My honest friend, will you buy a Bowl, A Skimmer or a Platter? Come buy of me a Rolling Pin, Or Spoon to beat your batter. [Illustration: "_Six bunches a penny, sweet blooming Lavender!_"] Come buy my fine Writing Ink! Through many a street and many a town The Ink-man shapes his way; The trusty Ass keeps plodding on, His master to obey. Dainty Sweet-Briar! Sweet-Briar this Girl on one side holds, And Flowers in the other basket; And for the price, she that unfolds To any one who'll ask it. Any Earthen Ware, Plates, Dishes, or Jugs to-day,--any Clothes to exchange, Madam? Come buy my Earthen Ware Your dresser to bedeck; Examine it with care, There's not a single speck. See white with edges brown, Others with edges blue; Have you a left-off gown, Old bonnet, hat, or shoe? Do look me up some clothes For this fine China jar; If but a pair of shoes, For I have travelled far. This flowered bowl of green Is worth a gown at least; I am sure it might be seen At any christening feast. Do, Madam, look about And see what you can find; Whatever you bring out I will not be behind. * * * * * The Illustrations. Ten of the illustrations by that great master of the art of caricature, Thomas Rowlandson, are copied in _facsimile_ from a scarce set, fifty-four in all, published in 1820, entitled "Characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders," to which there is a powerful preface, as follows:-- "The British public must be already acquainted with numerous productions from the inimitable pencil of Mr. ROWLANDSON, who has particularly distinguished himself in this department. "There is so much truth and genuine feeling in his delineations of human character, that no one can inspect the present collection without admiring his masterly style of drawing and admitting his just claim to originality. The great variety of countenance, expression, and situation, evince an active and lively feeling, which he has so happily infused into the drawings as to divest them of that broad caricature which is too conspicuous in the works of those artists who have followed his manner. Indeed, we may venture to assert that, since the time of Hogarth, no artist has appeared in this country who could be considered his superior or even his equal." The two illustrations--"Lavender," with a background representing Temple Bar, and "Fine Strawberries," with a view of Covent Garden--are from "Plates Representing the Itinerant Traders of London in their ordinary Costume. Printed in 1805 as a supplement to 'Modern London' (London: printed for Charles Phillips, 71, St. Paul's Churchyard)." The set is chiefly interesting as representing London scenes of the period; many parts of which are now no longer recognisable.