In conclusion, I permit myself a few words in explanation of that which I know will be laid to my charge, namely, that my book tells too little of Leech and too much of his work, and that it is chronologically deficient. In excuse I plead that the life of Leech as I knew it from its early days was, like that of most artists, entirely devoid of such incidents as would interest the public; and that from the difficulty of acquiring certain information, and the varying times at which it was supplied, chronological accuracy was impossible. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER PAGE PROLOGUE 1 I. EARLY DAYS 3 II. EARLY WORK 20 III. MR. PERCIVAL LEIGH AND LEECH 75 IV. MEETING OF MULREADY AND LEECH 95 V. "THE PHYSIOLOGY OF EVENING PARTIES," BY ALBERT SMITH 104 VI. JOHN LEECH AND THE ETON BOY 130 VII. MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR 137 VIII. "THE MARCHIONESS OF BRINVILLIERS," BY ALBERT SMITH 151 IX. "THE MARCHIONESS OF BRINVILLIERS"--CONTINUED 163 X. "A MAN MADE OF MONEY," BY DOUGLAS JERROLD 178 XI. ALBERT SMITH AND LEECH 206 XII. MR. ADAMS AND LEECH 233 XIII. "COMIC GRAMMAR" AND "COMIC HISTORY" 255 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE PORTRAIT OF JOHN LEECH _Frontispiece_ HERCULES RETURNING FROM A FANCY BALL _To face p._ 3 PHYSICIAN AND GENERAL PRACTITIONER 27 "WHERE 'AVE WE BIN? WHY, TO SEE THE COVE 'UNG, TO BE SURE!" 29 AN EYE TO BUSINESS 31 BUT AUGUSTUS'S HEART WAS TOO FULL TO SPEAK 33 "SIR! PLEASE, MR.! SIR! YOU'VE FORGOT THE DOOR-KEY!" 38 ETON BOY (_loq._): "Come, governor! just one toast--'The Ladies'!" 39 THE RETURN FROM THE DERBY 43 THE DERBY EPIDEMIC 44 SOMETHING LIKE A HOLIDAY 46 ALARMING SYMPTOMS ON EATING BOILED BEEF AND GOOSEBERRY-PIE 47 "SO YOU HAVE TAKEN ALL YOUR STUFF, AND DON'T FEEL ANY BETTER, EH?" 50 AWFUL APPARITION TO A GENTLEMAN WHILST SHAVING IN THE EDGWARE ROAD, SEPTEMBER 29, 1846. 51 "A HOLDER AND A THINNER WINE" 53 "HOLLO! HI! HERE, SOMEBODY! I'VE TURNED ON THE HOT WATER, AND I CAN'T TURN IT OFF AGAIN!" 54