PREFACE. IN sending these volumes to press, it would be ungrateful not to avow my satisfaction in the great and continued popularity of the "Book of the Seasons." The cordiality, indeed, with which both my own and Mrs. Howitt's writings have been received by the public, is the more gratifying, seeing that we have lived, in a great measure, apart from the literary circles, have belonged to no coterie; had no connexion with the influential of the critical press-and at the time of the publication of our first volume, did not actually know one literary person. We have not, therefore, had the benefit of that interest which naturally springs from personal intercourse with literary parties. Whatever kindness has been shewn to our writings-and it has been both great and greatly felt, with, it is true, some exhibitions of critical spleen, to us quite unaccountable-has been shewn to our writings themselves. Whilst acknowledging this, there is one fact that I am bound not to pass over without notice. In availing myself of occasional passages from the works of cotemporaries, I have but one simple rule; and that is, uniformly to acknowledge the loan. It is a glorious rule, “to do as you would be done by :" and I regret to have to complain, that that golden rule has not been very nicely observed towards me. The Book of the Seasons has been, by several writers, freely drawn upon for descriptions of nature, and the seasons, without the slightest acknowledgment. I believe every original anecdote and trait of birds and other animals, has been extracted, and repeated so frequently, without any intimation of whence they are borrowed, that any one now reading the Book of the Seasons for the first time, would naturally imagine that I myself had borrowed them of others. In one of the last volumes of Time's Telescope that appeared, after that interesting work had ceased to be under the management of my worthy friend John Millard, free and unacknowledged use of such things was made. In one of the Companions to the British Almanack, the tables of the migrations of birds which had cost me much labour to construct, were taken entire, and in the following volume the borrower felicitated himself on being the happy author of these tables! In one of the books of Mr. Jesse, I observed the anecdote of the landrail, taken from the Book of the Seasons (p. 223), without any acknowledgment whence it came, and probably without his knowing it. I am bound to notice these facts, for the mainten ance of literary right. If such a system be permitted with impunity, it will soon become necessary to set up warning boards against trespassers in books as well as in gardens and grounds. It is pleasant enough to see one's self quoted,-not quite so pleasant to see one's self plundered. I am perfectly sensible of the compliment of being quoted; but it ceases to be a compliment when unaccompanied by a fair acknowledgment. But enough: I make these remarks reluctantly, and I trust that I shall not have occasion to renew the subject; but rather that opportunity will be offered me, from time to time, to remove any errors that may have crept into this work, and to render it, by additional information, a perfect portraiture of English country life. My object in these volumes has been to present to the reader a view of the Rural Life of England at the present period, as seen in all classes and all parts of the country. For this purpose I have not merely depended upon my acquaintance with rural life, which has been that of a great portion of my own life from boyhood, but I have literally travelled, and a great deal of it on foot, from the Land's-End to the Tweed, penetrating into the retirements, and witnessing the domestic life of the country in primitive seclusions and under rustic roofs. If the mountains and valleys, the fair plains and sea-coasts, the halls and farm-houses, the granges, and cottages of shepherds, miners, peasants, or fishermen, be visited in these volumes with a tenth part of the enjoyment with which I have visited them in their reality, they must be delightful books indeed; for no moments of my existence have been more deliciously spent, than those in which I have wandered from spot to spot of this happy and beautiful island, surveying its ancient monuments, and its present living men and manners. It will be seen on the title-page, that the embellishments of these volumes are both designed and engraved by Samuel Williams: the only exceptions being, that I am indebted to our accomplished friend Miss Twamley, of Birmingham, for the sketch on the title-page of the first volume; and for those of the Charcoal-burner's Hut, and Morgan Lewis's last View of the Fairies, to our excellent young friend Miss Tregellis, of Neath Abbey. The embellishments altogether must, I think, for their beauty and spirit, excite general admiration. West-end Cottage, Esher, Surrey, November 21st, 1837. W. H. CONTENTS. Pre-eminence of England as a Place of Country Residence-Its Political and Moral position-The Conveniences conferred Enviable Position of the English Country Gentleman as regards all the Pleasures and Advantages of Life-Every Art and Energy exerted in his Favour-by them his House sur- rounded with Delights-The News, and the Luxuries of the World brought to his Table-Books, Music, Paintings at his command-Farming, Gardening, Planting, Field-sports all within his grasp-Scenes which offer themselves to extend his Pleasures-The Service of his Country open to him- |