PREFACE.

THE Author of "the Spas of England" cannot put forth the concluding portion of that work without apologizing for the delay which has unavoidably taken place in its publication. In glancing at its Contents, which in spite of every desire of curtailment, have extended over upwards of six hundred pages, the reader will at once perceive that observations, embracing nearly two-thirds of the island, and referring to between seventy and eighty places, whether Cities, Towns, Spas, or Sea-bathing Stations, personally visited by the Author, could hardly be embodied in the form of a continuous narrative within a narrower circle, or in less time than has elapsed since the appearance of the First Volume containing the Northern Spas.

The Author, moreover, had to consult various documents, obtain much useful statistical information, and correspond with several persons in the country, in order to secure to his performance that degree of fullness and accuracy as to facts and deductions, without which he felt that "the Spas of England" would never earn for themselves the character of faithfulness, as well as usefulness, which has been accorded to "The Spas of Germany."

Lastly, the Author had to contend against many interruptions incidental to a London medical practitioner at this peculiar season.

Notwithstanding all these causes of delay, however, it is hoped that these Volumes appear opportunely, and at the very period of the year when such a work is most

likely to be wanted by those for whose service it is especially written, and who may purpose to pass the summer

months either at a Spa or at some Sea-bathing place.

The Author next desires to call the attention of his readers to two particular features of the present Volumes. The first is the introduction of not fewer than three recentlydiscovered Spas of value, particularly the one in Lincolnshire, of which no account exists in any previous work. The second is the greater extent given to the consideration of CLIMATE, the eligibility of certain marine residences for invalids, and the local peculiarities of places with reference to habitation and the recovery of health in England, than has ever been accorded to similar subjects in any other general work published in this country, even when those works have been announced as treating especially of such matters.

If this portion of his Work serve its intended object, that of supplying people in delicate health with a real HANDBOOK of CLIMATE, the Author will consider himself well repaid for his pains. Under this head he can with confidence point to his account of Torquay, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Southampton, Ventnor, Brighton, St. Leonards, Hastings, Dover, and, above all, Bournemouth, contained in the present Volumes,-which have been made to embrace at great length, and not, as in other works, to the extent of a single page or so, every particular concerning those places as residences, most likely to interest the class of individuals here referred to unfortunately a very

numerous one.

In concluding what the Author had to state preliminarily of the present portion of his work, he has to regret that the great length to which it has already extended, prevents him from making use of the notes he had taken of a few remaining, though minor, mineral springs, principally in the vicinity of London. These notes must for the present lie idle in his

portfolio; as it would be impossible, in justice to the Public or the publisher, to swell out farther with them the present Volumes.

If it may now be permitted to the Author to look back to his First Volume, he would avail himself of the present opportunity of so doing, principally with the view of performing a spontaneous act of justice to the managers and proprietors of that great railway which it had been his painful duty to comment upon in severe terms in the volume in question. Circumstances since the appearance of that publication having brought the Author frequently in contact with that establishment, he has been enabled to witness the many and important changes for the better, and the improvements as to order and regularity, that have taken place in its administration and the working of its details; and he has great pleasure in adding, in his capacity of a medical man, that on the occasion of having to convey, a short time since, an invalid of great consequence, by a special train, from a distance of nearly an hundred miles, to London, the Author being placed in direct communication with two of the active directors, and the still more active secretary of the company, as well as with the principal officer who superintended the whole trajet, (which was effected in two hours and fifteen minutes,) he found them all, not only courteous and anxious to give satisfaction themselves, but strict and methodical in seeing that those who served under them should conduct themselves in the like manner, so as to ensure safety and convenience, as well as the best accommodation, for the illustrious patient.

While on the subject of the first volume, the Author ought also in fairness to make his acknowledgments to several private individuals, distinguished either in the literary or the medical world, not less than to the periodical press in general, (with a solitary exception that can neither hurt nor surprise the Author) for the encouraging manner in which they received his performance, and have urged him to its continu

ance. But fearing lest his words of gratitude should be misconstrued into expressions of solicitude for the like flattering reception of his present Volumes, he forbears from using them.

One single observation before concluding, he will take leave to make in this place, in regard to what has been said of a part of the first volume by a single private individual. He refers to the venturesome opinion attributed to a young physician settled at Harrogate, as candidate for public support in the absence of Mr. Richardson, (who has retired since the publication of the "Northern Spas") animadverting upon the account given of Harrogate in that volume. Without stopping to inquire how far it is consistent with candour and moral courage for any critical writer to impugn an avowed work under the safeguard of an anonymous attack, it might be justly retorted upon him, in pure kindness, that in endeavouring to defend Harrogate from what he has been pleased to call "the misrepresentations" of the Author of "the Spas of England," he ought himself to have carefully eschewed misrepresenting, through a pamphlet of fourteen pages of misquotations, misapprehensions, and misversions, what that Author had really said of Harrogate : bearing in mind all the time, that whatever was said by that Author was founded upon positive and undeniable facts observed by him, as well as upon information proceeding from resident parties far more capable than the young anonymous writer in question, to judge of the accuracy, the fullness, and on the whole the encouraging description of Harrogate, contained in "the Spas of England."

109, Piccadilly, June 20, 1841.

Some misspelling of names occurred in part of the First Volume, which the Author much regrets; such as "Wolsey" for Worlsey," Cholmondeley" for Cholmley, "Travers" for Travis, "Woodwards" for Woodalls," Hindewell" for Hinderwell," Beavor" for Belvoir, "Valingate" for Valimgate, "Studely" for Studley, and "Castlegilling" for Gillingcastle.