XXX. THE FIRST WINTER MEETING. 



Histories. 



The earliest history or survey of the county of Dorset, excepting of course 

 Domesday Book and two Visitations made in the years 1562 and 1623 (the latter 

 by St. George and Leunard), and Camden's description, mentioned hereafter, 

 appears to be that by the Eev. Thomas Cox published in the year 1700, with a 

 map by Eobert Morden. Kext comes that by the Rev. John Coker, rector of 

 Mappowder, who left iu MS. "A Survey of Dorsetshire, containing the antiquities 

 and natural histoiy of the county, with a particular description of all the places 

 of note and ancient seats, and a copious genealogical account of 300 of the 

 principal families with their arms (on six folio copperplates), with a map of the 

 county by John Wilcox." This MS., after Mr. Coker's death, got into the hands 

 of a Mr. Earbury, who sold it to Mr. Wilcox, a London bookseller, who in 1732 

 published it in thin folio in its uncorrected and discordant state. This manuscript 

 was iu the year 1 874 in the possession of the late Rev. Nathaniel Bond, of Creech 

 Grange, and doubtless is still in the possession of the Bond family. 



Next followed a more ample and satisfactory account of Dorsetshire by the Rev, 

 John Hutchius, M.A., rector of Wareham and Swyre, published in folio in 1774, a 

 year after his death, which took place June 21st, 1773, under the title of "The 

 History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset ; compiled from the best and most 

 ancient historians, inquisitiones post-mortem, and other valuable records and 

 MSS. in the public offices, libraries, and private hands ; with a copy of Domesday 

 Book and the Inquisitio Gheldi for the county. Interspersed with some remark- 

 able particulars of natural history ; and adorned with a correct map of the county 

 (by J. Bayley), and views of antiquities, seats of the nobility and gentry," &c. 



In 1773 "A View of the principal Towns, Seats, Anti(iuities, and the remark- 

 able particulars iu Dorset, compiled from Mr. Hutchius' History of that County," 

 was published for the benefit of his widow and daughters, he dying before his 

 work was completely printed. 



A second edition of Mr. Hutchius' work, iu four volumes, large folio, corrected, 

 augmented, and improved by R. Gough and J. B. Nichols, with numerous 

 additional engravings of buildings, coins, antiquities, genealogical tables, &c., 

 was published in the years 1796, 1803, and 1807. A fire which raged at the 

 printing works of Mr. Nichols in 1808 destroyed all the unsold copies of Vols. I. 

 and II. and the whole that was printed of Vol. III. with the exception of a 

 single copy. 



The third and last edition of Mr. Hutchius' work, wliich should be well known 

 to you all, was publislied in four volumes iu folio, and also in royal folio (large 

 paper) in 1861, '63, '68, and '70, by Mr. William Shipp, of Blandford, who died 

 on Dec. 8th, 1873, before his work was completed. 



An English edition of Camden's description of Dorsetshu'e, with " additions " 

 and a good map (by E. Noble), was published in the year 1795. I find that an 

 earlier edition was published by Andrew Hee in 1637 (with a map by Kip) from 

 the translation by Dr. P. Holland; in this Dorchester is described as being 

 " neither rireat nor f.eautifid." 



