The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

X PREFACE.
of Boston, Massachusetts. To these and other gentlemen, who liberally and
kindly forwarded to the Author many valuable books, which have been of
the greatest service to him in compiling the too brief account of the
PILGRIM FATHERS, and other early emigrants from Boston and its neighbourhood, he feels under the greatest obligations. The kindness which he has
experienced in this respect, as well as in others which he can only allude
to, and not express, is an additional corroboration, were any necessary, of
the unity of feeling and purpose which exists between the respective people
of Old and New England. ESTO PERPETUA!
In compiling the Memoir of Dr. William Stukeley, the Author found
many valuable materials in a copy of the MS. letters of that eminent antiquary to Maurice Johnson, Esq., of Spalding, preserved in the Archives
of the Gentleman's Society at Spalding, and which was furnished by the
kindness of THOMAS CAMMACK, Esq., M.D., of that place; and that gentleman has laid the Author under additional obligations by his thorough
examination of the Journals of the Spalding Society, and the communication
of everything which he found there bearing any relation to the subject
and design of this volume. Mr. STTURTON of Holbeach also forwarded some
useful notices of the Stukeley family. HENRY HALLAM, Esq., the accomplished historian, very courteously furnished some interesting memoranda
respecting his family, which formerly resided in Boston. JOHN FOSTEn, Esq.,
and C. A. BROMEHEAD, Esq., of Lincoln, favoured the Author with useful
information respecting the Manor of St. John of Jerusalem in Skirbeck.
The Geological section owes much to the communications of THOMAS
BRAILSFORD, Esq., of Toft Grange. Although the Author cannot adopt his
valued correspondent's scientific conclusions, he places a very high estimate
upon his communications, thanks him for his kindness and courtesy, and
feels convinced that the cause of geological inquiry will be served by this
juxtaposition of conflicting opinions. The Messrs. TUXFORD, Engineers of
Boston, are thanked for their tabular specification of the different strata
observed at Boston during the borings for water, which were made there
in 1828.
In the department of Natural History the Author derived material assistance
from Mr. BAZLINTON of Butterwick; from Mr. KimIn, and other practical
fishermen of Boston, and from the reminiscences of Mr. ABRAHAM KENT.
In the Botanical section the list of indigenous plants received many additions,
and secured correctness, from the scientific knowledge and careful revision
of THOMAS A. CAMMACK, M.D., of'Boston, H. RI. GILSON, Esq., of Skirbeck,
the Rev. THOMAS W. MATHEWS of Boston. The brief but very comprehensive review of the Agriculture of the district is from the pen of Mr.