The idea of a History of the Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland was conceived and matured for publication by my late father just forty years ago. Previously, there existed no public record to show who our Country Gentlemen were, or from whom they sprang - no published work descriptive of a class which, in all the essential characteristics, may be considered equal to the greater part of the nobility of Europe.

During the long period of time that has elapsed since the first appearance of the "Landed Gentry" four editions have been produced. This is merely a reissue of the fourth edition, brought down to the present time by "the CORRIGENDA" and "the SUPPLEMENT," in which latter many eminent families, heretofore omitted, have been introduced. Further, it has been found necessary in the body of the work to expunge some incorrect pedigrees, and to exclude a few others, which are no longer associated with the possession of landed property.

In the preparation of the various articles, my earnest and anxious endeavour has been, by ceaseless attention and labour, to arrive at complete accuracy; but that result is very difficult of attainment. To test by legal proof a single pedigree will frequently occupy years; to test by similar investigation every one of the three or four thousand pedigrees comprised in the following pages would be practically impossible. A work such as this, if it were derived solely from the research and knowledge, and rested altogether on the responsibility of any one individual, however painstaking and learned, would be, after all, a very meagre production - a mere skeleton of what it ought to be; but the HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY, compiled as it avowedly is from the communications of the chiefs and scions of families, from their private papers, their traditions, and their genealogies, becomes of infinite public value. The law of England admits as evidence the declarations of members of a family, and here we have that evidence most largely contributed. Occasionally erroneous information may be supplied; but this exception to the general rule is not of frequent occurrence. However, as to the general statements of pedigree and arms forwarded by members of the various families, those who have furnished the details must themselves bear the responsibility. Those statements are to be received here as they would be in a court of justice in cases of pedigree, quantum valeant. They will, indeed, greatly avail in one respect at any rate, since an immense advantage attaches to setting out in every instance the pedigree. It is thus subject to the public eye; and if there be error, either inadvertent or wilful, in it, that error will be sure some day or other to be detected and set right. Come the genealogical and family statement whence or from whom it may, the public exposition will inevitably test it, and will eventually lead to its refutation or to its permanent and indisputable confirmation. It is with domestic as with public affairs; if they be only openly stated, Magna est veritas et praevalebit.

J. BERNARD BURKE, Ulster.