The Prospectus alluded to at page xi., was after the following form.
--“The grand object of this Work is an attempt to portray what is termed ‘SEEING LIFE’ in all its various bearings upon Society; from the _high mettled_ CORINTHIAN of St. James’ _swaddled_ in luxury, down to the _needy Flue-Faker_ of Wapping, _born without a shirt_, and destitute of a _bit of scran_ to allay his piteous cravings. ‘LIFE IN LONDON’ then, is the sport in view; and provided the _Chase_ is turned to good account. ‘SEEING LIFE’ will be found to have its _advantages_. No leaning upon the elbows is necessary to _imagine scenes_, after the manner of the ‘Mysteries of Udolpho,’ neither has it been deemed expedient to have a fairy stationed upon a Lake, during the thunder and lightning of some dreadful night, in order to work up the mind of the Writer to depict what he has seen, with a touch of the terrific.
“The DESIGNS have been sketched, as they occurred, and the Artists, in conjunction with the Writer, have booked the ‘GLOWING SCENE, _fraught with fun, gaiety, style_, anecdote, _and character_,’ at the moment it presented itself, and which, if once lost sight of, perhaps, could never have been retraced;--instead of trusting to their _recollection_ at an after period, which has too often been the cause of giving a sort of _insipidity_ and _dulness_, characterizing ‘STILL’ instead of the fire and animation that hovers over ‘_Real_’ LIFE.
“It will, also, be found that ‘JERRY’ had higher objects in view, than _breaking a Watchman’s lantern_, and agitating a _tinkler_ to _queer_ the _Roosters_, or, that his energies and talents existed _only_ in a Row. It is not necessary, however, to dilate on the merits of a Work that affords such an inexhaustible scope, as ‘Life in London;’ neither, perhaps, is it too much to conclude, that it will be a production, at which the GRAVE may smile, the GAY feel delight, the COMICAL laugh heartily, and the PATHETIC have occasion for a wipe. The MODEST it is trusted, will not have occasion to turn aside with disgust, nor the MORALIST to shut the book offended. The CORINTHIANS likewise, will have no occasion to be ashamed to acknowledge ‘TOM’ as one of their party; the UNIVERSITIES not the slightest complaint to _expel_, or even _rusticate_ ‘BOB LOGIC,’ nor the large Family of the HAWTHORNS to disown--poor JERRY, for his SPREES and RAMBLES in the METROPOLIS.”