A GLANCE AT ITS ADJACENCIES, AND SOME REMARKS ON JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 4, OLD COMPTON STREET, SOHO SQUARE. MDCCCXLIX. 1844 The famous Tacitus tells us that the Britons complained that the Romans wore out and consumed their bodies and hands, "In sylvis et paludibus emuniendis," that is, in clearing woods, and embanking fens, if I mistake not; for the word “ emuniendis" must have a sense as well befitting paludibus, fens, as sylvis, woods; and therefore cannot (I presume) be otherwise construed. DEDICATION. ΤΟ THE LORDS AND BAILIFF OF ROMNEY MARSH. AND TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OTHER MARSHES AND LEVELS. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, In dedicating this Work to you, I do not presume to point out any of the duties of your respective offices, or to doubt for a moment of their proper and efficient execution. But being the administrators of laws of very ancient date, of the laws which were the first to be framed for the regulation of any of the Marshes of the kingdom,—and being the conservators of a very extensive tract of rich and valuable land, which has, in the course of eighteen centuries, grown into existence, I thought if any additional light could be thrown on the early formation of the Marshes, and a succinct history of their rise and progress down to the present day could be traced out, it might not be altogether useless or unacceptable. I am not aware that any complete vi history of the Marsh has ever been attempted; but that such a work is desirable, no one, I think, can dispute; I only regret that its execution has not fallen into hands more competent to the task; and may I be allowed to hope that it may serve as a stimulus to others to complete the work which I have thus begun. In the hope of its meeting your favorable consideration, I beg to subscribe myself, My Lords and Gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, W. HOLLOWAY. |