It may perhaps be very fairly said that the Reminiscences came out at a time specially suitable to rescue these features of national life and character from oblivion.

They had _begun_ to fade away, and many had, to the present generation, become obsolete.
To those who have not given their attention to the subject for the elucidation of which this volume has been written, I would present two specimens of the sort of materials from which they may expect to find these Reminiscences are compiled.

They are chosen to indicate a style of life and manners now fast fading away, and are taken from a period which lies within the scope of our own recollections.

Now, a subject like this can only be illustrated by a copious application of anecdotes which must show the features of the past.

And let me premise that I make use of anecdotes not for the purpose of telling a good story, but solely in the way of _illustration_.