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ALKEN, Henry.
Symptoms of Being Amused.
The work offers a window onto a particular Regency social milieu: fashionable and middle-class sporting England. The humour is aimed at them with the understanding that they will be the most likely purchasers. The interesting 'Symptoms of a Preface' leaf (not mentioned by either Schwerdt or Tooley) is, in effect, an advertisement for the proposed second volume of the Symptoms. The preface also mentions other similar works that Alken was undertaking and jokingly offers the book combined with the convivial company as a sterling cure for "Dull Care."
- Published
- London: Thos. McLean, 1822.
- References
- Tooley 57; Bobins II 755;
- Plates
- 41
- Binding/Size
- M=4to
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- London: Thos. McLean, 1822.
- Ref
- 124
Illustrated with 41 hand-coloured engraved plates, including the title page. Thin oblong 4to original red crushed morocco with gilt border and inner dentelles; (light foxing throughout; inner hinges repaired; bookplate ("Ex Libris: Campbell L. Hendriks") and catalogue description pasted inside cover. MS signature in pencil of Hendriks on prelim. Cream Moire endpapers. Volume one was the only volume published, a second was begun, but only 18 plates were ever completed. (thus making these latter plates being very rare indeed.) *Ron Norman of Hartlepool carried out rebinding and restoration work on this book. (Ronnorm@aol.com)* Coloured plates in order: 1. Frontis. 4 figs. Symptoms...of not being both of the same mind / ....of leaping a little short / ...of a down leap / ...of an upleap. 2. Title page. 3. 6 figs. Symptoms...of being drawn / ...of trotting / ...of a Recoil &c. 4. 4 figs. Symptoms...of doing the outside Edge / ....of doing the inside Edge / ...of a stop &c. 5. 4 figs. Symptoms...of delight / ...of going downhill / ....of being run away with &c. 6. 6 figs. Symptoms...of Patience / ....of kicking / ....of Style / ...of pain &c. 7. 4 figs. Symptoms...of having taken Lessons / ....of not having taken Lessons / ...of Hunting &c. 8. 6 figs. Symptoms...of having had enough / ...of fun / ...of Earnest &c. 9. 5 figs. Symptoms...of Notice to quit / ....of a Descent / ...of Honour / ....of Discretion &c. 10. 4 figs. Symptoms....of down with an up prospect / ....of up with a down prospect / ...of a hard mouth &c. 11. 4 figs. Symptoms...of being wanted / ....of Anxiety / .... of a has been / ....of Duck catching. 12. 4 figs. Symptoms....of a Rout / ....of Getting on / ....of fashion / ....of being put in Bodily fear. 13. 5 figs. Symptoms...of a Doze after dinner / ....of Giving Satisfaction / ....of Receiving Satisfaction &c. 14. 6 figs. Symptoms...of fine Feelings / ....of Terror / ....of Fun / ...of Village Scandal &c. 15. 5 figs . Symptoms...of a Spree / ....of a Smash / ....of going to qoud / ....of being us'd to it &c. 16. 5 figs. Symptoms...of coming from the Hunt / ....going to the Hunt / ....after Star Gazing / of an Elegant Writer &c. 17. 3 figs. Symptoms....of Watching / ....of the grey mare &c / Getting off the road. 18. 4 figs. Symptoms...of being bang up / ....of a fine Woman / ....of being bang down / ....of a quiet one. 19. 4 figs. Symptoms...of to be sold / ....of Despair / ....of who is there? / ....of sold and had him a week. 20. 5 figs. Symptoms...of catch my Horse / ...of Bog Trotting / ...of Expression &c. 21. 8 figs. Symptoms...of being very Windy / ....of being very dirty / ....of being very dry / ....of being very thick &c. 22. 4 figs. Symptoms...of an anxious Wife (2 examples) / ....of lacking Neat / ....of lacking Gas. 23. 5 figs. Symptoms...of being Married / ...of not being Married / ....of the Parade / ....of not likely to be Married &c. 24. 4 figs. Symptoms...of a few high words / ...of very showy but not fast / ...of very fast but not showy &c. 25. 6 figs. Symptoms....of my Lud / ....of a loose Rein / ....of Tight in hand / ....of easing a Patient &c. 26. 6 figs. Symptoms...of a declaration / ....of a Meltonian / ...of a Love Feast / ....of a Buck &c. 27. 6 figs. Symptoms...of breaking a Hunter / ....of spoiling a Chicken / ....of a bang up drive on a Sunday &c. 28. 4 figs. Symptoms...of unwelcome guests / ... A Consultation of Lawyers / .....A Consultation of Physicians &c. 29. 4 figs. Symptoms...of a Wild One tamed /..of a Wild One / ....of an uncertainty &c. 30. 4 figs. Symptoms...of the Manager's Judgement / ....on being on board a Packet (ship) / ....of the Saddle mis-placed &c. 31. 6 figs. Symptoms...of Tragedy / ....of Comedy / ....of the Old Story / ....of the Ornamental &c. 32. 2 figs. Symptoms...of a view on Bagshot Heath, 1st Sept / ...of training for the Epping Hunt. 33. 6 figs. Symptoms...of Full Pay / ...of Half Pay / ...of anything but go &c. 34. 6 figs. Symptoms...of a great one / ...of a fine one / ....of a queer one / ...of a save all &c. 34. 5 figs. Symptoms of a First Voyage...fit for the Home Station / ...fit for a Foreign Station / ....of taking in the trouble / .....of taking out the trouble &c. 35. 3 figs. Symptoms....of did not know the House had Stopped Payment /....of basting a joint / ....of following the Leader. 36. 2 figs. Symptoms...of a few neat ones going to a Mill / ....of returning from the Epping Hunt. 37. 3 figs. Symptoms....of learning to do the thing genteel / ...of Coming Out / .....of being foiled. 38. 5 figs. Symptoms...of entering Quod / ....of a Hunting Story / ....of being in Quod some time &c. 39. 6 figs. Symptoms...of -- Can't wait / ....of in cash - at an Inn / ....of out of cash & a little in debt at an Inn &c. 40. 5 figs. Symptoms...of doubtful Amusement - or Craneing / ...of anxious Amusement - or sure of a bite / ....of Public Amusement - or no Taxes / ....Dangerous Amusement - or a Slapper &c. 41. 4 figs. Symptoms...of Sporting friends likely to go together / ....of a Double-Entendre / ....of Sporting friends likely to separate / ....of sure to hit the mark.
