

ADVERTISEMENT TO ORIGINAL EDITION. 



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, s 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 ba 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. 



If the writer should at all appear to have induced any of his 



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