The principal circumstances connected with the design and early progress of this undertaking, are explained with equal candour and accuracy in the preceding comprehensive letter. Such particulars relating to its subsequent procedure, as are necessary to be communicated to the Subscribers, may be stated in the following terms, On the decease of Mr. Hood, which occurred in the year 1811, when not more than ten Volumes and a few Numbers had appeared, his successor declined the future management of the work; and that difficult task was undertaken by Mr. Harris, the present Publisher, in attention to the general wish of the remaining proprietors. In the performance of a duty implicating so many objects, and depending on so great a variety of co-adjutors, he has not failed to meet with many circumstances productive of delay and perplexity. But, conscious of using indefatigable exertions to hasten, as much as was possible, without hurrying, the completion; and equally conscious of adopting every measure which appeared to promise benefit to the publication; he relies on the candid approvance of the Subscribers, and trusts that the work, in its general character, is executed consistently with their wishes.odal (Feng, gry synduð 1 Camulet His exertions would have been unavailing without the Co-operation of the other proprietors. He b 2 feels feels it necessary and desirable to observe, that one sentiment alone has prevailed among the whole of those concerned in the property of this publication. Viewing it as a work calculated to meet with national encouragement, and to form a legitimate source of topographical information in ages subsequent to its first appearance, they determined on considering expense as a secondary object, and on procuring the best local intelligence which pecuniary liberality could command. It is requisite to state explicitly the different persons who have assisted in the principal divisions of the work, while under the management of the pre.sent Publisher. On the secession of Mr. Britton and Mr. Brayley, several writers were engaged to investigate and describe different counties. The following enumeration shews the gentlemen employed for respective districts: Vol. 12. Mared Comprising Northumberland Rev. John Hodgson. - F. C. Laird. Comprising Shropshire, So-) F. C. Laird, Rev. J. Nightingale. Vol. 13.3mersetshire, and Stafford-Rev. J. Nigh Vol. 14. Comprising Suffolk, Surrey Comprising Warwickshire Wiltshire T Vol. 15 Westmorland Rev. John Hodgson. Worcestershire Yorkshire Vol. 16. Vol. 17. North Wales Vol. 18. South Wales Rev. T. Rees, F.S.A. The completion of the Tenth Volume must be explained by the following brief statement.-This Volume consists of five Parts, and comprises the History of London and Westminster, together with that of the county of Middlesex. The eighteen first Numbers, (ending at page 720, of the Second Part,) were written by Mr. Brayley. It then became desirable to request other assistance; and the task of finishing the topographical account of London and Westminster was undertaken by the Rev. J. Nightingale. The Part comprising delineations of Middlesex, as a county separate from the metropolis, was written by Mr. J. Norris Brewer, and contains a notice of every parish in that county. It is presumed that the Public will duly appreciate the difficulty of continuing the pages relating to London and Westminster, a plan not laid down by the writer.** on In regard to the embellishments, the Publisher can truly aver, that engravers of the greatest eminence, or promise, have been anxiously sought after, A... The above five Parts, or Volumes, of the " Beauties of ENGLAND, are published separately, under the following title: "London and Middlesex; or an Historical, Commercial, and Descriptive Survey of the Metropolis of Great Britain, including Sketches of its Envirous, and a Topographical Account of the Snarkable P most re:narkable Places in the above County. Places in the above County. Illustrated with Engravings." The price of the Work, in boards, is 6l. 5s. small paper; and large paper, 101. b3 after, and their exertions liberally remunerated. He trusts, therefore, that the Plates will be found generally executed with due talent and fidelity. On finally taking leave of the Subscribers to this Work, and (on the present occasion) of its numerous friends, the Publisher and Proprietors have the sincere gratification arising from a consciousness of having endeavoured to realize every promise held forth at the commencement of the concern, with the exception of a List of the Subscribers. This promise was made in the infancy of the undertaking; and the subsequent extension of patronage, and alterations proceeding from the great length of time employed in its completion; will, it is confidently hoped, plead a sufficient apology for the abandonment of such a part of the original design. That very arduous part of the promised contents, an INTRODUCTION, comprising "a Review of British, Roman, and Saxon History," has been performed, at an expense of time and labour to which the size of the Volume is by no means correspondent. mold grote keybouw vakpoo 2254 The Subscribers will recollect that the Introductory Essay was originally intended to form part of the first Volume, but that its execution was deferred, on account of "the length of time, and extensive reading, necessary to the full investigation. and arrangement of the numerous and complex sub jeet jects it involves."It is hoped that the same causes of delay will obtain an excuse for its late appearance, when consigned to the hand of a writer unconnected with the work in its early stages. But he has great pleasure in acknowledging the friendly conduct of MR. BRITTON, who has, on every occasion, afforded with most obliging liberality, such information as was requested concerning the plan on which it was originally intended that the Introduction should be executed; and has, also, favoured the author with the loan of several rare books. poIt was observed, in a former address to the Subscribers, that "The publication of THE BEAUTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES, in a series of detached parts, rendered unavoidable a vast number of allusions to the state of the country in preceding times; and to the manners and endowments of the inhabitants, and the prevailing laws, institutions, and arts at different periods of history. To have elucidated these on every occurrence would have led to innumerable repetitions; and entirely to omit all elucidation would leave the Work much less complete and satisfactory than the Proprietors were desirous it should ultimately remain in the hands of their Subscribers. Necessity, therefore, has combined with inclination in throwing together, as Introductory matter, whatever is of general application." -dua zalqroq bus sporomup siz to framegun * Such Advertisement on the completion of the first Volume of the Beauties of England and Wales. b 4 |