The Agony Column of The 'Times' 1800-1870

THE contents of the little volume now presented to the public have been taken from the second column (commonly called the "Agony Column") of the Times newspaper, from the commencement of the present century to the end of the year 1870. Readers of newspapers (more especially of the Times) cannot fail to be struck by the mysterious communications which daily appear, and I venture to hope my selection of some of the most remarkable may interest those who peruse these pages. Most of the advertisements selected show a curious phase of life, interesting to an observer of human existence and human eccentricities. They are veiled in an air of mystery, with a view of blinding the general public, but at the same time give a clue unmistakable to those for whom they were intended.