PREFACE. THE title-page of a literary production ought, if possible, to convey to the mind of the reader a pretty accurate notion of its scope and general contents; an apology, therefore, for the feeming prolixity of the title-page prefixed to these volumes, will be found in the utility of this good old practice. Although I have more than once appeared before the public as an author, I feel on this occafion, that diffidence and anxiety which are natural to one who gleans in a field wherein fo many have reaped with reward and diftinction; yet confcious of having bestowed due pains in order to render it worthy of acceptance, I await the time when the candid and judicious shall have awarded that share of approbation, to which this performance may be found juftly entitled. It appeared to me, notwithstanding the numerous writers that of late have directed their attention to the examination of the antiquities, natural history, peculiar cuftoms and manners of the northern section of our island, that many things had iv efcaped their diligence of refearch, which a native intimately acquainted with the claffic ground and hiftorical incidents thereto belonging, as well as with many traditionary particulars about to fink into that oblivion from which they are now fnatched, might have it in his power to examine more at leifure than any stranger, how accurate foever, traverfing hastily the various districts described in the following journey: in collecting materials for which, I have spared neither time nor labour; and toward a proper felection and arrangement of what I deemed most interesting and valuable, I have done all in my power. Aware of that kind of disgust which ceaseless egotifin usually excites, I have chosen to appear as feldom as poffible in the body of the work; by which means the reader is fpared the unneceffary intrusion that too frequently occurs in fimilar productions. In truth, were I to relate but a fmall part of the cafual incidents connected with the present itinerary, it would fwell into many more volumes to very little purpose. But, befides three feveral excurfions made on purpose to take the fketches of the scenery faithfully on the fpot, as well as to afcertain from perfonal furvey the present state of rural economy, manufactures, trade, and commerce, I have had, during twenty years of my life, frequent occafion to vifit the extenfive range through which the traveller is herein directed. In treating of many particulars refpecting recent occurrences, as well as ftriking events of more remote periods of Scotish history, it will manifeftly appear, that I have delivered my fentiments with that manly freedom which is characteristic of one attached to no party, and independent in his mind,-tempered, however, with due moderation, keeping steadily in view a fcrupulous regard to truth wherever it was to be found. It will also be seen, that, befides placing many known facts and circumstances in new lights, much original information on a great variety of topics will afford fatisfaction to those who find pleasure in somewhat more than mere fuperficial knowledge. This, I truft, will more fully appear in the defcriptions, and hiftorical and traditional matter refpecting many parts of the highlands, particularly Loch-Kaitrin, and the wilds adjacent; the bishoprick of Dunkeld; the towns of Linlithgow, Stirling, Perth, and Dundee; the ancient archiepifcopal fee of St. Andrew's, together with its univerfity; and the prefent capital of Scotland, Edinburgh; as also a sketch of its university, particularly its celebrated school of medicine from its first establishment to the prefent period; with an hiftorical outline of the Scotish epifcopal church, from the firft dawn of the Reformation to the clofe of the eighteenth century. Befide thefe different articles, there will likewife be found interfperfed throughout, many biographical notices of fome importance to those who may be in terested : terested in the literary fame of a few Scotfmen whose writings are held in high estimation in the republic of letters. To these notices are added two or three flight sketches refpecting the fine arts north of the Tweed; together with the hiftory of the Scotish stage from its origin down to the present time. Having thus prepared the reader for what he is to expect in the following sheets, I fhall only add a few remarks refpecting fome notices that have come to my knowledge fince the prefent production was fent to the press. In drawing a contraft of the character of the ancient Caledonians and the Highlanders of the present day, I have thrown out a few hints relative to the poetry common to Ireland and the Hebrides, in which the Fingalians of both nations are celebrated; as alfo, fome particulars respecting the ScotishGaelic being a written language (contrary to the opinion of Johnfon) long before the invention of printing. In addition to what I have faid on thefe fubjects in the course of the prefent work, and elsewhere, I have to ftate a communication made in a letter, dated "1ft March 1801," from my friend Mr. J. Ritfon, of Gray's Inn, of fufficient importance to justify its infertion in this place. "I have made" (fays Mr. Ritfon) "two difcoveries lately in the hiftory of Fin-Mac-Coul. He is mentioned in Jocelin's life of St. Patrick, written about 1180, as contemporary with that |