PREFACE. THIS Volume was begun, completed, and published within the space of six months, although it had been meditated for about the same number of preceding ones, which, with one or two brief previous exceptions, forms the whole of the author's acquaintance with the County of Sussex. It has been conducted under every possible discouragement and want of support; the particulars, however, it will be superfluous and unavailing to detail; it will be sufficient to describe it negatively, and say that every instance of courteousness which the author has met with, either from those in the higher or middle ranks, is carefully acknowledged and acted upon in the following pages. Such disappointment was almost sufficient to have induced an abandonment of the work, but that he had the consciousness of its not being merited he considered, also, that it might live to see an improvement of spirit, that it would come under the notice of an extensive cycle of Visitors, embracing many individuals of liberal minds, and, though last mentioned, first in importance, that it had received the honour of the sanction of their Majesties. After their distinguished names, then, he has only to acknowledge the following obligations:-to their Royal Highnesses the Princess Augusta and the Duchess of Gloucester; the gallant and courteous Earl of Munster, famous "both with sword and pen," whose appointment to the custody of a still more renowned palace than that of Brighton was witnessed with sincere pleasure; Sir Herbert Taylor, to whose patient civility he owes a debt of much gratitude; the Dukes of Richmond (of whose courtesy he cannot say too much), Devonshire, and Bedford, and the Bishop of Chichester. It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to inform the reader, that this volume has been executed in the most unshrinking style of expense, and has actually cost a considerable sum; the only portion of which he regrets, is that which was applied to making its design extensively known, as it was entirely sacrificed. lication is always a dangerous thing in these times, but, perhaps, when the Rubicon is passed, it may be, upon the whole, as politic to apply the advice of Polonius Being in, Bear it that the opposer may beware thee. Pub |