Who is she writing for?

Watts addresses her book to ‘Strangers’ who like to travel with a pocket cicerone (guide book), but also ‘those who are at home’ who have an interest in the ‘native spot that binds around the mind’; for them, it is guide they can share with their ‘intelligent visitors and curious friends’.

She does not deal with people or culture; there is no mention of the war, although it was a significant driver of industrialisation and trade (increasing the number of merchants and manufacturers in, and visiting, the town); it also drove domestic tourism, access to the sites of the ‘Grand Tour’ being unavailable.  She doesn’t mention factories, but that’s because there were none when she was writing; this is not an oversight or squeamishness at the sight of industry.