The general reader, alien to what these pages tell about - the problems of the common people, that is - may suspect the writer of excessive bias: the pictures, he will say, are somewhat exaggerated, and the feelings turned out to be a little exaggerated. For this reason, the author considers it his duty to state that these descriptions mainly express his personal considerations. However, he sincerely hopes that he is turning to facts alone for help, and has found it necessary to remain silent about many, many truths. For we know so little about the affairs of the state that these truthful pages reek of fabulousness - and not everyone will want to study them carefully. Grovenor Gate, May 5, 1845