xiv PREFACE. 



A very extensive and important change has, within 

 these few years, taken place in the parish of Selborne. 

 In consequence of the purchase of a large portion of 

 the parish by Lord Selborne, then Sir Roundell Palmer, 

 a proposal was made by him to Magdalen College " to 

 form a church-district comprising Blackmoor, Eveley, 

 Oakwoods, and Oakhanger, and to build and endow, 

 at his own expense, a church and parsonage for the 



same." 



This proposal has been fully carried out. The old 

 parish of Selborne is now divided according to the above 

 plan, and the new parish of Blackmoor is, to all eccle- 

 siastical purposes, distinct from that of Selborne proper. 

 Lord Selborne has, with great munificence, built at his 

 own expense a noble church, a most commodious parson- 

 age, and large schools, and endowed the living with the 

 proceeds of certain lands in the parish of Selborne. The 

 blessing of this arrangement is incalculable. A very 

 considerable portion of the old parish was at such a 

 distance from the church and the schools as practically 

 to preclude its inhabitants from all the advantages of 

 education and of public worship. A convenient school- 

 chapel has also been built in the hamlet of Oak- 

 hanger, on a site given by the Hon. John Dtttton. 



Some allusion may perhaps be expected to the long 

 delay which has occurred in the publication of this 

 edition since it was first announced. For this the 

 Editor has to express his sincere regret, which, how- 

 ever, would be more painful were it not for the con- 

 sideration that many of the most interesting documents 



