ADVERTISEMENT. 



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 occur- 

 rences as well as antiquities. He is 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, many of 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 re- 

 turning his most grateful acknowledgments to the reverend the Presi- 

 dent and the reverend and worthy the Fellows of Magdalen College in 

 the university of Oxford, for their liberal behaviour 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 labours 

 and attention could only be equalled 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, they may 

 gratify the curiosity of the antiquary, as well as establish the credit 

 of the history. 



If the writer should induce any of his readers to pay a more ready 

 attention to the wonders of the Creation, too frequently overlooked as 



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