The Natural History of Wiltshire | Page 6

me in, and the consequent time it would demand, or I must
have declined the task; for I have been compelled to neglect a superior
obligation which I owe to a host of kind and generous friends who have

thought proper to pay me and literature a compliment in my old age, by
subscribing a large sum of money as a PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL. In
return for this, and to reciprocate the compliment, I have undertaken the
laborious and delicate task of writing an AUTO-BIOGRAPHY which
will narrate the chief incidents of my public life, and describe the
literary works which I have produced. It is my intention to present a
copy of this volume to each subscriber, so as to perpetuate the event in
his own library and family, by a receipt or acknowledgment
commemorative of the mutual sympathy and obligation of the donor
and the receiver. Being now relieved from all other engagements and
occupations, it is my intention to prosecute this memoir with zeal and
devotion; and if health and life be awarded to me I hope to accomplish
it in the ensuing winter.*
* [The volume will contain at least fifteen illustrations from steel
copper, wood, and stone, and more than 300 pages of letterpress. A
copy of the work will be presented to each subscriber, proportionate in
value to the amount of the contribution. Hence three different sizes of
the volume will be printed, namely: imperial 4to, with India proofs, fur
subscribers of 10 [pounds}; medium 4to, with proofs, for those of 3
{pounds} and 5 {pounds}; and royal 8vo, with a limited number of
prints, for subscribers of 1{pound} and 2 {pounds}.]
To the MARQUESS OF NORTHAMPTON, a native of Wiltshire, the
zealous and devoted President of the Royal Society, my especial thanks
are tendered for his influence with the Council of that Society, in
obtaining their permission to copy Aubrey's manuscript; and also to
GEORGE POULETT SCROPE, Esq. M.P., for contributing materially
towards the expense of the copy, and thereby promoting its publication.
To my old and esteemed friend the REV. DR. INGRAM, President of
Trinity College, Oxford, I am obliged for many civilities, and for some
judicious corrections and suggestions. His intimate acquaintance with
Wiltshire, his native county, and his general knowledge of archaeology,
as well as of classical and mediaeval history, eminently qualify him to
give valuable aid in all publications like the present.
To JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS, Esq. F.S.A., both myself and the reader
are under obligations, for carefully revising the proof sheets for the
press, and for several valuable corrections.
To C. R. WELD, Esq. Assistant Secretary to the Royal Society, I am

indebted for affording facilities for copying the manuscript.
Lastly, my obligations and thanks are due to MR. T. E. JONES, for the
accurate transcript which he made from Aubrey's fair manuscript, for
collating the same with the original at Oxford, for selecting and
arranging the extracts which are now for the first time printed, and for
his scrupulous and persevering assistance throughout the preparation of
the entire volume. But for such essential aid, it would have been out of
my power to produce the work as it is now presented to the members of
the "Wiltshire Topographical Society," and to the critical reader.
JOHN BRITTON.
Burton Street, London. 1st September, 1847.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Title-page, with View of the Upper Part of the Tower of Sutton Benger
Church.
DEDICATION to G. P. SCROPE, Esq. M.P.
The EDITOR'S PREFACE; with Historical and Descriptive Particulars
of Aubrey's Manuscripts
Title-page to the Original Manuscript
DEDICATION, by Aubrey, to THOMAS, EARL of PEMBROKE
The AUTHOR'S Original PREFACE.
Letter from John Ray to Aubrey, with Comments on the Writings of the
latter.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. CHOROGRAPHIA :- Geological
Remarks, Local Influences
List of "THE
CHAPTERS
"

PART I.
CHAP. I. AIR:-Winds, Mists, Storms, Meteors, Echos, Sounds
CHAP. II. SPRINGS MEDICINAL :- At Chippenham, Kington St.
Michael, Draycot, Seend, Epsom, Melksham, Dundery-hill, Lavington,

Devizes, Minety, Wotton Bassett, &c.; Sir W. Petty's "Queries for the
Tryall of Minerall Waters"
CHAP. III. RIVERS :- Wily, North Avon, Upper Avon, Nadder, Stour,
Deverill, Kennet, Marden, Thames, &c.; Proposal for a Canal to
connect the Thames and North Avon.
CHAP. IV. SOILS :- Clay, Marl, Fuller's Earth, Chalk, Gravel, Sand;
Downs, Fairy-rings, Becket's Path at Winterbourn, Peat, Spontaneous
Vegetation, Hills
CHAP. V. MINERALS AND FOSSILS :- Iron, Silver, Copperas,
Umber, Spar, Lead, Coal.
CHAP. VI. STONES :- Of Haselbury, Chilmark, and Swindon; Lime,
Chalk, Pebbles, Flints; the Grey Wethers
CHAP. VII. FORMED STONES :- Belemnites, Madrepores, Oysters,
Astroites, Cornua Ammonia, Echini, &c.
CHAP. VIII. AN HYPOTHESIS OF THE TERRAQUEOUS
GLOBE :-Learned Speculations on the structure of the Earth.
CHAP. IX. PLANTS :- Herbs, Orcheston Knot-grass, Alhanna,
Tobacco, Oak, Elm, Beech, Hazel, Yew, Box, Holly, Osiers, Elders,
Ash, Glastonbury Thorn,