proof-sheet. The chief things to be attended to are, complete identity of spelling with the manuscript, that the state of our language on its first appearance in writing may be seen. Good pointing to assist the reader, and especially short sentences: using the full point as often as the sense will bear. Distinct paragraphs; and never using ≈ for y, as our old printers and some editors do from ignorance, as zour for your, &c. This last fault, if fallen into, would spoil the sale of the book. What is printed, is merely y consonant put ≈ in old manuscripts to distinguish it from y vowel, which is marked y; but of this I mean to speak in the preface. Particularly, my lord, the work not being divided into books, as Wallace is, will confuse the reader by its length, if this be not obviated. Wallace is divided into twelve books; and Barbour's Poem for variety, &c. had best be split into twenty. To each book an argument in old Scotish prose ought to be prefixed, marking the chief contents, which will very much relieve and assist the reader. These arguments any one the least skilled in our old language can easily put; but, if desired, I shall do them and send them to your lordship or Messrs. Morison. The little chapter-titles, now running through the work, must all be omitted; for they are not by Barbour; and many are prose, some verse. The arguments will include their essence. In preparing for my proposed edition, I marked these twenty books as follows, in the common Glasgow edition, 1737, 12mo. Buke I. Cumin." tane." II. p. 18. "The escaping of the Bruce and death of John III. P. 33. IV. p. 52. "How John of Lorn discomfit King Robert." "How the Queen and other Ladies were V. p. 71. "Of the King's hansaling in Carrick." X. P. 152." How the King at Clachmaban." XI. p. 173. "How Sir Edward withoutens turn "Undertook the battle of Bannock-burn." This alone fully shows that the titles were not written by Barbour; for no battle of Bannockburn occurs here. XII. p. 189. " How the King slew Henry Bohoun." "Without peril arrived they." begin book 17 with this— "The lords of the land were faire." XVIII. p. 292. close book XVII. with this line "To help his brother that was there." begin book 18 with this "But he that rest annoyed ay." 306. close book XVIII. with this line— "Discomfit had in his own countrie." begin book 19 with this "Thus was the land awhile at peace." XX. P. 326." How king Robert assembled them." Twelve books would be too large, twenty-four too short. The number of lines must be marked on the margin 10, 20, &c. I hope your lordship will agree with me in the propriety of these remarks; but the chief and essential point is exact conformity with the manuscript, so as the title may bear that the work is from the manuscript only. This can never be done by any collation with former editions, but by considering the manuscript as the only copy extant. I depend upon your lordship's word that this shall be the case: and, if it be not, this edition will do no credit, but be open to the detection of any one who inspects the manuscript. DR. THORKELIN TO MR. PINKERTON. Sept. 19th, 1787. Having arrived to the county of Sutherland, after a voyage through the western coast of Scotland, and great part of the Hebrides, not less tedious than lasting, I am happy in being able to pay you my duty, and renew my warmest thanks for your letters to Mr. Buchan, as the last proof of the best friendship. Since I left your house, the seat for hospitality and the muses, I have struggled with great hardship. Through the Hebrides, the wishes and the second sight have followed me wherever I went; nay, the whole has taught me that you, in your Dissertations of the Origin of Nations, have done justice to the Gauls and their posterity in the Western Highlands. This people boast of Ossian and Pictish Houses on both they look as belonging to them selves. About Ossian Mr. Dempster and I have been very particular: we inquired into the secrets. of Mr. McPherson's birth. All answers proved dark, indistinct, and perfectly insufficient to make good (the Alder) the age and authenticity of that famous Poem. The Pictish Houses are nothing less than conical heaps of stones, built for the purpose of serving the dead as places of abode. These monuments are still frequent in Denmark, in Norway, and in Iceland: they are called Haugar. You please to see account of them in a Prefation to Snorro's History. The age of the famous vitrified castles is at length found out. One Paul Mactyre built that at Chreech about 1270. Will you be kind enough to tell this to our friend Dr. Lorimer? In letters from Copenhagen I am informed that the books, already the 12th * Pennant, in his Tour in Scotland, vol. i. p. 338, gives two plates and a long account of these buildings, of which he speaks as the only remains of the Picts, who formerly inhabited the northern parts of that country. Of these round buildings he says, "there are numbers over all the north, particularly Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney. It is observable in them, that there is no mortar of any kind, neither clay nor lime; nor had the Picts any notion of casting an arch. They consist of the best stones they could find, well laid and joined the wall was sometimes fourteen feet thick; and the great room, which was quite round, twenty-two feet in diameter: the perpendicular wall twelve feet high. The roof was carried on round about with long stones, till it ended in an opening at the top, which served both for light and a vent to carry off the smoke of their fire. We found nothing in them but handmills, or what the Highlanders call Querns, which were only eighteen inches in diameter, and great heaps of deer-bones and horns." VOL. I. L of June, were taken on board for Mr. Nichols; but all later accounts I shall be glad to get from you a letter on that subject would exceedingly oblige me. In a few days I go from hence to Dunnichan in Angusshire, near Forfar, from whence a tour is proposed to Glasgow and the Firth of Clyde. MR. PINKERTON TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN. Knightsbridge, Sept. 20th, 1787. Both your favors of 22nd of August and 5th inst. are now before me. I am happy to see that the last concurs with the agreement I made with Messrs. Morisons, that the manuscript should be sent up here and prepared by me for the press. Will not the best way be to send me ten books when transcribed; that I may be getting them ready while the others are transcribing? Many people will now be passing from Edinburgh to London; and I dare say your lordship will agree with me that a private hand would be the safest mode of conveyance. There shall be no delay on my part in preparing the work for the press; and it shall be all sent back two months after I receive it. The printer must begin with the poetry and notes. The Preface, Life, and Glossary, I shall prepare, but must have the whole work printed off and sent me before I send them; that I may refer to pages, &c. The notes are to be at the bottom of |