'This prolonged work is, at length, brought to a close. It has grown to this size under rare and continuing marks of public favour; while the same mode of composition has been employed in the last as in the former volumes. They are all equally indebted to Mr. Rowlandson's talents.
'It may, perhaps, be considered as presumptuous in me, and at my age, to sport even with my own dowdy Muse, but, from the extensive patronage which Doctor Syntax has received, it may be presumed that, more or less, he has continued to amuse: And I, surely, have no reason to be dissatisfied, when Time points at my eightieth year, that I can still afford some pleasure to those who are disposed to be pleased.
'The Author.'
The illustrations to the third volume, which are quite equal both in spirit, invention, and execution to those designs which suggested the framework of the first and second Tours, are as follows:—
- Frontispiece.—Doctor Syntax setting out in search of a Wife.
- Vignette, on Titlepage.—Doctor Syntax assisting at an Instrumental Trio.
- Doctor Syntax Soliloquising.
- ""turned Nurse.
- The Banns forbidden.
- Doctor Syntax with a Blue Stocking Beauty.
- The Cellar Quartetto.
- Doctor Syntax Presenting a Floral Offering.
- The Billiard Table.
- Misfortune at Tulip Hall.
- The Harvest Home.
- The Garden Trio.
- Doctor Syntax at a Card Party.
- ""Star-gazing.
- ""in the wrong Lodging-House.
- ""received by the Maid instead of the Mistress.
- The Artist's Room.
- Death of Punch.
- The Advertisement for a Wife.
- Doctor Syntax and the Foundling.
- The result of Purchasing a Blind Horse.
- A Noble Hunting Party.
- Introduction to Courtship.
- Doctor Syntax in Danger.
- The Funeral of Doctor Syntax.
The popularity which attended the three Tours in the form of their original publication induced Mr. Ackermann to issue a fresh edition in 1823. The three volumes were printed in 16mo, instead of royal 8vo, and the plates were re-engraved, one-third of the original size. This pocket edition, containing all the illustrations, in a reduced form, was published at the moderate price, considering the plates were coloured by hand, of seven shillings a volume; the former series having been produced at one guinea per volume.