The Author of this volume has for several years past been induced from a partiality to topographical research, to devote those hours which he could spare from his professional avocations to an enquiry into the early history of the town and neighbourhood of Horncastle. The following pages are the result of his labors, and he would have been glad to have laid them before the public in a more perfect form; but from the difficulties which he has had to encounter with in pursuing an untrodden path, he has been enabled only to give them as “Sketches.”

It was the intention of the Author to have published this work five years ago; but in this he was prevented by local circumstances, and has subsequently been so by an unfavorable state of health. He now submits it to the public as the contribution of his mite towards the long neglected topography of the county of Lincoln.

The Account of Tattershall having in a separate publication passed through two editions, the original intention of the Author was not to have included it in this volume; many of his Subscribers, however, expressing a wish to the contrary, it is in compliance therewith now subjoined.

The Author has to return his acknowledgements to those gentlemen who have so kindly favored him with communications. From Edmund Turnor, Esquire, of Stoke Rochford, he received several useful notices; and to his friend Mr. Richard Hill, lately of Islington, he is not only indebted for many important communications, but for great assistance in the arrangement of the work. The principal part of the chapter on Geology is extracted from “A Sketch of the Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds, by Mr. Edward Bogg,” published in the third volume of the “Transactions of the Geological Society,” and the Author has to acknowledge the readiness with which Mr. Bogg permitted him to make use of this valuable paper. The list of plants was furnished by Mr. John Ward, of Horncastle, and the modern plan of the town by Mr. C. C. Cremer, of the same place; and to the accurate pencil of Mr. Thomas Espin of Louth, the Author is indebted for several of the views with which this volume is illustrated. Without this assistance he would not have been able to have combined in his work the information which it at present contains.

April, 1820.