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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 

 reverend the President 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, may 

 gratify the curiosity of the antiquary, as well as establish 

 the credit of the history. 



