PREFACE.

In closing this volume, it is necessary I should state that MR. RYLANCE, with whose name the subscribers. have already been made acquainted, extended his labours to the end of the SHROPSHIRE account only. I engaged that Gentleman to make an actual survey of this interesting county; and from the fruit of my friend's exertions, aided by the obliging communications of several Gentlemen resident in SHREWSBURY and other places, and by availing myself of the little assistance, which printed materials have furnished, I drew up the present account. I am as conscious, as any native of the place can be, that I have fallen far short of what is required, in delineating so charming a district as the county of Salop. Under this consciousness, I have anticipated objections, and prepared my mind for the criticisms of the most fastidious. It should, however, be remembered, that this sketch, meagre and imperfect as it is, is the only attempt that has hitherto been made to describe this county. The "Account of Shrewsbury," by the Rev. HUGH OWEN, is the only book of the least consequence deserving notice, if, indeed, we except the excellent Agricultural Survey by the Rev. ARCHDEACON PLYMLEY, (now Corbet). Phillips's History of Shrewsbury is entirely superseded by Mr. Owen's book.

The

The county of SOMERSET, has been more successful. It is the great mart of fashion-the splendid summer resort of the gay and the rich, and the constant residence of a very large portion of our English nobility and gentry. And yet even this county did not find an adequate historian before the year 1791, when the REV. JOHN COLLINSON published his very excellent History. Numerous, however, have been the books and pamphlets published in illustration of detached parts of this county; particularly of the cities of Bath and Bristol. These various stores of information left but little to be done in addition to that which they contain. I have, however, availed myself of the local knowledge of several intelligent gentlemen on the spot: my greatest obstacle arising more from a difficulty of leaving out what could be spared, without manifest injury to my work, than from any want of materials for a much more extended survey than the limits of my plan would admit. Yet could I have foreseen certain events connected with this extensive publication, my delineations of Somersetshire had certainly assumed a somewhat different feature. As far as I have been permitted in regard to extent, I trust the descriptions are faithful and just.

serve.

Of the county of STAFFORD, I have not much to obPLOT'S Natural History, and SHAW's General History, furnish much valuable information; but the one is too full of extraordinary relations, anecdotes, and local allusions of a trifling nature; and the other too much loaded with pedigrees and genealogies, besides that it has not yet been completed, to answer the entire purposes of my own labours. Most of the places I have myself visited; particularly of those reserved for the unpublished portions of Mr. Shaw's History. An alteration in the

original

original plan of this portion of the volume, resolved upon by the proprietors of the work, has compelled me, in a very few instances, to retrace my ground and, in consequence, also, I have not been able to pay that attention to some places mentioned in the early part of my delineations which their importance demanded. I have however, done my best; and if all has not been done which some may expect, it has not been owing, either to want of interest in my subject, or of zeal and industry in its prosecution.

A mind weighed down with numerous domestic afflictions; and labouring, at the same time, under the most poignant, and the most undeserved injustice and oppression, is but ill calculated for those exertions which are ever needful to the attainment and security of literary reputation. Such has been the case with the author of the following sheets; and though he now feels himself rising above the tremendous wreck, the effects of those sorrows and those oppressions will ever remain visible on the labours accomplished during the conflict. This consideration, though it will not remove, or even excuse, palpable errors, will at least soften the severity of criticism; while those partial friends, who may be desirous of approving, will reflect how much more the author would have merited their approbation had he been free to have exerted himself to the best possible advantage.

The real Beauties of a country are those of an intellectual nature. This is a sentiment more than once expressed in these volumes; and, under the conviction of its justness, I have given a scope to subjects of Biography and History, which, under a different persuasion, I might have employed in picturesque declamation, or flights of colouring, which many parts of the counties herein described might perhaps have fairly warranted me

in doing for we have past over no ordinary or com

mon beauties of nature.

Nothing now remains but to make my grateful acknowledgements to such among my numerous correspondents and kind contributors who have not prevented me, as some have done, by an ill-judged modesty, from giving publicity to their names. To the REV. HUGH OWEN, M. A. F. S. A. I am particularly indebted for many valuable descriptions and remarks relative to our early ecclesiastical architecture. To ARTHUR AIKIN, Esg. for some valuable communications and corrections, relative to the mineralogy of Shropshire. To Mr. D. PARKES, of Shrewsbury, for several useful hints, and for the very liberal loan of several excellent original drawings. To J. F. M. DoVASTON, of West Felton, Esq. I would express myself in terms better able to convey my high sense of his politeness, and of the kindness and assistance rendered to my friend, during his late visit to that part of Salop, had I the same facility of communicating my thoughts with which nature has so liberally endued that ingenious and most excellent gentleman. To M. WOOD, of Marsh Hall, Esq. to JOHN HULME, M. D. of Ball Haye, Esq. to WILLIAM SNEYD, of Ashcombe House, Esq. to his lordship, the Right Rev. DR. JOHN MILNER, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District, to the venerable and Rev. JOSHUA TOULMIN, D. D. and to numerous other Gentlemen, resident in the counties herein delineated, for many valuable hints and communications, I have great pleasure in making my most sincere and grateful acknowledgements, as also to several anonymous correspondents, some of whose letters have contained information of considerable importance. London,

July 5th, 1813.

Of the Beauties of England, perhaps no county contains a

more interesting share than the one now under consideration. It possesses every variety of natural charm; the bold and lofty mountain; the woody and secluded valley; the fertile and widely-cultured plain; the majestic river, and the sequestered lake. It is no less rich in those remains of ancient times, which awaken a thousand enthusiastic reflections, by engaging us in the contemplation of the memorable events of our history. Besides these claims to the attention of the topographer and the antiquary, it has others of a nature more substantial, though less brilliant, which equally engage the notice of the statistical enquirer: The rich stores of iron, lead, coal, and stone; the increasing manufactures, and the agricultural improvements of this flourishing district, have raised it highly in the scale of national importance, while its inland navigation has rendered it an emporium of the trade between England and Wales, and a grand eentre of connection to the inland counties of the kingdom.

It is, therefore, a matter of surprise and regret, that so interesting a portion of British topography should never have been embodied in a regular form. The materials for the history of VOL. XIII.

A

this