60 LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 



pered menial' storm the deadly breach? would a gouty alderman 

 descend the rock of Ailsa, based by the roaring ocean, in quest of sea- 

 fowls' eggs ? No ; their habits and their ailments would disable or 

 prevent them ; and, probably, nothing could induce them to face the 

 apparent danger. Now, as for myself, I was well fitted out for ad- 

 ventures. I went expressly to look for wild beasts j and having 

 found them, it would have been impossible for me to have refrained 

 from coming in actual contact with them. 



" I have only to repeat, that I particularly request those readers 

 of the * Wanderings ' who may still doubt my word, to meet me in 

 person, and then show me any passage in the book which they may 

 suspect to deviate from the truth. It will give me pleasure to enter 

 fully into the point in question ; and I shall not have the slightest 

 doubt of being able to convince them that they are wrong in their 

 surmises. If they should refuse to comply with this my reasonable 

 and just request, and still determine to consider me a disciple of 

 the celebrated Baron, then to them I say, ' Gentlemen, fare ye well ! 

 In my conscience, I have laboured hard to please you, and to consult 

 your taste ; but I find that I have lost my time, and, I may add, my 

 patience too. I humbly crave your forgiveness for having offered 

 you food which has proved so very unpalatable to your stomachs. 

 I will learn wisdom for the time to come ; and I promise you that I 

 will not throw my jewels to the sty a second time.' 



" So far for the ' Wanderings.' Most part of the work was written 

 in the depth of the forest, without the help of books, or the aid of 

 any naturalist. I could not refrain from making a few observations 

 on it ere I concluded these Memoirs, Memoirs, by the way, from the 

 pen of a private rover. Had our religion not interfered with our 

 politics, my early days would probably have been spent in the ser- 

 vice of my country. Then, no doubt, there would have been matter 

 in these Memoirs much more interesting to the reader than that which 

 is now submitted to his perusal. 



"When I reflect that the faith of -my ancestors has been most 

 cruelly assailed for centuries by every man in power, from the Prime 

 Minister of England down to the county magistrate ; when I see it 

 rising again triumphant in every part of the empire ; and when I 

 observe multitudes, in every rank of life, returning to its consoling 



