formed in Britain, and, with considerable ability, reasons upon the presumption that the Celts and the Belgae had supplanted the Cumry, who were the first emigrants that came to Britain. The historian just mentioned stood so high, and his works were so highly esteemed, that a Roman Emperor ordered them to be written ten times yearly and placed in all the public libraries. It would be considered a strange proceeding if our rulers in this age were to issue instructions to supply the public seminaries and libraries with books of history, but it is what might be done with some shew of reason, for history, in its true definition, is not the mere narration of facts, but possesses more than this-it is philosophy teaching by examples, which is dignity above art and science attained by precept. The earliest accounts of Britain are to be found among the Romans, and some of these are supposed to be lost-perished, possibly, in the wreck of ancient literature. We have, however, a very fair portion of native histories preserved, to amuse the imagination and to improve the understanding of our youthful population, which would be well if it could be induced to study more generally than it is to be feared is done. The Greeks seemed to have required some incitement to induce them to study their history—at least we conclude so, from what we are told by one of their greatest philosophers, who says that "a certain Priest reprehended the Greeks, calling them children, because they had no knowledge in antiquity—they had no skill in the passages of former times-they were indued with no ancient and grave science; for, even as children, through the imbecility of their capacities and slenderness of their intellect, cannot discern vice from virtue, so they, whose minds do comprehend no knowledge of former times, deserved not to be called men, in regard they exceeded not children in understanding."

It would be to no purpose to enter at any great length (in a mere preface) into the character and condition of the native population of Britain, when Cæsar landed on Deal Beach -that will in some degree be found detailed in the first and second campaigns he undertook. In his "Commentaries," he describes them as a brave and warlike people, much given to the Druidical superstition, miserably clad, very primitive in their domestic economy and social customs. I thought it right, in

writing the HISTORY OF DEAL, that it should commence at the beginning of what all historians assert as the fact, namely, the first onslaught between the Roman forces and those of the British on the Beach'at Deal. As such, the "Commentaries" of Cæsar afford all the particulars that can be required; and although many translations of Cæsar's "Commentaries" have been made and published, they one and all coincide in the main features of that most eventful portion of British history. There is a great blank from the final departure of the Romans from this coast, and the usurpation of authority by the Saxons, in this History; that is to be supplied only by the Kentish History in general, to which a reference (somewhat briefly) is occasionally made. In writing this HISTORY OF DEAL, many authorities had to be examined and portions selected out of their works, which had any relation to it; and it is perhaps needless to state that many authors of history have been consulted, ancient and modern, with the design of enriching, if not embellishing, the facts and events as they presented themselves to my observation in a course of reading. In many instances I found perspicuity of style and precision of detail, in which I could not hope to make improvements, by altering the phraseology in any manner; these are left as I found them. The quaint language of some writers-Leland, for example-I have given in the style peculiar to the original. But some quotations necessarily required revision, in order to make them accord with the idiom of the language in use at the present day; otherwise, the obscurity of the style would render them perfectly unintelligble to general readers. These quotations, however, preserve their original meaning in their full strength.

In writing any historical story, it is with the greatest difficulty to avoid the appearance of Plagiarism—for all historians, more or less, are under the necessity of making extracts from the work of others, and, in some instances, adopting their very thoughts, as being more expressive and forcible than they themselves could endite. I have studiously endeavoured to give the author's name on making such selections, when it could be satisfactorily ascertained. I may claim originality in writing this HISTORY OF DEAL, for no one hitherto had ever attempted so extensive a narrative of facts and circumstances as took place in

Deal and neighbourhood during a period of several centuries past

and gone.

When I wrote the first article for the Deal Telegram, I had not the remotest idea that any of my fellow-townsmen would deem it of any particular worth, much less so, as to be considered interesting enough for publication in a more permanent shape. I wrote from week to week for amusement, and the employment of my leisure hours at a time when confined to my house by long indisposition. The Proprietor of the Deal Telegram having made known his intention of re-publishing the whole History, and as it appeared in his paper, I have therefore freely assented to his doing so, it being a matter altogether of his own individual risk. The profit or loss, which ever way it may be, thereto arising, will be entirely his own, and I have nothing whatever to do with the plan, beyond a hope that by its new form it will not turn out to his disadvantage.

It has been observed by the great philosopher, Lord Bacon, "that histories and antiquities are, as it were, the boards or pieces of a wreck which industrious men take up and preserve out of genealogies-old registers, and such like instruments; and this remark strictly accords with the method adopted in collating and compiling the history of the Town and Borough of Deal. It is a very remarkable fact that Mr. Boys, when writing his history of Sandwich-(learned and talented as he, undoubtedly, was)-should so far ignore the town of Deal and Walmer, as to omit all mention of either places, although limbs and members of that ancient Borough. He appears to have had his mind wholly absorbed in the task of writing the history of the three Parishes that formed the old Town; and when Queen Elizabeth visited Sandwich, he makes it appear that she commenced her entry into Sandwich at Sandown Gate, as if she had dropped from the clouds-never recording that she had previously been to Dover, concerning the Harbour there, and came on to Deal, to inspect the three Castles then just finished, before she pursued her journey through the Sandhills to the Sandown Gate alluded to.

In concluding, it behoves me to mention the authorities referred to in this History: foremost are Cæsar's "Commentaries ;" then Mathew Paris, Stowe and Holingshead, Leland, Philpot,

Speed and Hasted's History of Kent.

"

The Naval and Military

History of the Wars has also been a book of reference; and Mr. Lyon's History of Dover has supplied me with the particulars of the Court of Lodemanage. This author possessed facilities of obtaining information from the records in the keeping of the Registrar; and, singular enough, a great portion of it has especial reference to the Society, or Fellowship, of Pilots living at Deal. The Diary of Thomas Powell, Mayor of Deal in 1703 and 1708, has long been in my possession. It is this circumstance that gave rise to the publication of it in the Deal Telegram. It was thought by many of my fellow-townsmen that it would be highly interesting, if it could be secured as a relic of olden times; and particularly so, as it referred to matters and things connected with the Charter and Enfranchisement of the Town and Borough. It is unnecessary for me to say more in the sending this HISTORY OF DEAL forth into the world. It has been done with the best of intentions; and there I must leave it.

Deal, June 1st, 1864.

STEPHEN PRITCHARD, J.P.