Page:Wiltshire, Extracted from Domesday Book.djvu/27

[ xxi ] quare. A burgage in Wilton pays to the manor 3l. 7s. 6d. The whole manor is worth annually 675l."

Having hinted, at the beginning of this preface, that the purport of the following publication was intended as an introductory prelude to a Hitory of this County; I am induced, though with the greatet diffidence, to offer a ketch, or general outline, for the completion of uch a work.

It is well known, that Provincial Hitories have been, often times, checked or retarded by the conideration of the great labour, and of the heavy expence, that would necearily attend them. Few people can be expected to engage in an operation, the trouble and expences of which would be certain, and the termination of which could carcely be hoped for, during the exitence of a ingle life. And where hall we find a man, whoe abilities and circumtances might enable him, ingly, to perevere in o complicated an under-taking? If a man of proper abilities hould venture upon the work, and depend upon a common ubcription to upport it's expences, it is much to be apprehended, that few people would rique their ubcriptions, on the precarious uncertainty of ever eeing the Hitory; particularly, as it would not only depend upon