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1313.638,01.5 849577

1870, Feb. 11.
Gift of

Riv. Henry F. Jenks,
of Fitchburg.

(76.6.1863.)

HUGH,

Second Duke of Northumberland,

&c. &c. &c.

THIS INTRODUCTORY VOLUME

TO THE

BEAUTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES,

FORMING THE COMPLETION OF THAT WORK, IS INSCRIBED

WITH PROFOUND VENERATION.

THIS Volume was patronised by His Grace; and, by permission long since awarded, was to have been honoured with the sanction of his ILLUSTRIOUS NAME as its Patron. · The whole of its contents display the transitory nature of earthly glory. Alas! the page of Inscription is woefully emphatic. Between the intention and the act, the noblest work of God a GOOD MAN-passed from the earth!

Praise cannot now be deemed adulation! The writer, therefore, indulges in freedom of expression; and INSCRIBES THIS WORK TO THE MEMORY OF A NOBLEMAN who sustained the true dignity of his Rank by the Courtesy of

the

the complete Gentleman; whose VIRTUES were superior to the trials of every age; who presented in YOUTH a model for the affluent and ennobled, by the disdain of enervating pleasures, and the dedication of his talents to the most arduous field in which his Country required exertion; whose PRIME OF MANHOOD was equally useful in the Senate, and admirable in the exemplary practice of social duties; and who, in the retirement of ADVANCED AND DECLINING LIFE, inspirited patriotic effort by PRECEPT, as before by ExAMPLE, solacing the pains of decrepit seclusion by the exercise of benevolence, and the encouragement of the Literature and the Arts of that Country which his whole personal Career was calculated to adorn.

To the Memory of such a Nobleman, HUGH, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, this Work, a humble Tribute to his lamented FuneralMonument, is inscribed by

J. NORRIS BREWER.

PREFACE

TO THE

Beauties of England and Wales.

IN concluding this extensive work, the Publisher and Proprietors repeat the sentiments expressed on the completion of the first volume.— They await the decision of the Public, with confidence, intermingled with fear. The former is the offspring of the unceasing solicitude bestowed on every part of the undertaking; the latter of the occasional inaccuracies, and deterioration of embellishment, which, even with the most sedulous attention, seem hardly possible to be avoided in a performance of this description.

The time for professions is now passed. The work, in a complete state, is in the hands of the Subscribers; and must, from its own character, evince the sincerity of every avowal formerly made. But, in adverting to this circumstance, and whilst consigning the volumes to a reliance on their intrinsic merits, the Proprietors would beg leave respectfully to observe that their duty

consisted

consisted in selecting, and duly seconding the exertions of, literary men and artists. After the performance of such an obligation to the Subscribers and to themselves, on the part of the Proprietors, the opinions of the reader and connoisseur in the arts must apply to the respective writers, draughtsmen, and engravers. And it is hoped, that the efforts of all concerned have been equally zealous and able; and have gratified the expectations of those who have supported the undertaking.

Whilst speaking of this work, viewed as a whole, the Publisher reverts to those observations which he submitted on the completion of the Beauties of England and Wales as far as regarded the county surveys, and independent of the present volume, comprising an Essay introductory to the prosecution of Topographical researches, and to the study of our National Antiquities.

"It will be readily admitted by the candid of every class, and especially by those conversant in topographical investigation, that some errors and oversights are unavoidable in every department of a work so multifarious in its notices, and published with periodical expedition. These casual faults will plead, it is hoped, their own excuse with the liberal; and it is confidently presumed that no topographical work, equally comprehen

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