"Quite a mistake! completely a mistake!" said the old gentleman, becoming rather angry at the contradiction; "I am well aware of what I am saying: I can inform you, no such a person as 'Edward Lear' exists!"

Hitherto I had kept silence; but as my hat was, as well as my handkerchief and stick, largely marked inside with my name, and as I happened to have in my pocket several letters addressed to me, the temptation was too great to resist; so, flashing all these articles at once on my would-be extinguisher's attention, I speedily reduced him to silence.

The second volume of Nonsense, commencing with the verses, "The Owl and the p.u.s.s.y-Cat," was written at different times, and for different sets of children: the whole being collected in the course of last year, were then ill.u.s.trated, and published in a single volume, by Mr. R.J. Bush, of 32 Charing Cross.

The contents of the third or present volume were made also at different intervals in the last two years.

Long years ago, in days when much of my time was pa.s.sed in a country house, where children and mirth abounded, the lines beginning, "There was an old man of Tobago," were suggested to me by a valued friend, as a form of verse lending itself to limitless variety for rhymes and pictures; and thenceforth the greater part of the original drawings and verses for the first "Book of Nonsense" were struck off with a pen, no a.s.sistance ever having been given me in any way but that of uproarious delight and welcome at the appearance of every new absurdity.

Most of these Drawings and Rhymes were transferred to lithographic stones in the year 1846, and were then first published by Mr. Thomas McLean, of the Haymarket. But that edition having been soon exhausted, and the call for the "Book of Nonsense" continuing, I added a considerable number of subjects to those previously-published, and having caused the whole to be carefully reproduced in woodcuts by Messrs. Dalzell, I disposed of the copyright to Messrs. Routledge and Warne, by whom the volume was published in 1843.

EDWARD LEAR.

VILLA EMILY, SAN REMO, August, 1871.

NONSENSE BOTANY.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Barkia Howlaloudia.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Enkoopia Chickabiddia.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Jinglia Tinkettlia.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Nasticreechia Krorluppia.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Arthbroomia Rigida.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sophtsluggia Glutinosa.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Minspysia Deliciosa.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: s...o...b..otia Utilis.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Stunnia Dinnerbellia.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tickia Orologica.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Washtubbia Circularis.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tigerlillia Terribilis.]

ONE HUNDRED NONSENSE PICTURES AND RHYMES.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was a young person of Bantry, Who frequently slept in the pantry; When disturbed by the mice, she appeased them with rice, That judicious young person of Bantry.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an Old Man at a Junction, Whose feelings were wrung with compunction When they said, "The Train's gone!" he exclaimed, "How forlorn!"

But remained on the rails of the Junction.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old person of Minety, Who purchased five hundred and ninety Large apples and pears, which he threw unawares At the heads of the people of Minety.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old man of Thermopylae, Who never did anything properly; But they said, "If you choose to boil eggs in your shoes, You shall never remain in Thermopylae."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old person of Deal, Who in walking used only his heel; When they said, "Tell us why?" he made no reply, That mysterious old person of Deal.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old man on the Humber, Who dined on a cake of Burnt Umber; When he said, "It's enough!" they only said, "Stuff!

You amazing old man on the Humber!"

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old man in a barge, Whose nose was exceedingly large; But in fishing by night, it supported a light, Which helped that old man in a barge.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old man of Dunrose; A parrot seized hold of his nose.

When he grew melancholy, they said, "His name's Polly,"

Which soothed that old man of Dunrose.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old man of Toulouse Who purchased a new pair of shoes; When they asked, "Are they pleasant?" he said, "Not at present!"

That turbid old man of Toulouse.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old person of Bree, Who frequented the depths of the sea; She nurs'd the small fishes, and washed all the dishes, And swam back again into Bree.