amongst the books to which i am indebted for my material in my endeavour to draw various phases of life and character in england at the beginning of the century, i would particularly mention ashton’s “dawn of the nineteenth century;” gronow’s “reminiscences;” fitzgerald’s “life and times of george iv.;” jesse’s “life of brummell;” “boxiana;” “pugilistica;” harper’s “brighton road;” robinson’s “last earl of barrymore” and “old q.;” rice’s “history of the turf;” tristram’s “coaching days;” james’s “naval history;” clark russell’s “collingwood” and “nelson.”

i am also much indebted to my friends mr. j. c. parkinson and robert barr for information upon the subject of the ring.

a. conan doyle.

haslemere,

september 1, 1896.