passes rapidly on, but even the days that are spent may “As withered roses yield a late perfume,” and so give us often very bright and happy retrospects. Perhaps it may soon be a self-inspired and pleasurable task for someone to take up the thread of the “Old Stager’s” story, and bring it down to the present time. Meanwhile, let us hope that the kindly enterprise of the publisher may be rewarded by a rapid demand for this little book, at once of real interest to old Liverpool families and at the same time so simple and sketchy in its style as to give it no place whatever in the “records” of the community. CLARKE ASPINALL. LIVERPOOL, 1885. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. In the year 1852, _Liverpool a Few Years Since_, by “An Old Stager,” was republished in “a more abiding form” than it had previously assumed in the columns of the _Liverpool Albion_. The little book sold off rapidly, notwithstanding its being somewhat expensive, as compared with the wonderfully cheap publications of the day, and it is now out of print. It has many a time and oft been suggested that a further and cheaper issue would be acceptable to the Liverpool public, The publisher has, therefore, assumed the responsibility of the present issue; and, learning that such was his intention, I have ventured to “preface” the original preface by a word or two in explanation of the circumstances and surroundings under which the Author penned these sketches.