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.