ledges, as most men do, some esteemed friends among the followers of its creed.
It may be observed that, in the description of the principal outrages, reference has been had to the best authorities of that time, such as they are; and that the account given in this Tale, of all the main features of the riots, is substantially correct.
It may be further remarked, that Mr. Dennis's allusions to the flourishing condition of his trade in those days, have their foundation in truth, not in the Author's fancy. Any file of old newspapers, or odd volume of the Annual Register, will prove this with terrible ease.
Even the case of Mary Jones, dwelt upon with so much pleasure by the same character, is no effort of invention. The facts were stated exactly as they are stated here, in the House of Commons. Whether they afforded as much entertainment to the merry gentlemen assembled there, as some other most affecting circumstances of a similar nature mentioned by Sir Samuel Romilly, is not recorded.
It is a great pleasure to me to add in this place—for which I have reserved the acknowledgment—that for a beautiful thought, in the last chapter but one of "The Old Curiosity Shop," I am indebted to Mr. Rogers. It is taken from his charming Tale, "Ginevra:"
"And long might'st thou have seen
An old man wandering as in quest of something,
Something he could not find—he knew not what."
Devonshire Terrace, York Gate,
November, 1841.
