As Mr. Ainsworth’s _positive and flat contradictions_ and his contemptible insinuation as to my _labouring under a singular delusion_ have led some persons to form erroneous ideas and to draw false conclusions upon this question, I feel placed in a very serious position as regards my _character for truthfulness_ and the _condition of my intellect_; and I am therefore _compelled in self-defence_ to place certain facts before the public to prove beyond the fear of _contradiction_ that what I have asserted is the truth, and that it is Mr. Ainsworth who is _labouring under a delusion_, or has unfortunately lost his memory. And in order that this question may be clearly understood, I now proceed to give a full and particular account of all the professional transactions between myself and Mr. W. Harrison Ainsworth when we were both on the most friendly terms and both working together to amuse the public; and also to show how it was that this friendship and joint labour ceased, now some twenty-eight years ago; and although I feel it a positive duty to myself to make these statements, it is, nevertheless, to me rather a painful task, well knowing that it will place Mr. Ainsworth in a very awkward position as regards his conduct towards me, the explanation of which he will feel bitterly, but which he has brought upon himself, for had he, in common justice, acknowledged that _I was the originator of certain ideas and characters up to which he had written_, the facts which I am now about to state would never have been placed before the public.