INTRODUCTION

xiii

To SIR WALTER SCOTT OF ABBOTSFORD, BARONET.

Rtlugaa, near Forrei,

22nd May 1822.

DsAR SIR,-From Conatable'a Magosirre for last month, which bas
this moment fallen into my bands, I learn, for the first time, with
some surprise, but with much greater delight than mortification,
that you have condescended to become the Editor of a portion of
my Ancestor Lord Fountainhall's nss. From this 1 am led to
believe, that the circumstance of my having been engaged in the
work since 1814 must have escaped your recollection, otherwise 1
think you would have informed me of your intention or inquired
into mine. In the winter 1813-14, 1 had the happiness of meeting
you at the table of our mutual friend, Mr. Pringle of Yair, where
you expressed regret to me that something had not been done
towards publishing the curious matter contained in Lord Fountain-
hall's M88" urging me at the same time to undertake the task.
Having slso soon afterwards been pressed to perform this duty
by Mr. Thomas Thomson, Mr. Napier, and several other literary
friends, I was led to begin it, and Lord Meadowbank having pre-
sented my petition to the Dean and Faculty of Advocates, they
were so liberal as to permit me to have the use of the !.ISS. in
succession at Fountainhall, where I then was on a visit to my
Father, and where 1 transcribed everything fit for my purpose.
Emboldened by the remembrance of what passed in conversation
w ith you at 'L%lr. Pringle's, 1 took the liberty of trespassing on you
in a letter dated 18th February 1815, to beg you would inform
me whether you knew of the existence of any of Lord Fountain-
hall's uss. besides the eight Folio volumes I had then examined.
5'ou did me the honor to write me an immediate reply, in which
you stated that you knew of no other mss. but those I had men-
tioned, and you conclude by saying, that you were glad to hear
that 1 was busying myself in a task which would throw much
light on the history of Scotland. In May 1816, whiht engaged
ilere in arranging and rctranscribing the materials I had collected
for the work in the order of a Journal, 1 met with a little difficulty
about the word FORRES, which the sense of the passage led me to
read FORREST, meaning ETTRICK FORREST, Knowing that you were
the best source from which true information on such subjects was
to be drawn, and presuming upon your former kindness, I again
addressed you, 23rd May 1816, begging to know whether 1 was