Itwasmyaccidentallot，thoughnotbornaHighlanderwhichmaybeanapologyformuchbadGaelic，toresideduringmychildhoodandyouthamongpersonsoftheabovedescription；-andnow，forthepurposeofpreservingsomeideaoftheancientmannersofwhichIhavewitnessedthealmosttotalextinction，Ihaveembodiedinimaginaryscenes，andascribedtofictitiouscharacters，apartoftheincidentswhichI
　　thenreceivedfromthosewhowereactorsinthem。Indeed，themostromanticpartsofthisnarrativearepreciselythosewhichhaveafoundationinfact。TheexchangeofmutualprotectionbetweenaHighlandgentlemanandanofficerofrankintheking’sservice，togetherwiththespiritedmannerinwhichthelatterassertedhisrighttoreturnthefavourhehadreceived。
　　isliterallytrue。Theaccidentbyamusket-shot，andtheheroicreplyimputedtoFlora，relatetoaladyofranknotlongdeceased。
　　Andscarceagentlemanwhowasinhiding’’afterthebattleofCullodenbutcouldtellataleofstrangeconcealments，andofwildandhair’s-breadth’scapes，asextraordinaryasanywhichI
　　haveascribedtomyheroes。Ofthis，theescapeofCharlesEdwardhimself，asthemostprominent，isthemoststrikingexample。TheaccountsofthebattleofPrestonandskirmishatCliftonaretakenfromthenarrativeofintelligenteye-witnesses，andcorrectedfromtheHistoryoftheRebellionbythelatevenerableauthorofDouglas。TheLowlandScottishgentlemen，andthesubordinatecharacters，arenotgivenasindividualportraits，butaredrawnfromthegeneralhabitsoftheperiodofwhichIhavewitnessedsomeremnantsinmyyoungerdays，andpartlygatheredfromtradition。
　　Ithasbeenmyobjecttodescribethesepersons，notbyacaricaturedandexaggerateduseofthenationaldialect，butbytheirhabits，manners，andfeelings；soasinsomedistantdegreetoemulatetheadmirableIrishportraitsdrawnbyMissEdgeworth，sodifferentfromtheTeagues’’anddearjoys’’
　　whosolong，withthemostperfectfamilyresemblancetoeachother，occupiedthedramaandthenovel。
　　Ifeelnoconfidence，however，inthemannerinwhichIhaveexecutedmypurpose。Indeed，solittlewasIsatisfiedwithmyproduction，thatIlaiditasideinanunfinishedstate，andonlyfounditagainbymereaccidentamongotherwastepapersinanoldcabinet，thedrawersofwhichIwasrummaginginordertoaccommodateafriendwithsomefishing-tackle，afterithadbeenmislaidforseveralyears。Twoworksuponsimilarsubjects，byfemaleauthors，whosegeniusishighlycreditabletotheircountry，haveappearedintheinterval；ImeanMrs。Hamilton’sGlenburnie，andthelateaccountofHighlandSuperstitions。
　　ButthefirstisconfinedtotheruralhabitsofScotland，ofwhichithasgivenapicturewithstrikingandimpressivefidelity；andthetraditionalrecordsoftherespectableandingeniousMrs。
　　GrantofLaggan，areofanaturedistinctfromthefictitiousnarrativewhichIhavehereattempted。
　　Iwouldwillinglypersuademyselfthattheprecedingworkwillnotbefoundaltogetheruninteresting。Toelderpersonsitwillrecallscenesandcharactersfamiliartotheiryouth；andtotherisinggenerationthetalemaypresentsomeideaofthemannersoftheirforefathers。
　　YetIheartilywishthatthetaskoftracingtheevanescentmannersofhisowncountryhademployedthepenoftheonlymaninScotlandwhocouldhavedoneitjustice-ofhimsoeminentlydistinguishedinelegantliterature-andwhosesketchesofColonelCausticandUmphravilleareperfectlyblendedwiththefinertraitsofnationalcharacter。IshouldinthatcasehavehadmorepleasureasareaderthanIshalleverfeelintheprideofasuccessfulauthor，shouldthesesheetsconferuponmethatenvieddistinction。AndasIhaveinvertedtheusualarrangement，placingtheseremarksattheendoftheworktowhichtheyrefer，Iwillventureonasecondviolationofform，byclosingthewholewithadedication：-
　　Theattachmenttothisclassicwas，itissaid，actuallydisplayed，inthemannermentionedinthetext，byanunfortunateJacobiteinthatunhappyperiod。Heescapedfromthejailinwhichhewasconfinedforahastytrialandcertaincondemnation，andwasretakenashehoveredaroundtheplaceinwhichhehadbeenimprisoned，forwhichhecouldgivenobetterreasonthanthehopeofrecoveringhisfavourite_TitusLivius。_
　　Iamsorrytoadd，thatthesimplicityofsuchacharacterwasfoundtoformnoapologyforhisguiltasarebel，andthathewascondemnedandexecuted。
　　NoteB，p。-NicholasAmhurst。
　　NicholasAmhurst，anotedpoliticalwriter，whoconductedformanyyearsapapercalledtheCraftsman，undertheassumednameofCalebd’Anvers。HewasdevotedtotheToryinterest，andseconded，withmuchability，theattacksofPulteneyonSirRobertWalpole。Hediedin1742，neglectedbyhisgreatpatrons，andinthemostmiserablecircumstances。
　　AmhurstsurvivedthedownfallofWalpole’spower，andhadreasontoexpectarewardforhislabours。IfweexcuseBolingbroke，whohadonlysavedtheshipwreckofhisfortunes，weshallbeatalosstojustifyPulteney，whocouldwitheasehavegiventhismanaconsiderableincome。TheutmostofhisgenerositytoAmhurst，thatIeverheardof，wasahogsheadofclaret！Hedied，itissupposed，ofabrokenheart；andwasburiedatthechargeofhishonestprinter，RichardFranklin。’’-_LordChesterfield’sCharactersReviewed，_p。42。
　　NoteC，p。-ColonelGardiner。
　　Ihavenowgiveninthetext，thefullnameofthisgallantandexcellentman，andproceedtocopytheaccountofhisremarkableconversion，asrelatedbyDr。Doddridge。
　　Thismemorableevent，’’saysthepiouswriter，happenedtowardsthemiddleofJuly1719。Themajorhadspenttheeveningand，ifImistakenot，itwastheSabbathinsomegaycompany，andhadanunhappyassignationwithamarriedwoman，whomhewastoattendexactlyattwelve。Thecompanybrokeupabouteleven；andnotjudgingitconvenienttoanticipatethetimeappointed，hewentintohischambertokillthetedioushour，perhapswithsomeamusingbook，orsomeotherway。
　　Butitveryaccidentallyhappened，thathetookupareligiousbook，whichhisgoodmotheroraunthad，withouthisknowledge，slippedintohisportmanteau。Itwascalled，ifIrememberthetitleexactly，`TheChristianSoldier，orHeaventakenbyStorm，’anditwaswrittenbyMr。ThomasWatson。Guessingbythetitleofitthathewouldfindsomephrasesofhisownprofessionspiritualisedinamannerwhichhethoughtmightaffordhimsomediversion，heresolvedtodipintoit；buthetooknoseriousnoticeofanythingithadinit；andyetwhilethisbookwasinhishand，animpressionwasmadeuponhismindperhapsGodonlyknowshow
　　whichdrewafteritatrainofthemostimportantandhappyconsequences。
　　Hethoughthesawanunusualblazeoflightfalluponthebookwhichhewasreading，whichheatfirstimaginedmighthappenbysomeaccidentinthecandle；butliftinguphiseyes，heapprehendedtohisextremeamazement，thattherewasbeforehim，asitweresuspendedintheair，avisiblerepresentationoftheLordJesusChristuponthecross，surroundedonallsideswithaglory；andwasimpressed，asifavoice，orsomethingequivalenttoavoice，hadcometohim，tothiseffectforhewasnotconfidentastothewords，`Oh，sinner！didIsufferthisforthee，andarethesethyreturns！’Struckwithsoamazingaphenomenonasthis，thereremainedhardlyanylifeinhim，sothathesunkdowninthearm-chairinwhichhesat，andcontinued，heknewnothowlong，insensible。’’
　　Withregardtothisvision，’’saystheingeniousDr。Hibbert，theappearanceofourSaviouronthecross，andtheawfulwordsrepeated，canbeconsideredinnootherlightthanassomanyrecollectedimagesofthemind，which，probably，hadtheirorigininthelanguageofsomeurgentappealtorepentance，thatthecolonelmighthavecasuallyread，orhearddelivered。Fromwhatcause，however，suchideaswererenderedasvividasactualimpressions，wehavenoinformationtobedependedupon。
　　Thisvisionwascertainlyattendedwithoneofthemostimportantofconsequences，connectedwiththeChristiandispensation-theconversionofasinner。Andhencenosinglenarrativehas，perhaps，donemoretoconfirmthesuperstitiousopinionthatapparitionsofthisawfulkindcannotarisewithoutadivinefiat。’’Dr。Hibbertadds，inanote-Ashorttimebeforethevision，ColonelGardinerhadreceivedaseverefallfromhishorse。Didthebrainreceivesomeslightdegreeofinjuryfromtheaccident，soastopredisposehimtothisspiritualillusion？’’-_Hibbert’sPhilosophyofApparitions，_Edinburgh，1824，p。190。
　　NoteD，p。-ScottishInns。
　　Thecourtesyofaninvitationtopartakeatraveller’smeal，oratleastthatofbeinginvitedtosharewhateverliquortheguestcalledfor，wasexpectedbycertainoldlandlordsinScotlandevenintheyouthoftheauthor。Inrequital，minehostwasalwaysfurnishedwiththenewsofthecountry，andwas，probablyalittleofahumouristtoboot。Thedevolutionofthewholeactualbusinessanddrudgeryoftheinnuponthepoorgudewife，wasverycommonamongtheScottishBonifaces。Therewasinancienttimes，inthecityofEdinburgh，agentlemanofgoodfamily，whocondescended，inordertogainalivelihood，tobecomethenominalkeeperofacoffeehouse，oneofthefirstplacesofthekindwhichhadbeenopenedintheScottishmetropolis。Asusual，itwasentirelymanagedbythecarefulandindustriousMrs。B；whileherhusbandamusedhimselfwithfieldsports，withouttroublinghisheadaboutthematter。Onceuponatimethepremiseshavingtakenfire，thehusbandwasmet，walkinguptheHighStreetloadedwithhisgunsandfishing-rods，andrepliedcalmlytosomeonewhoinquiredafterhiswife，thatthepoorwomanwastryingtosaveaparcelofcrockery，andsometrumperybooks；’’thelastbeingthosewhichservedhertoconductthebusinessofthehouse。
　　Thereweremanyelderlygentlemenintheauthor’syoungerdays，whostillhelditpartoftheamusementofajourneytoparleywithminehost，’’whooftenresembled，inhisquainthumour，mineHostoftheGarterintheMerryWivesofWindsor；orBlagueoftheGeorgeintheMerryDevilofEdmonton。Sometimesthelandladytookhershareofentertainingthecompany。Ineithercasetheomittingtopaythemdueattentiongavedispleasure，andperhapsbroughtdownasmartjest，asonthefollowingoccasion：-
　　Ajollydamewho，notSixtyYearssince，’’kepttheprincipalcaravan-saryatGreenlaw，inBerwickshire，hadthehonourtoreceiveunderherroofaveryworthyclergyman，withthreesonsofthesameprofession，eachhavingacureofsouls；beitsaidinpassing，noneofthereverendpartywerereckonedpowerfulinthepulpit。Afterdinnerwasover，theworthysenior，intheprideofhisheart，askedMrs。Buchanwhethersheeverhadhadsuchapartyinherhousebefore。HeresitI，’’hesaid，aplacedministeroftheKirkofScotland，andheresitmythreesons，eachaplacedministerofthesamekirk-Confess，LuckieBuchan，youneverhadsuchapartyinyourhousebefore。’’Thequestionwasnotpremisedbyanyinvitationtositdownandtakeaglassofwineorthelike，soMrs。B。answereddryly，Indeed，sir，IcannotjustsaythateverIhadsuchapartyinmyhousebefore，exceptonceintheforty-five，whenIhadaHighlandpiperhere，withhisthreesons，allHighlandpipers；_anddeilaspringtheycouldplayamangthem。_’’
　　NoteE，p。-Stirrup-Cup。
　　Imayheremention，thatthefashionofcomputationdescribedinthetext，wasstilloccasionallypractisedinScotland，intheauthor’syouth。
　　Acompany，afterhavingtakenleaveoftheirhost，oftenwenttofinishtheeveningattheclachanorvillage，inwomboftavern。’’Theirentertaineralwaysaccompaniedthemtotakethestirrup-cup，whichoftenoccasionedalongandlaterevel。
　　The_PoculumPotatorium，_ofthevaliantBaron，hisblessedBear，hasaprototypeatthefineoldCastleofGlammis，sorichinmemorialsofancienttimes；itisamassivebeakerofsilver，doublegilt，mouldedintotheshapeofalion，andholdingaboutanEnglishpintofwine。TheformalludestothefamilynameofStrathmore，whichisLyon，and，whenexhibited，thecupmustnecessarilybeemptiedtotheEarl’shealth。TheauthoroughtperhapstobeashamedofrecordingthathehashadthehonourofswallowingthecontentsoftheLion；andtherecollectionofthefeatservedtosuggestthestoryoftheBearofBradwardine。InthefamilyofScottofThirlestanenotThirlestaneintheForest，buttheplaceofthesamenameinRoxburghshirewaslongpreservedacupofthesamekind，intheformofajackboot。Eachguestwasobligedtoemptythisathisdeparture。Iftheguest’snamewasScott，thenecessitywasdoublyimperative。
　　Whenthelandlordofaninnpresentedhisguestswithdeochandoruis，thatis，thedrinkatthedoor，orthestirrup-cup，thedraughtwasnotchargedinthereckoning。OnthispointalearnedBailieofthetownofForfar，pronouncedaverysoundjudgement。
　　A。，anale-wifeinForfar，hadbrewedherpeckofmalt，’’andsettheliquoroutofdoorstocool；thecowofB。，aneighbourofA。，chancedtocomeby，andseeingthegoodbeverage，wasalluredtotasteit，andfinallytodrinkitup。WhenA。cametotakeinherliquor，shefoundthetubempty，andfromthecow’sstaggeringandstaring，soastobetrayherintemperance，sheeasilydivinedthemodeinwhichherbrowst’’haddisappeared。TotakevengeanceonCrummie’sribswithastick，washerfirsteffort。TheroaringofthecowbroughtB。，hermaster，whoremonstratedwithhisangryneighbour，andreceivedinreplyademandforthevalueofthealewhichCrummiehaddrunkup。B。refusedpayment，andwasconveyedbeforeC。，theBailieorsittingMagistrate。Heheardthecasepatiently；andthendemandedoftheplaintiffA。，whetherthecowhadsatdowntoherpotation，ortakenitstanding。Theplaintiffanswered，shehadnotseenthedeedcommitted，butshesupposedthecowdrankthealestandingonherfeet；adding，thathadshebeennear，shewouldhavemadeherusethemtosomepurpose。TheBailie，onthisadmission，solemnlyadjudgedthecow’sdrinktobe_deochandoruis_-astirrup-cup，forwhichnochargecouldbemade，withoutviolatingtheancienthospitalityofScotland。
　　NoteF，p。-Black-Mail。
　　Mac-DonaldofBarrisdale，oneoftheverylastHighlandgentlemenwhocarriedontheplunderingsystemtoanygreatextent，wasascholarandawell-bredgentleman。Heengravedonhisbroadswordsthewell-knownlines-
　　Hctibieruntartes-pacisqueimponeremorem，Parceresubjectis，etdebellaresuperbos。