Transcribed from the 1804 T. Combe edition ,
“Within this hour it will be dinner-time,
Till that I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse its traders, gaze upon its buildings,
And then return and sleep within mine inn.”Shakespeare.
LEICESTER, PRINTED BY T. COMBE,
and sold by
T. HURST, PATER-NOSTER-ROW, LONDON,
1804.
The Editor of the following pages, while he has beensolicitous to furnish those who travel with a POCKETCICERONE, feels at the same time a wish that it may not beunacceptable to those who are at home. The latter,though, in the subject of this survey, they trace an old, afamiliar scene, will still feel that it possesses that interestwhich the native spot binds around the mind, and when they pointout to their intelligent visitors and curious friends the mostmemorable objects of their antient and honourable Town, it is hiswish that this little companion may be found useful; he,therefore, while he rejoices in their support and feels theirliberality, inscribes it with respect and gratitude, to the
INHABITANTS of LEICESTER.
To the traveller who may wish to visit whatever is deemed mostworthy of notice in the town of Leicester, the following sketchis devoted. And as the highly cultivated state oftopographical knowledge renders superficial remark unpardonablein local description, we shall endeavor to produce, at thevarious objects of our visit, such information and reflections asa conductor, not wholly uninformed, may be expected to offer tothe curious and intelligent, while he guides him through p. 2alarge, commercial, and, we trust, a respectable town; the capitalof a province which can honestly boast, that by its richpasturage, its flocks and herds, it supplies England with theblessings of agricultural fertility; and by the industry of itsframe-work-knitters, affords an article that quickens and extendsthe operations of commerce.
We now request our good-humoured stranger to accept of suchour guidance; whether he be the tourist, whose object of inquiryis general information—or the man of reflection, who,wherever he goes, whether in crouded towns or solitary fields,finds something to engage his meditation—or the mercantilerider, who, when the business of his commissions is transacted,quits his lonely parlour for a stroll through thestreets—we shall endeavor to bring before his eye as muchof interest as our scenes p. 3will afford: and as for the diligentantiquary, we assure him we will make the most of our Romanremains; and we hope he will not quarrel with the rough foreststones of our streets, when we promise him they shall conduct himto the smoother pavement of Roman mosaic.
What may have been the name of the town we are about totraverse, before the establishment of the Romans, cannot beascertained; for the Britons had no written monuments, and itcannot be exp