x. PBEFACE.
of Edinburgh, who have one and all most readily given access to documents and books bearing on the subject; while for special aid given in course of investigations and the recovery of many particulars of interest hidden away in obscure quarters, he cannot too highly express his acknowledgments to Mr William Crawford, Edinburgh ; Mr Alexander Scott, Bellfield, Portobello ; Colonel J. EH. Thomson, St Andrews ; Rev. J. Anderson, Register Office, Edinburgh ; and the late Sir Robert K. Dick Cunyngham of Prestonfield.
For the List of the Fauna of the District to be found in the Appendix he is indebted to Mr Thomas Speedy of Liberton. To these, and all other friends who have contributed to make the volume worthy of the subject, the Author’s best thanks are grate- fully offered.
In recalling the past, whether it be the dim traditions of the manners and customs of antiquity, or more recent events scarcely beyond the memory of the living, supported it may be by docu- mentary evidence, the Author has sought impartially to develop along with the current story of events—political, ecclesiastical, and social—the underlying motives for action of the various actors. He has accordingly striven to carry the torch into the inner life of the locality so as to reveal the origin and nature of social peculiarities, and the germ and growth of institutions now identified with the wellbeing of the people. He has sought to make the past present, to bring the distant near, to call up bygone generations with all their individuality of language, manners, garb, and thought ; and if he has in any measure succeeded in presenting to his readers a faithful picture of these, or has roused any patriotic feeling, he will consider himself well rewarded for any labour his work has cost,
WILLIAM BAIRD.
PorroBeixo, Ist October 1898.
