vi INTRODUCTION. 



Reader, since I left you, I have felt towards you as towards 

 that parent. When I parted from him he evinced his sorrow ; 

 when I returned he met me with an affectionate smile. If my 

 recollection of your kind indulgence has not deceived me, I car- 

 ried with me to the western world your wish that I should re- 

 turn to you ; and the desire of gratifying that wish, ever present 

 with me as I wandered amidst the deep forests, or scaled the 

 rugged rocks, in regions which I visited expressly for the pur- 

 pose of studying nature and pleasing you, has again brought 

 me into your presence : — I have returned to present you with all 

 that seems most interesting in my collections. Should you 

 accept the offering, and again smile benignantly upon me, I 

 shall be content and happy. 



Soon after the engraving of my work commenced, I bade 

 adieu to my valued friends in Edinburgh, whose many kind- 

 nesses were deeply impressed on my heart. The fair city gra- 

 dually faded from my sight, and, as 1 crossed the dreai'y heaths 

 of the Lammermoor, the mental prospect became clouded ; but 

 my spirits revived as I entered the grounds of Mr Sei.bv of 

 Twizel House, for in him I knew I possessed a friend. The 

 few days spent under his most hospitable roof, and the many 

 pleasures I enjoyed there, I shall ever remember with gratitude. 



1 was then on my way to London, which I had never yet 

 visited. The number of letters given me to facilitate my entry 

 into the metropolis of England, and to aid m.e in procuring sub- 

 scribers to my work, accumulated during my progress. At 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne I made my next halt. There the venerable 

 Bewick, the Adamsons, the Turners, the Donkins, the 

 Bubbles, the Charnleys and others, received me with great 

 kindness, and helped to increase my list of subscribers. The 



