INTEODUCTION. 



Nearly a century has passed since English readers 

 were first charmed by the perusal of a series of 

 works which, emanating from the pen of a clergy- 

 man, and composed in the quietness and seclusion 

 of an English woodland village, were given to the 

 world under the title of ' Observations relative 

 chiefly to Picturesque Beauty.' Their Author 

 was William Gilpin, ' Prebendary of Salisbury 

 and Vicar of Boldre, in New Forest, near Lym- 

 ington ; ' and the books have been handed down 

 to the present generation, are carefully preserved 

 in select libraries, are prized by book collectors, 

 and are, still, eagerly sought for by those who 

 have heard of Gilpin's fame but have never seen 

 his writings. 



But of all Gilpin's delightful works his ' Forest 

 Scenery ' is the most famous ; and the best proof 

 of the popularity of the particular portion of his 

 ^ Observations on Picturesque Beauty ' published 



