannot imitate either, I am com- 

 pelled to make the best of my own Originality. Those knowing me and my ways, would 

 say, " This is Eaton AU Over !" as many Gentlemen said who knew me, after reading 

 my Almond Tumbler. We did not always agree in reading the Almond Tumbler over, 

 owing to my obstinacy, which got your monkey and carbonic acid gas up, although I 



