E-text prepared by Dave Newman, Ben Courtney,
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INTRODUCTION.
In offering this little book—the third of its kind—tothe public, I am glad to take the opportunityof recording the pleasure I have received at the appreciationits predecessors have met with, as attestedby their wide circulation, and by the universally kindnotices of them from the Press. To have been themeans of administering innocent mirth to thousands,may surely be a just motive for satisfaction, and anexcuse for grateful expression.
At the same time, I am desirous of adding a fewwords as to the history of the two previously publishedvolumes, and more particularly of the first ororiginal "Book of Nonsense," relating to which manyabsurd reports have crept into circulation, such as thatit was the composition of the late Lord Brougham, thelate Earl of Derby, etc.; that the rhymes and picturesare by different persons; or that the whole have asymbolical meaning, etc.; whereas, every one of theRhymes was composed by myself, and every one ofthe Illustrations drawn by my own hand at the timethe verses were made. Moreover, in no portion ofthese Nonsense drawings have I ever allowed any caricatureof private or public persons to appear, andthroughout, more care than might be supposed hasbeen given to make the subjects incapable of misinterpretation:"Nonsense," pure and absolute, havingbeen my aim throughout.
As for the persistently absurd report of the late Earlof Derby being the author of the "First Book of Nonsense,"