The subject of the following digest is not, as may be hastily imagined, a matter of mere curiosity or antiquarian research. The officer of whom it treats exercises his function in many parts of the kingdom, in its fullest extent, at this day; though the attention requisite in certain branches of his duty may in some places, no doubt, have induced him to neglect them.

The want of such a compilation as the present must have been more or less felt by every one who has acted in the execution of this office; and indeed it ought to seem much more extraordinary (considering the multitude of similar publications on other subjects) that it should not have been attempted long ago, than that it appears at present.

Little can, and less need be said in favour of a work which has no obligations either to genius or to judgement: some labour, however, has undoubtedly been exerted in the compilation, which, should it have the good fortune to prove so far serviceable to those whom it most concerns, as to render the discharge of an ancient and honorable office an object of less difficulty or hazard, the 'compiler' will not have reason to regret.