The Diary (the Title-page of which we have given in facsimile) was completed and carefully prepared for the press by Sir Roger himself, and was evidently intended or publication during the Protectorate. It is written throughout in his singularly clear and neat hand, with the disfigurement of hardly a single correction; except in a very few instances chiefly made requisite by the Restoration. Why it was never published, it may not be difficult to conjecture, when we remember how entirely engrossed Sir Roger Twysden was, during the latter years of his life, in those learned researches to which we are largely indebted for the little we know of the early history of England. While occupied in these all absorbing labours, he probably laid aside his private memorials, entrusting the publication of them to those of his family who should come after him, a charge which they seem to have neglected, leaving thereby to us the gratification of first presenting them to the world. The manuscript is too long to be printed entire in a single volume of our serials; we therefore purpose giving it in successive portions. When we shall have subjoined his private correspondence, and a few extracts from his notebooks, we shall be much mistaken if our readers do not love and admire the man as warmly as we ourselves do, for the depth of his learning, the soundness of his acquirements, his unfeigned and active piety, his domestic virtues, his loyalty, his ardent love of liberty, his truly English spirit.¹

"Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter."

                                                                                    L. B. L.
   ¹ We would refer those who are desirous to know more of the history of our patriotic Journalist, to a charming biographical sketch prefixed by the late J. M. Kemble, Esq., to Sir Roger's Treatise on the Government of England, published by the Camden Society in the year 1848