Apology
To the Honorable Gentlemen composing the Société d’Ethnographie, Nancy, France.
Gentlemen: In the above dedication I have the sincerest regret in committing, what under other circumstances would be an unpardonable insult upon the gentlemen of a learned body, none of whom I have ever had the honor of meeting, but whose position in the world of science and letters I know to be perfectly unassailable. Let me explain.
An oath, made to the late Charles Voudran, a former member of your Honorable Society, has compelled this regrettable action, which, otherwise, would have resulted in the loss of a vast amount of rare historical information to the world, as, I trust, a perusal of the following pages, will satisfactorily explain.
With the most profound respect,
Frederick O’Hoolihan.
(LORD GILHOOLEY.)