Darien ... Second edition

Front matter

E) A 08 D E t_ . DAEIEN, OR, THE MERCHANT PRINCE. ET ELIOT WARBURTON, AUTHOR OP "THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS," etc. etc. (jForrrft (Bin&m. LONDON : HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GKEAT MARLBOEOUGH STKEET. TO MY FEIENDS ON TWEED AND YARROW; Cjjis Wiaxl is fnsmtab IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF A SUMHEU PASSED IN THEIR RENOWNED AND HOSPITABLE BORDER-LAND, BY THE AUTHOR. TO THE EDITOR. Tibbie Shiells's, St. Mart's Loch, 20th August, 1851. Deas * * *, From most of the various countries to which my vagrant propensities, from time to time, have led me, I have despatched to you some such hulky MSS. as accom panies this note. I began to fear, however, that Scotland, my present scene of wanderings, would prove a blank in this respect, — for into whatever period of its fertile history I looked, I found that its best interests had been already illustrated by the unapproachable beauty and fidelity of Scott's narrations.

Though far from indulging in the pre sumptuous ambition of following in his steps, I was re solved to find some subject on which I might at least exercise the humble office of a compiler, — some task which, connected with Scottish history, would supply an object for my leisure hours and an interest in the surrounding scenery, — affording hereafter a pleasant memorial of the time I had passed there. Such were my aspirations when I left London ; but no sooner had I pitched my tent on Scottish ground, and entered into the enjoyment of its scenery, its sports, its genial and generous hospitality, than my studious resolu tions began to melt away with alarming rapidity. My idleness and self-reproach daily increased, but a passion for the mountain and the stream grew in like proportion ; and 1 might have recrossed the Border with a blank note-book, had it not been for an adventure which at once recalled my TO THE EDITOB. vow, and gave me an opportunity of performing it.

That is, if I can venture to say that I have performed it. For when I consider the uncalled-for attentions that I have paid to grouse, partridges, and the salmonidæ, during the past autumn, and when I contemplate the immense mass of documents I have had to arrange, and the wide and tangled series of events from which I have endea voured to elicit something like a consistent story, — I feel how much I must trust to the courteous reader's in dulgence, and to the keen critic's generous forbearance. I can only hope to obtain from the kindest of both these classes the fiat of my highland friend concerning my per formance,- — " I am a plain man, and I plainly tell you, I wad I had placed my material in abler hands ; but I am sure you have writ honestly and dune your best." With this ambiguous apology for many errors, I take my leave, and remain, dear Mr. Editor, Yours as of old, Viator.