INIEODtrCTOET CHAJPTEE. IX

struck by several incidents in the manuscript—such as the de-
scription of Gximaldi's infancy, the burglary, the brother's
return from, sea under the extraordinary circumstances detailed,
the adventure of the man -with the two fingers on Ms left hand,
the account of Mackintosh, and his friends,, and many other
passages,—and thinking that they might be related in a more
attractive manner, (they were at that time told in the first
person, as if by Grimaldi himself, although they had necessarily
lost any original manner which his recital might have imparted
to them;) he accepted a proposal from the publisher to edit the
book, and has edited it to the best of his ability, altering its
form throughout, and making such other alterations as he con-
ceived would improve the narration of the facts, without any
departure from the facts themselves.

He has merely to add, that there has been no 'book-making in
this case. He has not swelled the quantity of matter, but
materially abridged it. The account of Grimaldi's first courtship
may appear lengthy in its present form; but it has undergone
a double and most comprehensive process of abridgment. The
old man was garrulous upon a subject on which the youth had
felt so keenly; and as the feeling did him, honour in both stages
of life, the Editor has not had the heart to reduce it further.

Here is the book, then, at last. After so much pains from so
many hands—including the good right hand of G-EOEGE CETJIK:-
SHANK, which has seldom been better exercised,—he humbly
hopes it may find favour with the public.

DOTJGHTY STREET,
February, 1838.iohard