PREFACE. 



Little more need be said by way of Preface to this Work, 

 than is necessary to explain how it has been reduced from its 

 former bulk to a more convenient size. This object has been 

 attained by excluding the long liistorical and financial disqui- 

 sitions inserted in the Work when first published, as well as 

 many tabular abstracts of official accounts, (upon the accuracy 

 of which implicit reliance could not be placed) ; and also by 

 rejecting whatsoever appeared to be calculated rather to gratify 

 curiosity, than to prove of real utility. Much additional matter 

 has nevertheless been incorporated, with all the essential inform- 

 ation contained in the first Edition ; and some parts of the pre- 

 sent Work are entirely new. A few of the MS, Notes of the 

 late Mr. Milburn have been used ; but the chief portion of 

 the additions has been supplied from other sources, private as 

 well as public. 



Criticism must not be wasted upon the style of this Work. 

 The descriptions are mostly given in the words of the original 

 Author (who wrote from actual observation) ; the supplementary 

 matter is expressed in language which the Editor has been 

 desirous of making intelligible, rather than elegant. 



Lmidmi, Augusts, 1836 



