George Borrow commenced his literary career with a translation of Klinger's "Faustus" in 1825, and by a compilation of "Celebrated Trials" in the same year. Both these books appeared in London while he was engaged as a bookseller's hack, as described in "Lavengro." In 1826 Borrow returned to Norwich, and there he issued from the printing-house of S. Wilkin, in the Upper Haymarket, these "Romantic Ballads." He had worked hard at collecting subscribers, and two hundred copies were reserved for Norwich at half a guinea each copy; the remaining three hundred out of an edition of five hundred were sent to London. Some of these bear the imprint of John Taylor, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, 1826, while the remainder bear the imprint of Wightman & Cramp, of Paternoster Row, in the same year. Dr. Knapp only knew of the Taylor edition, because that is referred to in the correspondence. Copies, however, of the Wightman & Cramp edition are in existence, and the title-page will be found reproduced with those of the first and second issue in the opening pages of this volume. Borrow sent copies to Lockhart, and Cunningham advised gifts to other reviewers; but not a single review of the book appeared. Yet his subscription list "amply paid all expenses," as Borrow states in a letter to Cunningham. That list reveals the fact that such diverse persons as Dr. Bathurst, Bishop of Norwich, and Thurtell, the murderer of Mr. Weare, were among the Norwich subscribers, while Benjamin Haydon, John Timbs, and Thomas Campbell paid their half-guineas from London. Thurtell, we may add, was hanged before the book appeared. APPENDIX No. 2. Facsimile of Borrow's Manuscript from the Collection of Clement Shorter. {i:Manuscript of The deceived Merman--part 1: borrow1.jpg} {i:Manuscript of The deceived Merman--part 2: borrow2.jpg} Footnotes: {f:1} The goddess of death--according to the Northern mythology. {f:2} The paradise of the Northern mythology. {f:3} Moe in Danish signifies Maid, and is pronounced nearly like "May." May is Old English for Maid. {f:4} The Fairies.--Ellefolk. _Dan_. {f:5} Giants.--Jette. _Dan_. {f:6} Dovrefeld is the highest mountain in Norway, and in Europe. {f:7} Some of the many powers attributed to "Runic verses" will be found described in the song so intituled, in the latter part of this volume. {f:8} Boune, to get ready. {f:9} Rede, advise. Raader.--Dan. {f:10} Woxen, grown. Voxen.--Dan. {f:11} Jesus Christ. {f:12} Grene shaw, green wood.--Old English. {f:13} Brute-carl, dyre-carl.--_Original_. {f:14} By this nose under the chin must be understood, that the elf has so long and crooked a nose, that it reaches and turns up under his chin. Crooked noses are, in all stories, allowed to be an ingredient of fiendish physiognomy. {f:15} Svobt udi maard.--_Original_. {f:16} Slaae mig et mit Ledemod sonder. {f:17} Burly, strong.