THE OLIO; OR, MUSEUM OF ENTERTAINMENT. "A just image of human nature, representing its humours, and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, for the delight and instruction of mankind."-DRYDEN. From shilling touch to pompous folio."-MRS. BARBAULD. Printed by Shackell and Carfrae, and Published by JOSEPH SHACKELL, 2, BARTLETT'S PASSAGE, FETTER LANE, SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. MDCCCXXIX. PREFACE. THE OLIO having reached its Second Volume, it is our duty, as well as our inclination, to address a word or two to our supporters, both subscribers and correspondents. To the first we shall put this question :-Have we redeemed the promises made at the conclusion of our first volume?-If we may judge from our success, and from its weekly increase, we have. We pledged ourselves to abate no exertion in keeping the Work in all respects up to its first appearance in paper, print, and design; and where there was an opportunity for improvement, to make it, without regard to trouble or expense. These promises we trust we may be allowed to say we have performed to the very letter. genius of our articles, whether original or selected, has been ably illustrated by the genius of our artist; and we look back with allowable pride on both. In typographical respects we have also sedulously endeavoured to keep "the word of promise" to the eyes of our readers; and, though our work is necessarily hurried, we hope we may be acquitted of presumption, when we invite a comparison of our weekly production with others blest with more time and circumspection. The To our correspondents we shall next address ourselves.. Have we given satisfaction to them?-It has been our to endeavour to cultivate a good understanding with the least as well as the greatest of that numerous body; bring, by proper encouragement, the diffident into the day; and to aid and direct the more daring in their flights of fancy. If we have sometimes refused the crude efforts of others, it was "more in sorrow than in anger”. -we wished to give them time and the opportunity of doing better. To some of our writing friends we must indeed acknowledge ourselves greatly indebted-to one especially, the young author of some of our most piquant tales. To others we would willingly pay the compliment of personal mention, did their modesty allow of naming them, and our limits permit. They have, however, our hearty thanks, both in private and in public; and we look to have their assistance in our continued endeavours to gratify them, our subscribers, and readers in general. In conclusion, we shall assure them, each and all, that no pains, no diligence shall be spared to keep the OLIO what it is allowed to be,-a pleasant and an instructive miscellany of many mental meats; and saying this, we respectfully wish our friends a happy new year, which, of course, includes health, and the means of enjoying it and turn again to our task. January 14th, 1829. 99 WOOD. a better soldier than he was a subject: seeing, that upon the first breaking out of the civil wars, between Henry the Second and his ingrate sons, he had joined himself to the party of the latter, and at the time of our tale, he was, with the young By the Author of " Stories of Chivalry princes, Henry, Geoffroi, and Richard, and Romance." IN the "hot and piping days" of the first Plantagenet, lived, as is well known, that prince of Archers, Robin Hood; whose well feathered shafts were aimed with as little ce remony against the lordly prior of St. Mary's as against the fat bucks of Barnsdale and Sherewood forests. At the same period also, lived Sir Philip Murdach, the renowned sheriff of Nottingham, immortalized in ballad and legend, for having been more successful in maintaining the king's prerogatives in that good town, than in the wooded domains by which it was environed. Now the proude sheriffe" had entrusted to his care and guardianship the daughter of his noble cousin, Sir Gilbert Marsh; a knight who possessed, as he well merited, the reputation of being VOL. II. B at the Court of the French monarch. Alice Marsh was as pretty a maid, and as cheerful as you would meet with in a summer day's ramble, through any county in this fair realm, not even excepting Lancashire itself, where, as we know She had been blessed by nature with to our cost-pretty maidens most abound. "A merry eye,-a cherry lip, A passing pleasing tongue!" and there was a lightness and buoyancy in her gait, which showed she had been a stranger to those sorrows and disappointments which oppress the soul, and darken the sunny horizon of youth. Moreover, heaven had favoured her with as lovely a set of features as ever entered into the formation even of an English countenance.Her hair was black as the raven's wing, and 29-SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1828. |