ADVERTISEMENT TO ORIGINAL EDITION 



THE Author of the following Letters takes the liberty, 

 with all proper deference, of laying before the public 

 his idea of parochial history, which, he thinks, ought 

 to consist of natural productions and occurrences as well 

 as antiquities. He is also of opinion that if stationary men 

 would pay some attention to the districts on which they reside, 

 and would publish their thoughts respecting the objects that 

 surround them, from such materials might be drawn the 

 most complete county-histories, which are still wanting in 

 several parts of this kingdom, and in particular in the county 

 of Southampton. 



And here he seizes the first opportunity, though a late one, 

 of returning his most grateful acknowledgments to the rev- 

 erend the President and the reverend and worthy the Fellows 

 of Magdalen College in the University of Oxford, for their 

 liberal behavior in permitting their archives to be searched by 

 a member of their own society, so far as the evidences therein 

 contained might respect the parish and Priory of Selborne. 

 To that gentleman, also, and his assistant, whose labors and 

 attention could only be equaled by the very kind manner in 

 which they were bestowed, many and great obligations are 

 also due. 



Of the authenticity of the documents above-mentioned there 

 can be no doubt, since they consist of the identical deeds 

 and records that were removed to the College from the 

 Priory at the time of its dissolution; and, being carefully 

 copied on the spot, may be depended on as genuine; and, 

 never having been made public before, may gratify the curi- 

 osity of the antiquary, as well as establish the credit of the 

 history. 



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