38
COLLECTION OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
that I was frankly met with the most unprejudiced and
congenial feelings ; and, even more than that, with a settled
and genuine sympathy for the benighted people whom my
works were representing, and a disposition to reward my
labours by kind and unexpected invitations to the hospi-
table boards of those who fill the highest and most enviable
stations in life.
To this general feeling it affords me pleasure to respond
in general terms, in this place ; and I shall have occasion, in
other parts of this work, to return my personal thanks for
such spontaneous kindness, which my lasting gratitude will
make it my duty to allude to.
The editors of the leading literary and scientific journals
of London, and of the daily newspapers, were chiefly there,
and with their very friendly and complimentary notices of
my collection, with the usual announcements by advertise-
ments, I opened it for the inspection of the public on the
first day of February, 1840.*
Its commencement was flattering, from the numbers and
high respectability of my visitors, and I was pleased, from
day to day, to meet the faces and friendly greetings of those
whom I had seen there at the private view.
I was pleased also with the freedom which is granted to
exhibitions in London, leaving them entirely independent
of tithing or taxation, as well as of licences to be obtained
from the police, as is the case in France and some other
countries. Under such auspices I very pleasantly com-
menced, with a rent of 550Z. per annum, and continued it
with reasonable success for the space of four years. The
vicissitudes and incidents of that time it is not the object
of this work to detail; but I shall connect the links of my
narrative better, and, I trust, do no injustice to my readers,
by reciting a few of the incidents that transpired in that
f
* The reader, by referring to Appendix A of this volume, will see the
comments of the Press on this Collection, in England, France, and the
United States.