Through the generosity of The Viscount Lambton, M.P., I
have had full access to the Lambton Papers and I can only offer
my sincere, though inadequate, thanks to him for this privilege,
as for his constant kindness, help and hospitality. I must also
gratefully acknowledge the help and kindness which I have
always had from Major Grey and his staff at the Lambton
Estate Office, and to the staff at both Lambton and Fenton.

As ever I have drawn continually on the resources of the
Leeds Library (a library which, I believe, was a few years old
when Radical Jack was born and which, I am told, Brougham
may have visited). I cannot measure the thanks which I owe
to Mr. Frank Beckwith, M.A., and to all his staff, especially to
Mr. Bumby and Mr. Walker. Their time and labour have always
been generously and courteously given. I count myself especi-
ally lucky in being able to draw not only on the Library's
immense collection of reference books but on Mr. Beckwith's
learning and scholarship and most of all on his specialized
knowledge of the period of which I was writing. I am indebted
to the City Librarian of Leeds, who kindly took much trouble
to get me some vital and rare works of reference.

The late Professor J. W. Williams, of St. Andrews University,
was unfailingly helpful with advice and criticism and took
enormous trouble in suggesting revision and instilling his own
standards of scrupulous accuracy. He was a great admirer of
Melbourne and the only tribute which I can now pay to his
memory is the hope that I have abated, in this respect, some-
what of what he used to call my 'pejorative eloquence'.

I should be churlish not to record my gratitude to the many
friends who have given me help and encouragement and, as
ever, to my sisters, Lettice and Barbara, and my friend Glen
Inglis, with all of whom I have discussed my work at all stages
of its progress; to Mark Hamilton, and all his colleagues at
A. M. Heath & Co. and to John Howard of the Cresset Press
for valuable suggestions. My wife and family have had Radical
Jack for breakfast, lunch, and tea for the last few years without
apparent resentment. I am as grateful to them for this as I am
for everything.

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