The Heart of Mid-Lothian | Page 7

whereof those received by me being
the most solid (in respect that a new house and a new coat are better
than a new tale and an old song), it is meet that my gratitude should be
expressed with the louder voice and more preponderating vehemence.
And how should it be so expressed?--Certainly not in words only, but
in act and deed. It is with this sole purpose, and disclaiming all
intention of purchasing that pendicle or poffle of land called the
Carlinescroft, lying adjacent to my garden, and measuring seven acres,
three roods, and four perches, that I have committed to the eyes of
those who thought well of the former tomes, these four additional
volumes of the Tales of my Landlord. Not the less, if Peter Prayfort be
minded to sell the said poffle, it is at his own choice to say so; and,
peradventure, he may meet with a purchaser: unless (gentle reader) the
pleasing pourtraictures of Peter Pattieson, now given unto thee in
particular, and unto the public in general, shall have lost their favour in
thine eyes, whereof I am no way distrustful. And so much confidence
do I repose in thy continued favour, that, should thy lawful occasions
call thee to the town of Gandercleugh, a place frequented by most at
one time or other in their lives, I will enrich thine eyes with a sight of
those precious manuscripts whence thou hast derived so much
delectation, thy nose with a snuff from my mull, and thy palate with a
dram from my bottle of strong waters, called by the learned of
Gandercleugh, the Dominie's Dribble o' Drink.
It is there, O highly esteemed and beloved reader, thou wilt be able to
bear testimony, through the medium of thine own senses, against the
children of vanity, who have sought to identify thy friend and servant
with I know not what inditer of vain fables; who hath cumbered the
world with his devices, but shrunken from the responsibility thereof.
Truly, this hath been well termed a generation hard of faith; since what
can a man do to assert his property in a printed tome, saving to put his
name in the title-page thereof, with his description, or designation, as
the lawyers term it, and place of abode? Of a surety I would have such
sceptics consider how they themselves would brook to have their works

ascribed to others, their names and professions imputed as forgeries,
and their very existence brought into question; even although,
peradventure, it may be it is of little consequence to any but themselves,
not only whether they are living or dead, but even whether they ever
lived or no. Yet have my maligners carried their uncharitable censures
still farther.
These cavillers have not only doubted mine identity, although thus
plainly proved, but they have impeached my veracity and the
authenticity of my historical narratives! Verily, I can only say in
answer, that I have been cautelous in quoting mine authorities. It is true,
indeed, that if I had hearkened with only one ear, I might have
rehearsed my tale with more acceptation from those who love to hear
but half the truth. It is, it may hap, not altogether to the discredit of our
kindly nation of Scotland, that we are apt to take an interest, warm, yea
partial, in the deeds and sentiments of our forefathers. He whom his
adversaries describe as a perjured Prelatist, is desirous that his
predecessors should be held moderate in their power, and just in their
execution of its privileges, when truly, the unimpassioned peruser of
the annals of those times shall deem them sanguinary, violent, and
tyrannical. Again, the representatives of the suffering Nonconformists
desire that their ancestors, the Cameronians, shall be represented not
simply as honest enthusiasts, oppressed for conscience' sake, but
persons of fine breeding, and valiant heroes. Truly, the historian cannot
gratify these predilections. He must needs describe the cavaliers as
proud and high-spirited, cruel, remorseless, and vindictive; the
suffering party as honourably tenacious of their opinions under
persecution; their own tempers being, however, sullen, fierce, and rude;
their opinions absurd and extravagant; and their whole course of
conduct that of persons whom hellebore would better have suited than
prosecutions unto death for high-treason. Natheless, while such and so
preposterous were the opinions on either side, there were, it cannot be
doubted, men of virtue and worth on both, to entitle either party to
claim merit from its martyrs. It has been demanded of me, Jedediah
Cleishbotham, by what right I am entitled to constitute myself an
impartial judge of their discrepancies of opinions, seeing (as it is stated)
that I must necessarily have descended from one or other of the

contending parties, and be, of course, wedded for better or for worse,