PREFACE. THE following Tales have been selected from many others, in the possession of Mr. Robert Cruikshank, for the purpose of Illustration. It was his original intention to have illustrated each Tale separately, and to have published it in a detached form; but, at the request of his friends, he has deter mined on bringing the whole before the public, in a SERIES OF VOLUMES. Should he meet with the encouragement he has been led to anticipate, and which, from the almost unexampled success that has attended his former efforts, he sees little reason to doubt, several other Volumes will, from time to time, make their appearance-the materiel being already provided, and affording rich scope for the pencil of the artist: |