undue haste, and to publish the remainder in the compact form under
which they are now presented to the reader.
It may interest some to know that the first of the series, "The
Yarn of the Nancy Bell," was originally offered to "PUNCH,"--to
which I was, at that time, an occasional contributor. It was,
however, declined by the then Editor, on the ground that it was
"too cannibalistic for his readers' tastes."
W. S. GILBERT.
24 The Boltons, South Kensington,
August, 1876.
Ballad: CAPTAIN REECE.
Of all the ships upon the blue,
No ship contained a better crew
Than that of worthy CAPTAIN REECE,
Commanding of The Mantelpiece.