POINTS OF HUMOUR
Part II.
By Anonymous
By The Designs Of GEORGE CRUIKSHANK
Ten Engravings of Copper, Twelve Wood Cuts
1824
" Let me play the fool:With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come;And let my liver rather heat with wine,Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,Sit like his grandsire, cut in alabaster?Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundiceBy being peevish?"Shakspeare
CONTENTS
POINT I. THE THREE HUNCHBACKS.
POINT II. A RELISH BEFORE DINNER.
POINT III. THE HAUNTED PHYSICIANS.
POINT IV. THE FOUR BLIND BEGGARS.
POINT IX. A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS,
PREFACE.
The best preface to this set of the Points of Humour is the formerset, which, we are credibly informed, has favorably disposed the musclesof our readers for repeating a certain cackling sound, which is heart-foodto our friend George Cruikshank.
One individual, for certain, has laughed over these Points, and he is avery worthy gentleman, who may be, discerned wedging his way throughsundry piles of books in a remarkable part of Newgate-street, beingopposite to the huge prison of that name. No one ever asked him after thesale of this little work, without observing an instantaneous distension ofthat feature of the face which is used for more purposes than merelygrinning. It is to be devoutly hoped that this second set will not spoilhis merriment, and that, as rather a coarse saying goes, "he will not bemade to sing to another tune."
The author, collector, compiler, editor, writer, or whatever name thedaily or weekly critics may give him, for they have given him all these,will, undoubtedly, be heartily sorry should this change take place, for heavows that since the publication of the Points, the face of the worthygentleman alluded to has been illuminated by one unclouded sunshine, somuch so, indeed, that to enter his shop has been a constant resourceagainst melancholy during this gloomy weather. A face lighted up with goodhumour in a dark shop, is like a blaze of light in the middle of one ofRembrandt's murky pictures.
It will be seen that the compiler has taken a hint, or rather followeda hint of one of the critics upon this little book. He has resorted forpart of his materials, to the author, who is the riche