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PRINTED FOR J. HARRIS; LONGMAN AND CO.; J. WALKER; R. BALDWIN;
SHERWOOD AND CO.; J. AND J. CUNDEE; B. AND R. CROSBY AND CO.;
J. CUTHELL; J. AND J. RICHARDSON; CADELL AND DAVIES; C. AND
3. RIVINGTON; AND G. COWIE AND CO.

1816.

1.

THE

BEAUTIES

OF

England and Wales.

MIDDLESEX.

MIDDLESEX, though of less extent than many English counties, may safely be pronounced the most prominent of all in topographical interest. Dignified by two royal palaces, and enriched by many ancient seats, inhabited at various periods by some of the best and most eminent characters of national story, it promises to afford a fertile source of Biographical inquiry and Historical allusion. From its connection with the metropolis, this district, also, derives a splendour of modern adornment, emphatically expressive of the affluence produced by the commercial energies of an enterprising people. The wealth acquired by an interchange of commodity with every known clime of the globe, raises here the frequent villa; and spreads the lawn, and plants the ornamental woodland, in grateful abundance. The advantages derived from a contiguity to the national emporium of literature and the arts, have induced, likewise, Men conspicuous for learning and for taste to construct in this county, mansions which demand to be exbibited to public notice, as depositories of the rarer productions of genius, or as instances of architectural effort.

The great English River, while communicating benefits of vital importance to the capital, is a distinguished feature in the real grandeur of the attached county. The mansions which ornament its banks during the meanders of its earlier PART IV. progress

A

progress, and the extensive works relating to commercial pursuits, which mark its borders near the eastern termination of its connection with Middlesex; afford a varied picture of elegance and opulence, of ease and industry, calculated to excite the ardent curiosity even of those not prepossessed by local interest. Prevented by the nature of our undertaking from presenting any other than the broad outlines of parochial or manorial History, it is chiefly our task, in the ensuing Delineations, to blend the page of descriptive colouring with the leading features of topographical detail.

In the general prefatory statement to the first volume of "London and Middlesex," we have endeavoured to form a succinct, yet comprehensive, Notice, of the most interesting particulars respecting to the early History, the Aspect, Soil, Natural Productions, Agriculture, Statistics, &c. of this populous county. Since the completion of that volume another Act has passed for ascertaining the Population of the whole kingdom; and we insert an abstract of the Returns, as far as regards London and Middlesex.

To the general Statement already given, and alluded to above, we have only, at the commencement of the present Volume, to append the following observations.

This county first afforded the title of Earl, to Lionel Cranfield, who was bred a Merchant, and was, says Fuller, " much conversant in the Custome House." He attained the confidence and high favour of King James I. by whom he was knighted in the year 1613. At periods shortly following he was made Master of Requests; next, Master of the Wardrobe; then Master of the Wards; and afterwards a Privy Counsellor. These instances of honourable employment speak more for the credit of Sir Lionel Cranfield, as, in the quaint language of the historian of " The Worthies," he may be said to have been his own Tutor and his own University.

In the 19th of James I. he was advanced to the Peerage, by

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