R. H. Atkinson, North Shields (Peter Shields, Tynemouth
Mrs. Robfon, Newcastle

Mrs. Taylor, South Shields

We have endeavoured to make the abave lift as perfect as possible, by printing all the names that have been handed to us. Our friends will therefore pardon any accidental ómissions.

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ADDRESS to the PUBLIC.

THE inquisitive mind, assisted by

history, explores the transactions of ages past, and, by analogy, forms conjectures of what probably is, in future, to be achieved on the busy scenes of human affairs. It is obvious that faithful history is highly useful and of the utmost importance. Indeed, without it, ages would revolve, and events great and consequential take place; but, if not recorded in the historic page, they would all be carried down the stream of time, into the dark abyss of oblivion, forgotten and unknown. The honest historian, therefore, unwarped by prejudice, and superior to circumstances of locality, who considers the world as his country, and all men his brethren, is a friend to hunan kind. Hence, when HERODOTUS, THUCYDIDES, DIODORUS SICULUS, LIVIUS, and other renowned names, recited their immortal compositions, in the Forum and public places, before their enlightened and exulting countrymen, the honours paid them

were next to divine, and their works and statues were placed in the highest niches of fame. Thus, had not their noble and enchanting works been handed down, ages past would have been to us a chaos of inexplicable confusion, of loose conjecture, and fantastic reverie. But by the pictures of these grand efforts of genius, held up by the hand of history, a noble ambition is kindled; and the philosopher, the statesman, the warrior, and the artist, are filled with a generous ardour, if not to emulate, at least to imitate, such illustrious examples.

But universal history is, like universal monarchy, a subject too vast for the human mind. The narrative, even of all the transactions which have happened in a single nation, such as our own, must be defective and incomplete. Topographical history, therefore, as the learned Dr. Whitaker, in his history of Manchester, justly observes, must make the nearest approaches to historical perfection.

The account, which we presume to offer to the public, of NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, and its environs, is of this species. The subject is of high importance, as it embraces a period of above a thousand years, during which many transactions and events took place, interesting

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at those remote periods, and whose influence extends, to the aggrandizement and felicity of this opulent and flourishing mart of trade, to the present times. It is true, the history of this very important place has been attempted by others; and candour must acknowledge, that the authors are far from being destitute of merit. The reverend Messrs. BOURNE and BRAND have each published a history of Newcastle; but it has been a general complaint, that most authors unhappily fall into one of these extremes, either of obscure, uninforming brevity, or minute, tedious, and unimportant details. How justly the latter of these gentlemen merited the censure of the learned Reviewers, on account of this historical defect, is not for us to decide. Depreciation is not only the offspring of an undiscerning head, but is also the sure criterion of a malevolent heart. Nor shall we, by dwelling on the defects found in the works of others, thereby wish to anticipate the partiality of the public in favour of our own; but we are, however, responsible to the public for the reasons and motives which have induced us to the present undertaking. They are simply these :---To obviate the obscurities; to retrench the tedious and irksome details to

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