PREFACE^ XXm 



that is, he will scarce forbear shewing his own 

 great kindness for the memory of the man whom 

 he recommends, and will not leave him wholly 

 to the praise of things themselves, without be^) 

 stowing some good words of his owa upon him,) 

 But now this defect through private esteem and 

 friendship, if it be really such, or if the reader 

 shall fancy he discovers it in the present under^' 

 taking, it is hoped he will consider is in great 

 measure, if not completely supplied, by the numr. 

 ber of vouchers and testimonies *, that are faith?% 

 fully brought to support what is advanced; 

 (especially in the more significant and material 

 passages that occur); and the more of these 

 there be, the more the reader is secured: nor 

 can he greatly err in distinguishing between that 



i 

 \,* Mr. Skinner, in his preface to " Annals of Scottish Epis- 

 copacy," observes, in reference to himself, as the son and bio- 

 grapher of Bishop Skinner, that no son is competent to give a 

 fair, jnst, and acceptable account of a father s life, character, 

 and official conduct, if he do not confine himself to written do- 

 cuments, which serve not only to confirm the truth of his nar- 

 rative, but for the reader's correction of the filial partiality of 

 the author. — Editor. 



