XVI PREFACE. 



who with the zeal of friendship, rather 

 than with any similar feeling or adequate 

 knowledge on the subject, may be induced 

 to push it forward on the world. 



The disadvantages attending on such a 

 situation are but too manifest; and few 

 are the instances in which the case has 

 been more strongly exemplified, than in 

 that of the volume which now presumes 

 to offer itself to the notice of the public. 

 It will be proper to apprize the reader, 



that the original sketch of what is here 



^ 



given was done at the request of a parti- 

 cular friend in Scotland, to supply him 

 with a more correct means of pursuing 

 upon principle, and of cultivating into a 

 degree of superior refinement, a diversion 

 which his situation presents very distin- 

 guished facilities of being amused by; 

 and in order to repay the kindness and 

 hospitalities received under his roof there, 

 during an excursion undertaken with a 

 fruitless hope to renovate a declining life, 

 somewhat prematurely sinking under one 

 of those distressing affections of the lungs, 



