that as my pieces are mostly of new cloth, they will last the longer. Dr. Johnson has said: “All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know, than not.” Lord Orrery, in a letter to Dr. Birch, dated November, 1741, makes the following observation: “I look upon anecdotes as debts due to the public, which every man, when he has that kind of cash by him, ought to pay.” J. T. SMITH. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS JOHN THOMAS SMITH _Frontispiece_ From an Engraving by WILLIAM SKELTON of the Drawing by JOHN JACKSON, R.A. NANCY DAWSON _Facing page_ 10 From a Contemporary Print. ROYAL ACADEMICIANS REFLECTING ON THE TRUE LINE OF BEAUTY AT THE LIFE ACADEMY, SOMERSET HOUSE. ” ” 14 From a Drawing by ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. THE DELIGHTS OF ISLINGTON ” ” 17 From the Engraving by CHARLES BRETHERTON of the Caricature by HENRY WILLIAM BUNBURY. “SING TANTARARA--VAUXHALL! VAUXHALL!” ” ” 24 From the Drawing by ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). GEORGE WHITEFIELD ” ” 32 From a Painting by NATHANIEL HONE, mezzotinted by GRENWOODE. JOHN RANN ” ” 38 From a Contemporary Print. LONDON BEGGARS: JOHN MACNALLY ” ” 45 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH. LONDON BEGGARS: A SILVER-HAIRED MAN ” ” 52 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH. LONDON MATCH BOYS ” ” 58 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH. IMAGES ” ” 63 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH. THE ROYAL COCKPIT ” ” 68 From a Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON. DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON ” ” 78 From the Drawing by THOMAS TROTTER, done from life, and engraved by PRISCOTT. “PERDITA” ROBINSON ” ” 83 Transcriber’s Note: this picture was omitted from the original book’s list of illustrations, and has here been added. MRS. SIDDONS ” ” 85 From the Portrait by JOHN KEYSE SHERWIN, engraved by the painter. BENJAMIN WEST, P.R.A. ” ” 91 From the Painting by GILBERT STUART in the National Portrait Gallery. CAPTAIN FRANCIS GROSE ” ” 105 From the Drawing by DANCE, engraved by RIDLEY. COVENT GARDEN ” ” 108 From the Print, “Morning,” by HOGARTH. UMBRELLAS TO MEND ” ” 115 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH. CHRISTIE’S AUCTION ROOM ” ” 120 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). AN OLD LONDON WATCH-HOUSE ” ” 126 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). SIR HARRY DINSDALE AND SIR JEFFERY DUNSTAN ” ” 129 From Contemporary Prints. ELIZABETH CANNING’S IMPOSTURE ” ” 135 From a Contemporary Print. RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN ” ” 147 From the Painting by JOHN RUSSELL, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery. J. W. M. TURNER, R.A. ” ” 152 From a Water-Colour Drawing by JOHN THOMAS SMITH in the British Museum Print Room. GEORGE MORLAND ” ” 157 From a Drawing by ROWLANDSON. THE REV. ROWLAND HILL ” ” 161 From a Drawing by THOMAS CLARK, engraved by WILLIAM BOND. JAMES BARRY, R.A. ” ” 168 From the Portrait painted by himself, in the National Portrait Gallery. THE OLD HOUSE OF COMMONS ” ” 173 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). NEWGATE CHAPEL ON THE EVE OF SEVERAL EXECUTIONS ” ” 178 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE ” ” 181 From a Caricature (based upon a Drawing by BARTOLOZZI) in the National Portrait Gallery. LADY HAMILTON ” ” 184 After a Painting by ROMNEY. GIOVANNI BATTISTA BELZONI ” ” 188 From the Painting by WILLIAM BROCKEDON in the National Portrait Gallery. BARTHOLOMEW...