RIMTOR'S PHEFAI^E. 



The manuscripts of Col. William Byrtl, of Westover, the fiither of the last 

 proprietor of tlie same name, of different dates from 1728 to 173G, are con- 

 tained in a large folio volume hound in parchment, which has been carefully 

 preserved in his family, until recently placed in the hands of the editor. The 

 whole is in the hand-writing of a cop3'ist, but written evidently undei- the 

 immediate direction of its author, as there are numerous corrections, inter- 

 lineations, and more considerable additions, in his own hand-writing. The 

 book was doubtless copied exactly from the author's earliest draught on loose 

 sheets, which were aftei'wards destroyed, as useless. At any rate, this old 

 volume is the only copy in existence. The Historical Society of Virginia 

 obtained the consent of the proprietor of the manuscripts to have them 

 copied, with a view to publication. But the operations of that society ceased 

 before the publication had been commenced, and when only one of the seve- 

 ral manuscripts had been copied. It was one of the latest acts of the last 

 proprietor, George E. Harrison, Esq., of Brandon, to place at our disposal 

 this highly valued work of his distinguished and talented ancestor, with per- 

 mission to publish any portion, or the whole of the contents, provided the 

 manuscript volume itself should be preserved uninjured, and afterwards re- 

 stored to the owner. The better to secure the latter object, the copy of the 

 part made for the use of the Historical Society, has also been placed in our 

 hands by the directors. 



Tlie manuscripts offer abundant internal evidence tliat they were written 

 merely for the amusement of the author, and for the perusal of his family 

 and friends, and not with any view to their being printed. This adds much 

 to their other and important value. For there prevails throughout, as in the 

 private letters of an accomplished writer, a carelessness in the mode of ex- 

 pression, and a manifest freedom from all restraint, which together serve to 

 render subjects pleasing and interesting, that, however worthy of consider- 

 ation, would be dry and tedious if the writer had sought for the applause, or 

 feared the censure, of the reading public. The author was a man " too 

 proud to be vain," and who neither cared for, nor thought of seeking, public 

 applause for his writings. The influence of that first feeling, and its results, 

 naturally operated on his children and later descendants, to deter them also 

 fi!"om publishing the manuscripts ; and this course, besides being in con- 

 formity with tlie writer's intention, was perhaps deemed the more proper, 

 because of his great freedom of expression, and of censure, often tinctured 

 by his strong "church and state" principles and prejudices, and which might 

 have given offence to some of the individuals or classes who were tlie sub- 

 jects of his free remarks. But at this late time, there no longer remains, if 

 there existed before, any reason for withholding these interesting writings 

 from the public. And there is no free expression of even the prejudiced and 

 erroneous opinions of the writer, which, to an intelligent and liberal-minded 

 reader, -would now give off<?nce. Col. Byrd was a true and worthy iiihoitor 

 of the opinions and feelings of the old cavaliers of Virginia ; and it is liecause 

 from such a soiutc, as well as being designed at first as private and confi- 

 dential, that his writings should be now considered. 



