PART I.—INTRODUCTION.

CHAP. I.

_Site of Lynn—account of its harbour_, _and that of Wisbeach—ancient and present state of its rivers—inland navigation—drainage—projects of improvement—state of its shipping_, _commerce_, _and population_, _at different periods_. Page SECT. 1. Situation of the town—its distance from the sea. 1 &c.—its harbour—river Ouse and its tributary streams. SECT. 2. Further account of the river Ouse—remarkable 8 phenomenon—the poet Cowper—supposed etymology of the name of Wisbeach—the Ouse diverted from its ancient course and outlet—king John’s disastrous passage over that river, in his last progress from Lynn—Extracts from Vancouver. SECT. 3. Effects of the desertion of the Ouse and Nene, on 15 Wisbeach and parts adjacent. SECT. 4. Effects on Lynn and its harbour and navigation, 22 of the great accession of fresh waters in the reign of Henry III. SECT. 5. Eaubrink Cut and other projects of former 27 times—with slight hints on the comparative state of the shipping, commercial consequence and population of Lynn at different periods. CHAP. II.

_Of Marshland and adjoining parts_, _or great Fen Country—View of their situation and revolutions in remote ages_, _or sketch of their ancient history_. SECT. 1. Account of their state before and after the 32 arrival of the Romans—character of that people—establishment of their power here—improvements made by them in these parts. SECT. 2. Further strictures on the ancient state of this 37 country, and on the wonderful change it appears to have undergone at a very remote and unknown period; from De Serra’s account of a submarine forest on the coast of Lincolnshire. SECT. 3. Further observations from same paper—Epoch of the 42 destruction of the said forest—agency by which it was effected, &c.—similar appearances eastward along the Norfolk coast. SECT. 4. Some further geological observations relating to 49 the fens, extracted from Dugdale’s Letters to Sir Thomas Browne. SECT. 5. Concise view of the ancient and modern history of 52 the Fen country, from Pennant’s Preface to his 3rd. vol. of Arctic Zoology. SECT. 6. Further account of the Fens, from the Beauties of 58 England. SECT. 7. Of the Fens from the time of Henry VIII, or 64 rather that of Elizabeth, to the Revolution; giving an account of the different projects of improvement proposed and carried on during that period. SECT. 8. Same subject continued to the present time 70 SECT. 9. Miscellaneous observations on the present 74 appearance, produce, and state of the Fens. SECT. 10. Miscellaneous observations continued—fen-reeds 77 and their uses—starlings—tame geese, and singular management of them—insalubriousness of Marshland—ancient celebrity of the smeeth—decoys. SECT. 11. Brief remarks on the parish churches of 87 Marshland and Holland; with a short sketch of the history of the castle and town of Wisbeach. SECT. 12. History of Wisbeach continued. 99 SECT. 13. Additional account of Marshland—Parkin—bishop of 112 Ely’s manor in Terrington—queen Henrietta—admiral Bentinck—cross keys demolishers of banks prosecuted and suppressed—high tides—destructive inundations—principal divisions of Marshland. SECT. 14. Biographical sketches of some of the most 121 distinguished personages of other times in Marshland and its vicinity. CHAP. III.

_Of the parts about Lynn_, _on the eastern side of the Ouse_. SECT. 1. Aspect of the country—its agriculture and rural 135 economy—Wayland wood—memoir of Shuckforth—parish churches and other edifices, ancient and modern. SECT. 2. Further account of cables, edifices, and places 146 of ancient note in these parts—Brancaster—Rising—Hunston—Castle-acre—Wormegay— Middleton—Gaywood, &c. SECT. 3. Account of modern palaces, and other notable 162 mansions in these parts—Houghton—Holkham—Rainham—Narford—Narborough—Oxborough SECT. 4. Biographical sketches of some of the most 174 celebrated or memorable personages who were of this part of the country—Coke—Sir Henry and Sir John Spelman—L’Estrange—Walpole—Fountain—Folkes—Horace Walpole—Nelson—Bewley. SECT. 5. Of the animals, and particularly the birds, of 193 this country SECT. 6. Brief account of places hereabout, before 201 omitted—Sechey—Runcton—Downham—Denver—Helgay—Southery— Feltwell—Methwold—Stoke, &c. Feltwell new-fen-district—Fincham—Swaffham—Babingley—Sharnborne— great malthouse—Hunston Light-house &c.