designs, from that mirth-inspiring graphic humourist, Robert Cruikshank. For mine own whims, scattered here and there through the work, they will, I have no doubt, be easily discovered, by their very humble pretensions to any right of admission into the phalanx of great names in whose company they are now associated. But, Wits and Critics, as ye are powerful, be merciful; and remember, that taste and industry for such a task are the great requisites of a compiler, and that it is not essentially necessary for a _good_ collector to be a _great_ artist. =BERNARD BLACKMANTLE,= _Author of the English Spy, Editor of The Spirit of the Public Journals, &c. &c._ THE FRONTISPIECE. Portrait of his Majesty George the Fourth. DRAWN FROM THE LIFE BY WAGEMAN, AND ENGRAVED BY WOLNOTH. _Explanation of the Emblematic Border to the Portrait of the King, containing an Epitome of British Sovereignty._ The Genius of Ancient Britain is represented by a Druidical head encircled by a wreath of oak; the face is partly hidden behind the blazonry of modern achievement. The head, supported by the Roman eagle and the Saxon horse, is inclosed in the involutions of the scroll which proceeds from it, and which next embraces the devouring eagle of Scandinavia, and the warlike lion of Normandy. Following these are emblems of the contests of the houses of York and Lancaster, surrounded by the rival roses. The Scriptures opened are appropriate to the Tudor family; and their national emblem, the thistle, is considered most emblematical of the Stuart race. A lion, with the cap of liberty, denotes the benefits England has derived from their successors, the Prince of Orange; and the unicorn chained to the scroll is indicative of Hanover attached to the sovereignty of Great Britain. The imperial crown of Charlemagne, which surmounts Brunswick, is nearly obscured and lost behind the crown and sceptre of a British sovereign, George the Fourth, WHOM GOD PRESERVE. [Illustration] PROLEGOMENA ON PUNNING. RESPECTFULLY ADDRESSED TO PUNSTERS IN GENERAL. LITERARY FIREWORKS. What are Puns, and Jests, and Quirks? But Literary _Fireworks_. Here are _squibs_ for dull November; _Crackers_, too, for gay December; _Rockets_, charged with wit and fun; _Wild-fires_ made to touch and run; _Blue-lights_ from the Em'rald Isle; _British-balls_, to chase the bile; _Roman fires_, and _jeux d'esprits_; From Vatican, and Thuilleries; And here's Blackmantle--punning elf-- To personate Guy Vaux himself. It will doubtless be the opinion of many a reader that a Prefatory Essay on such a subject as _Punning_ can possess little of interest, and nothing of novelty. I would, however, request any one entertaining this idea to suspend his judgment till he has given the matter ampler consideration. In addressing these preliminary remarks to punsters in general, I think I have taken effectual means to render them of universal interest. When a certain author, who had dedicated one of his volumes "_to those who think_," was charged with want of judgment in catering for such a limited number of individuals, he justified his discernment by observing, that, however little numerous the body of _thinking people_ might be, every reader would at least rank himself in that class. Our question can stand on much broader ground; for we assert, without fear of contradiction, that of the many judicious persons who, without doubt, will peruse and patronise these pages, not one will be found who is not only, _se judice_, a punster, but who has not, probably "many a time and oft," exhibited among his boon companions whatever portion of talent he may possess in that line of wit. It has been asked by a well-known...