Upon my
return to town, I received a farewell ode from my Spirit in the Clouds,
evidently written under a misconception that the English Spy was about
to withdraw himself for a time, from his sketches on men and manners,
when in fact, although his labours will here close with the completion
of a Second Volume, his friends will find, that he is most desirous of
still engaging their attentions in a new form, attended not only by all
his former associates, but uniting in his train the brightest and the
merriest of all the choice Spirits of the Age.
BERNARD BLACKMANTLE TO HIS READERS.
To prevent a misconception, and do himself justice, the author of the
English Spy feels it necessary to state, that in every instance the
subjects for the Plates illustrating this work have been furnished by
his pen, and not unfrequently, the rough ideas have ~338~~first emanated
from his own pencil; while he states this fact to prevent error, he is
most anxious to acknowledge the great assistance he has derived from the
inimitable humour and graphic skill in the execution of the designs, by
his friend Robert Transit.
[Illustration: page338]
A SHORT ODE AT PARTING,
FROM HIS "SPIRIT IN THE CLOUDS"
TO THE ENGLISH SPY.
~339~~
Prospero. Now does my project gather to a head;
My charms crack not; my spirits obey:
----How's the day?
Ariel.
Pages:
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920