Gay Freeman, art thou hired for him? To be that easy guest; Whereas whoever plays for pelf, (Like Bennett) only gives him-self, Or her-like Mrs. West! Nay, thou-to look beyond the stage, Continued of the play; The same companionable sprite Thy whim and pleasantry by night Are with thee in the day! [This year's announcement of "The Comic" appeared in "The Athenæum" in November.] ADDRESS. THE public in general, and the Livery of London in particular, are respectfully informed that, in spite of Sir Peter Laurie, the "Comic Annual," like the Lord Mayor, intends to come forward for "one cheer more." It will appear in the same month with the new Chief Magistrate ;-and the usual quantity of prose and verse, with a new service of plates, are in active preparation for the occasion. Having twice served its office before, there is little necessity for any declaration of its unpolitical principles ;-but its studious aim being to be "open to all parties," it pledges itself to attend impartially (for 128.) to any requisition that may be addressed to Mr. Tilt, Fleet Street, modestly sug gesting, that, in compliance with the decided spirit of the Times, the purchaser should inquire for the "COMIC ANNUAL"-the whole "COMIC ANNUAL"-and nothing but the “COMIC Annuai“ 1832. [THE "Comic" for this year was inscribed to King William the Fourth, a Dedication probably suggested by the Duke of Devonshire. From this volume are reprinted two Odes-one to the Secretary of the Zoological Society, the other to Joseph Hume.] THE COMIC ANNUAL FOR 1832. + DEDICATION. To HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY KING WILLIAM THE FOURTH, A Monarch so truly anxious to promote the happiness of his Subjects, This Volume, Intended to add to their cheerfulness, is dedicated, With gracious permission, by the head, hand, and heart of PREFACE. It is with sincere gratification that I proclaim, for the third time, the banns between this Annual and the public; for when a work has thus been regularly "asked out," there seems a likelihood that the reader intends to cleave unto it for the future. I am duly sensible of the distinction. The late Dr. Gregory, in his Legacy, has said, that a female ought to be ready to bestow her affection on an admirer out of mere gratitude for his preference; and on the same principle the Comic feels, and begs to acknowledge quite a passion for the Nobility, Gentry, and the Public in general. It would be a vanity-for persons may be as vain of their modesty as of any other quality-to affect much diffidence or timidity on a third appearance. As recommended by the Beard of Health, I discard anxiety and keep up my spirits, trusting sanguinely to the favourableness of the present season for the present volume. Between the Reform Bill and the Cholera, the public has been so drugged by the House of Commons and Doctors' Commons, that figures of speech, neither political nor medical, must come as figures in high relief. Accordingly, by the advice of Sir Henry Halford and my Publisher, I have added five hundred copies to my impression; and if these should hereafter be left on the shelf, I shall be consoled for the private loss by the public gain— supposing, of course, that the one-hundred and ninety-nine Lords will have taken the warning of "Bill-Stickers Beware!" and that the Indian pest shall be obliterated by that Indian rubber, Mahomed of Brighton. I am happy to say, that this year I have no occasion to complain of my contemporaries. The Falstaff that attempted to Burke me last year, is himself a subject for the Coroner; and the Offering seems remorsefully to have swallowed its own laudanum. The Humourist, it is true, is out of humour, but not with me ; so that there are hopes for the future that between the Comics there will be no serious misunderstanding. To prevent any other misapprehensions, it may be as well to state, that the article called "Domestic Didactics" is by no means intended as a quiz on the Attempts at Rhyme by an old servant of Dr. Southey, but only as a wholesome warning, after the manner of Dean Swift, to footmen in general, against their courtship of the Nine when they may be wanted by ten, and of the absurdity of their setting out for Parnassus when they are required to attend at Almack's or the Italian Opera. In the same manner the author of "An Assent to the Summut of Mount Blank," might be supposed to have been a servant of E. B. Wilbraham, Esq., whereas, not to mention the internal evidence of the blue and silver livery, the reader of that gentleman's account in the Keepsake will remember that no followers are mentioned except the guides. Having thus explained, I respectfully make my bow, and tender my Christmas present for the present Christmas. ODE TO N. A. VIGORS, ESQ. ON THE PUBLICATION OF "THE GARDENS AND MENAGERIE OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY." "Give you good den."-SHAKESPEARE. So Mr. V.,-no Vigors-I beg pardon- In Brute-on Street, Or ever wandered in your "Bird-cage Walk." Yet, I believe that you were truly born |