And now, the last of my three suggested uses for the Burney collection. It is this: you could use it to find examples of the variety of social conditions in your area. If your area is Swadlincote – and even if it isn’t – you might be interested in this article from the Whitehall Evening Post (London) dated February 1790: 
Not happy reading – although, then as now, we might wonder whether press reports are wholly accurate all of the time. The article does not give the name of the purchaser or the purchased, the vendor or the absconding husband. Or perhaps it is intended as satire? Let us know what you think. Anyway, if you want to use the Burney collection, grab your Derbyshire library card and head to: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online_information/infotrac/default.asp
