BARBERS Fler vEssquE E TEh TSTRATIONS. aa . Pte y “y yee ISLE OF WIGHT. Comenistee et “Bis af ebery abe af of inet on mn the’ yo (co 98h Late, y Sayin! L We Sy il a 4h, tbe. a tecompamed ba ao Yue yu Le wer Popogravbicas PREFACE. Warr the beauties of the British Islands were never so well or so numerously depicted as in the present day, it must be matter of surprise that no Work devoted to “Tux Gar- DEN oF Enauanp,” (as the Isle of Wight is so properly deno- minated) has ever been published, on the plan of combining Illustrations worthy of the subject, with a concise Historical and Descriptive Guide, and supplying both these desiderata st a price sufficiently moderate to meet the circumstances of all who are desirous of visiting this delightful place of resort. Few places of equal extent possess greater variety and beauty of scenery than this far-famed Island; comprehending, as it does, within the space of a few miles, sublime coast views, ternfic chasms formed by convulsions of Nature, richly cultivated plains, and romantic wooded seclusions. As the old rhymist, Michael Drayton (in his Poly-Olbion,) picturesquely sings, “©Ofall the southern isles she holds the highest place, And evermore hath been the great‘st in Britaine’a grace ;"” Nor is his remark less literally than poetically true, that «¢ ——the gentle South, with kisses smooth and aoft, Doth in her bosom breathe, and seems to court ber oft ;"” a recommendation, which every valetudinarian om so well appreciate. PREFACE s The Wiaur, too, is not without objects of interest for the historian and antiquary: and it is hoped that while a due at- tention has been paid to those objects in the following work, they have been also treated with more attention to correct antiquarian principles, than have been applied to them in any previous description, or guide-book. Of the merit of the Engravings, every purchaser of the volume will form his own estimate. The proprietor will not permit his judgment of them to be influenced by the com- pliments that have been paid him on their account: yet he thinks it must be allowed by all, that their style transcends that of any previously published views of the Island. In his selec- tion of the places and objects which they illustrate, it has been his chief aim to include those most generally known and visited, and in consequence most interesting to the public at large. Asa Guide to the Traveller and Tourist, it is hoped that the Work will be found in most respects complete. Still it must be apparent, that the limits of the volume would pre- clude the possibility of mentioning every thing: and it may be a8 well to remark, that the fares of the different convey- ances, and such-like information, are in general designedly omitted, for the reason that these matters vary with every successive season, and oftén more than once during a single season. Correctness in this point being therefore unattainable,” it was thought better to be silent, than to incur the probabi- lity of misleading the reader. 11, Park Place, Istington.