COMPANION TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT; COMPRISING THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND, AND THE DESCRIPTION OF OBJECTS OF CURIOSITY. BY JOHN ALBIN. TWELFTH EDITION, WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS. PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY LONGMAN AND CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON; THE Price 2s. 6d. without, 4s. 6d. with a Plain, and 5s. with an MDCCCXXXI. PREFACE. THE unequalled beauty of this romantic and interesting Island has rendered it an object of great attraction to all lovers of the sublime and picturesque; the variety of scenery which is scattered throughout, the interest excited by its antiquities and natural productions, together with its salubrity of climate, have concentrated the various tastes of the curious and inquisitive traveller into one focus, and the Isle of Wight is, consequently, the resort of tourists of all descriptions. A residence of nearly fifty years in the Island has qualified the writer to accomplish, with accuracy and fidelity, that which is of the most especial importance to the visiter-an efficient guide through all parts which are more particularly calculated to gratify; which shall enable the antiquary to pursue his researches with the least expense of time and trouble; lead the geologist to the quarries, and the elmynthologist to the sea-shore ; which shall furnish the historian with information and the botanist with plants. That he has hitherto accomplished this, the Author is induced to hope, from the great success which has attended his labours. Popular favour has conducted this little work to its twelfth edi |