120 Kington St. Michael. [John Britton. 



under which it was composed are sufficient apology for its defici- 

 encies. A third volume relating to North Wilts, and far superior 

 to the former, appeared after the more mellowed experience of 

 twenty-four years. 



In 1800 he had made another walking Tour in company with 

 his friend Brayley, preliminary to a larger work for which they 

 had jointly engaged, '' The Bemities of England and Wales." Between 

 the 8th June and 20th September they travelled 1350 miles. So 

 little were they aware of the nature of their undertaking, that this 

 work was at first announced to be completed in six volumes within 

 three years. Eventually it grew to twenty-six ; but only the first 

 eight were written by the original authors. " The history of this 

 once popular publication" (saj^s Mr. Britton), "in progress for 

 nearly twenty years, would involve a curious and rather lamentable 

 exposition of the "Quarrels of Authors" and their dissensions with 

 publishers, as well as certain caprices and forbearances of the latter. 

 My own personal share and miseries in this drama were often 

 painful, always perplexing and oppressive. At length the authors 

 separated, and engaged with the booksellers to be responsible for 

 the writing of certain counties and volumes." Mr. Britton wrote 

 Lancashire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire for the ninth volume: 

 Monmouth, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Wiltshire. 



In 1805 he showed Josiali Taylor, the architectural bookseller, some 

 drawings of ancient buildings which the conductors of the "Beauties 

 of England" had not thought calculated for its pages. After some 

 consultation it was agreed to commence a new quarto work entitled 

 the "Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain." A plan was digested, 

 a prospectus written, Longman and Co. engaging to take a third 

 share and be the publishers. It extended to five qviarto volumes, 

 and brought before the public 3G5 engravings representing a great 

 variety of old buildings, as well as many historical and descriptive 

 essays by several pens. This work gave rise to a new school of 

 artists, both draftsmen and engravers, as well as to many rival 

 publications. It appeared in numbers, Mr. Britton receiving £30 

 per number for the fiist four volumes, with £10 additional for such 

 nuiubirs as were roprintwl to meet an increased demand. The fifth 



