HISTORIOGRAPHER TO THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY; FELLOW OF THE NEW ENGLAND VOL. I. SECOND EDITION LONDON PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY PREFACE. TOWARDS the close of the year 1868 a proposal was suggested of establishing a Society to deal with a class of historical subjects which, while they do not fall under the cognizance of Archæological Institutions, have not been comprehended within the programme of other Associations. Biographical and chronological investigations, it was stated, were often conducted by individuals, who, however earnest in prosecuting their inquiries, did not possess facilities such as to render their researches available; while it was felt that information could be more readily acquired by those who possessed a recognised authority as members of a national institution. These sentiments, being generally approved, led to the formation of the Royal Historical Society. The Society's Transactions during its first two sessions, 1869-70 and 1870-71 are included in the present volume. As the original issue has long been exhausted, the volume has been reprinted. The Society, it may be remarked, aims at the reproduction and illustration of rare historical tracts, and the recovery, from recondite sources, of materials which might illustrate the less explored paths of national and provincial history. GRAMPIAN LODGE, FOREST HILL, S.E. CHARLES ROGERS. |