NO
The Public have now before them the result of much and various labour on the great subject of the Peerage, its history, its quality, and its hold upon the State. At the same time that the Editor takes credit for bringing together a more com- plete and accurate collection of information relative to the various topics em- braced in this sheet, he wishes it to be clearly understood that he offers it only as an approximation to the truth. No one, unless engaged in similar inquiries, can estimate the difficulties that present themselves at every step in a compilation of the kind. Such works as exist, bearing on branches of the subject, abound in errors; in addition to which, be it observed, the subject is perpetually fluctu- ating and changing, so that a statement that may be accurate to.day is erroneous to- morrow. Such lists as have been published by authority are limited in their scope ; and many of them seem to have been compiled as much with a view of concealing as of spreading intelligence. There exists no complete record of the official situa- tions profusely scattered in every part of the empire ; and it is not to be expected that individuals will volunteer information which may chance to injure them: on the contrary, it is natural that they should throw every kind of obstacle in the way of exposure. So that facts of the character herein published must of neces- sity be hunted from list to list, and book to book, and ultimately dragged to light at the risk of perhaps having earthed the wrong subject Let these considerations be taken alongwith the reader ;—who, though his individual experience may enable him to detect some inaccuracies, may rest assured that neither pains nor expense has been spared to enable the Editor to arrive as nearly as possible at perfect accuracy; and that, on the whole, nowhere else will he find, either in a larger or smaller compass, the same volume of important intelligence here comprised in .osn
SIIEET.
Since the publication of the ANATOMY of the PE enAcE in detached_portions, in the ordinary course of the Spectator, the whole of the materials have been recast; large additions have been made; some lists, which were essentially tem- porary, have been withdrawn ; and the whole has undergone a sedulous revision, with a view not only of correcting errors, but of bringing up the information to the latest date.
In the new matter now introduced, is the the List of Matrimonial Alliances; which shows at a glance the connexions of the Peerage on the female side for two generations. In a statement of Influences, this would have been an important omission. The Notes have been thrown into the Alphabetical List,—an arrange- ment which suits their desultory character 5 and various other changes have been made, to give a completeness to the whole, and a correspondence and facility of reference between the parts.
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