There is nothing induces me so much, to publish this Second Part of
Directions to prepare the Things about a Farm or Family, as the
Encouragement my first Volume, in this Way, has met with in the World;
which being now in the sixth Edition, has brought me many Receipts, from
the Curious, which would be detrimental to the Publick if I did not offer
them to the World. I must acknowledge my Gratitude, in this Piece, to
several Persons of Distinction, and good Oeconomy, who have favoured me
with their Assistance; and, as far as their Leave would suffer me, I have
given their Names or Signatures. Most of the Receipts I have been Witness
to, at some Meal or other with them, or else in Publick Places have
purchas'd; for I always thought that there was more satisfaction in eating
clean and well, if one had good Provisions in a Place, than to have such
Provisions good, and spoiled in their Management.
With the many Noblemen I am conversant with, and in the large Tract of
Ground I have passed over, it may not be surprizing, that I have collected
so great a variety of Things in this way; and there is no greater Happiness
I enjoy, than to communicate to the World, what I love myself: but as the
Proverb says, _there is no disputing about Tastes_, so that every one has
still the Liberty of choosing or rectifying any thing as their Palate
directs, when they have a good Foundation to go upon.
I think, if these Receipts had lain still in my Cabinet, they might after
my death have been distributed to the World in a wrong Sense; but as I have
particularly been present amongst many of them, I have taken the meaning of
them in Writing; or if I had left them behind me, they might have been
lost, which, I think, are much too good to be bury'd in Oblivion.
* * * * *
THE Country Lady's DIRECTOR.