ii 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
common occurrences ; or if he should by any means, through his 
researches, have lent an helping hand towards the enlargement of the 
boundaries of historical and topographical knowledge ; or if he should 
have thrown some small light upon ancient customs and manners, and 
especially on those that were monastic ; his purpose will be fully 
answered. But if he should not have been successful in any of these 
his intentions, yet there remains this consolation behind — that these 
his pursuits, by keeping the body and mind employed, have, under 
Providence, contributed to much health and cheerfulness of spirits, 
even to old age: and, what still adds to his happiness, have led him 
to the knowledge of a circle of gentlemen whose intelligent communi- 
cations, as they have afforded him much pleasing information, so, 
could he flatter himself with a continuation of them, would they ever 
be deemed a matter of singular satisfaction and improvement. 
Such is the modest address with which the author of the following 
pages ushered his interesting work into the world, and no apology 
can be necessary for adding a complete edition of the work to the 
many already before the public. In furnishing notes to the work, I have 
been actuated by a warm desire to induce all who may honour them with 
a perusal, to apply personally to the investigation of the beautiful works 
of creation, every where so lavishly bestowed for our contemplation. 
It was this object, on the part of the author, quite unalloyed by any 
expectations of celebrity, which originally led him to the publication 
of his most interesting series of letters ; and the popularity of this 
unassuming volume abundantly testifies to the well-merited success 
which has already (it may well be presumed) more than crowned the 
most ardent hopes indulged in by this faithful historian of his native 
village. I fear the annotations to the natural history portion attest 
too evidently the want of sufficient leisure, and bear the impress of a 
mind harassed by conflicting occupations ; but which cleaves to its 
favourite pursuit in defiance of every obstacle and interruption, and 
eagerly avails itself of every occasion to contribute a mite to the 
stock of general information. 
Having committed an error, at page 75, in asserting that the Coast 
chaffer ( Melolontha folio ) does not occur in Britain, I gladly seize 
the opportunity which here offers to contradict the statement ; having 
been since informed that this fine beetle has been met with, in con- 
siderable abundance, in two or three localities along the southern 
coast;. This species pertains to the same generic division as the com- 
