deficient also in the chapters on "Architecture", "Accidents", and
"Seates". So far therefore as Aubrey's own labours are concerned, the
Royal Society's copy is the most perfect; but the notes of Ray,
Evelyn, and Tanner were written upon the Oxford manuscript after the
fair copy was made, and have never been transcribed into the latter.
The Royal Society's manuscript is entirely in Aubrey's own hand, and
is very neatly and carefully written, being in that respect, as well
as in its completeness, much superior to the original. Of the latter
it appears to have been an exact transcript; but it wants some of the
rude sketches and diagrams with which the original is illustrated. The
two parts form only one volume, demy folio, which is paged
consecutively from 1 to 373, and is bound in modern Russia leather.

As already stated, a copy of the entire work was made for the purposes
of this publication from the Royal Society's volume. The ownership of
this copy has since been transferred to George Poulett Scrope, Esq.
M.P., of Castle Combe, who has had it collated with the Oxford
manuscript, thus making it unique.

Every care has been taken to preserve the strictest accuracy in the
extracts now published, and with that view, as well as to correspond
with such of Aubrey's works as have been already printed, the original
orthography has been retained. The order and arrangement of the
chapters, and their division into two parts, are also adhered to. At
the commencement of each chapter I have indicated the nature of the
passages which are omitted in the present volume, and although such
omissions are numerous, it may be stated that all the essential and
useful portions of the work are either here printed, or so referred to
as to render them easily accessible in future to the scientific
student, the antiquary, and the topographer.