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Preface, page iii:-
PREFACE
TO THE SECOND EDITION.
THE speedy sale of the first edition of this work, has induced
the publishers to use their best endeavours to make the present
one still more worthy of public encouragement, by subjecting it
to such alterations and improvements as were judged necessary to
complete its design,- and of which it may be here proper to give
some account.
The many imperfections of style and composition which but too
evidently appeared in the first impression, are attempted to be
rectified in this. Some additional matter is introduced into the
body of the text, and a few notes are inserted on incidental
subjects which were thought to be properly allied to the leading
one. An ADDENDA is subjoined, containing a collection of several
valuable miscellaneous pieces which have occasionally appeard
respecting the lakes. And a friend of the publishers has
communicated an original article, called A TOUR TO THE CAVES,
which, it is hoped, will not only entertain, but be found
particularly accurate as to matter of fact.-
Preface, page iv:-
In short, the publishers have done every thing in their power to
make this GUIDE as complete and useful as its object is curious
and popular.
GUIDES of every description should be well acquainted with the
regions in which they exercise their vocation; and it must be
natural for the purchasers of this manual to wish to know
something of its author, and the pretensions he has to claim
their implicit confidence in the character he assumes. This
curiosity may now be properly indulged, as he is no longer within
reach of either praise or censure;- but what we have to say on
the subject will be very short.
MR. WEST, late of Ulverston, author of this tract, and also of
the Antiquities of Furness, is supposed to have had the chief
part of his education on the Continent, where he afterwards
presided as a professor in some of the branches of natural
philosophy: whence it will appear, that, though upon some account
or other, he had not acquired the habit of composing correctly in
English, he must nevertheless have been a man of learning. He had
seen many parts of Europe, and considered what was extraordinary
in them with a curious, if not with judicious, and philosophic
eye. Having in the latter part of his life much leasure time on
his hands, he frequently accompanied genteel parties on the Tour
of the Lakes; and after he had formed the design of drawing up
his Guide, besides consulting the most esteemed writers on the
subject (as Dr. Brown, Messrs. Gray, Young, Pennant, &c.), he
took several journeys, on purpose to examine the lakes, and to
collect such information concerning them, from the neighbouring
gentlemen, as he thought necessary to complete the work, and make
it truly deserving of its title. From these particulars, and the
internal evidence of the following pages, it is presumed
Preface, page v:-
the reader will be satisfied that the author was, in the most
essential respects, well qualified for his undertaking. And
should some of his digressions into antiquity be thought too
long, or a few descriptions want precision, and now and then a
station be dubiously pointed out - if, on the whole, the matter
be selected by no uniform plan - let it be remembered, few
writers of tours have been able to avoid blemishes of this kind,
and that the chief end of the work is accomplished, if, along
with due copiousness, it be authentic in the principal articles
of local information.
Before the author's death (which happened very lately [1]) he had
collected some new matter for this tract, which is introduced in
the present edition in the manner he designed; but the revision
of the language, &c. mentioned before, fell of course to another
person; and, in justice to him and the author, it is proper to
say here in what manner it has been executed.
As there is something particular, and often pleasing in the
author's strokes of description, and manner of thinking, care has
been taken, all along to preserve his ideas as much as possible,
in his own order, terms, and mode of construction. A few needless
repetitions aud (sic) redundancies have, indeed, been retrenched,
but little has been added which was not necessary to complete the
sense. On this account, as the work is in itself more of an
useful than entertaining nature, it is presumed the judicious
reader will not yet expect elegance of language, but be satisfied
if, on the whole, he find it decently perspicuous and correct.
X.
September 28, 1779.
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