XXIV INTRODUCTION. 



For ourselves we have the pleasant reflection 

 that our editorial labour has been a labour of love. 

 And here it will be appropriate to state that the 

 utmost care has been taken in the work of supple- 

 menting the original text with such notes of 

 explanation as were necessary to bring the book 

 up to date, whilst we have given a verbatim tran- 

 scription of Gilpin's work with all his foot-notes, 

 quotations, and italicised words and expressions, 

 — deeming it our duty to interpose our own com- 

 ments as seldom as might be. The orignal text 

 is in large, and our editorial notes in smaller, type. 

 For the information conveyed in these notes we 

 are indebted to the courtesy of a large number of 

 correspondents. Amongst these our obligations 

 are especially due to Lieut. -Colonel Esdaile, of 

 Burley Manor, one of the verderers of our beauti- 

 ful New Forest, who has rendered us material 

 assistance in the prosecution of our inquiries — ■ 

 sparing no labour to promote an object in which 

 he heartily sympathizes, and working 'for the 

 very love of the thing.' 



London, August, 1879. 



