Preparation of Red Books

When called upon for my opinion concerning the improvement of a place, I have generally delivered it in writing, bound in a small book, containing maps and sketches, to explain the alterations proposed: this is called the Red Book of the place; and thus my opinions have been diffused over the kingdom in nearly two hundred such manuscript volumes. From many of these, with the permission of their respective proprietors, this Volume has been composed; sometimes adopting the substance, and sometimes quoting the words of the Red Book.