



OF 

 f 



PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION, 



CONCEALMENT is rarely a right thing; and 

 v^ how far, for reasons given, the Author's hiding 

 of his name in the first edition may be justified, 

 is needless now to enquire, as the attempt so quickly 

 proved an entire failure. Whoever meditates the 

 smallest guile would need to provide more eyes and 

 a good memory. Some years ago, in contributing 

 the Statistical Account of his parish, the writer 

 took notice of a moor blackbird which he described 

 as a thief. The description soon out of sight, was 

 soon out of mind; but not so the thief, who, con* 

 tinuing his visits, kept alive the remembrance of 

 his person and was again, it seems, submitted in 

 4 The Manse Garden' to the like advertisement of 

 his stature, visage, and the colour of his clothes. 



As in every case of human indictment, accusa- 

 tions, failing of conviction, serve only to excite 

 revenge and make the offender more inveterate ; so 

 in this, the thief, being neither hanged nor incar- 

 cerated, but merely affronted, roused his spleen, and, 



