THE VICTORIA HISTORY 



The seventh decade of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's reign has been 

 signalized by the inauguration of this great National Work. It would 

 be impossible more fitly to emphasize the opening of the Twentieth 

 Century, or to find a worthier tribute to the personality and power 

 of the Sovereign who so graciously gave Her name to the work ; for 

 no undertaking so important as the Victoria History in scope, thorough- 

 ness, and picturesque character has ever before been conceived. Written 

 throughout by specialists; embodying facts from official archives, 

 unpublished private records, and transactions of learned societies ; 

 indebted in every county to personal and local research — it will tell 

 the story of England as it has never till now been told. It will 

 trace the life and growth of her people from times pre-historic to the 

 present moment, and will concern itself no less with the humblest 

 interests than with the greatest institutions of the land. 



In personal interest the Victoria History will be most absorbing. Not 

 only will it make clear the family histories of every country-side, but the 

 names of those who are no longer owners of land will be associated with 

 it through the coats of arms borne by their ancestors ; and those who have 

 recently acquired property, whether large or small, will appear in the list of 

 landed proprietors. 



The geology, the birds, butterflies and flowers, the fish in the streams — 

 indeed, the entire Natural History and the Sport and Pastimes of every 

 district will find a complete chronicle in its pages. 



Strange side-lights have often been thrown upon the loves, the intrigues, 

 and the commonplaces of an older day by even long-forgotten letters 

 curiously found ; and the Victoria History will turn all such evidence to 

 account. The romance of the past will reveal itself in places where little 

 suspected. Many a small house by the waterside will prove to have 

 been a home of the monks of old, or the village knoll — now rank with 

 grasses — a chieftain's moated stronghold, grim with iron grate and draw- 

 bridge, gay with the banners of the knights. 



There will be many thousands of coats of arms in colours, some 

 hundreds of ancient and modern maps, topographical illustrations, portraits 

 of famous men and women, and i6o Plates by a distinguished Landscape 

 Painter, showing characteristic scenery, specially done for this work. 

 Coloured ground plans will also be given showing the history of the 

 architecture of the Cathedrals, Abbeys, Priories, Castles, and Mansion 

 houses. 



[P.T.O. 



