PREFACE. XXV11 



to dispose of the crown of their kings ; and the 

 high chevaleresque feelings which lead him to look 

 down with scorn upon the sordid maxims of a 

 nation boutiquiere, have all conspired to cause the 

 compiler of this work to give a colour to facts, and 

 an asperity to his remarks, from which a calmer 

 observer would have been more free. Nevertheless, 

 the work is highly interesting, as containing in a 

 tangible form the most authentic account of the ac- 

 tual condition of Great Britain and Ireland, which 

 condition is traced up to its source, and presented 

 by one who, if not without some bias of his own, 

 is at least free from all which might pervert the 

 judgment of a man born and educated amongst our- 

 selves, with the prejudices incident to the political 

 and religious creed in which he would have been 

 brought up. The remarks of the compiler every- 

 where exhibit proof of great acuteness, long habits 

 of observation, and unwearied assiduity of re- 

 search. 



H. D. 



London, January, 1842. 



