

                                Sir Walter Scott

                                 The Antiquary

                                 Introduction.

The present Work completes a series of fictitious narratives, intended to
illustrate the manners of Scotland at three different periods. WAVERLEY embraced
the age of our fathers, GUY MANNERING that of our own youth, and the ANTIQUARY
refers to the last ten years of the eighteenth century. I have, in the two last
narratives especially, sought my principal personages in the class of society
who are the last to feel the influence of that general polish which assimilates
to each other the manners of different nations. Among the same class I have
placed some of the scenes in which I have endeavoured to illustrate the
operation of the higher and more violent passions; both because the lower orders
are less restrained by the habit of suppressing their feelings, and because I
agree with my friend Wordsworth, that they seldom fail to express them in the
strongest and most powerful language. This is, I think, peculiarly the case with
the peasantry of my own country, a class with whom I have long been familiar.
The antique force and simplicity of their language, often tinctured with the
Oriental eloquence of Scripture, in the mouths of those of an elevated
understanding, give pathos to their grief, and dignity to their resentment.
    I have been more solicitous to describe manners minutely than to arrange in
any case an artificial and combined narrative, and have but to regret that I
felt myself unable to unite these two requisites of a good Novel.
    The knavery of the adept in the following sheets may appear forced and
improbable; but we have had very late instances of the force of superstitious
credulity to a much greater extent, and the reader may be assured, that this
part of the narrative is founded on a fact of actual occurrence.
    I have now only to express my gratitude to the public for the distinguished
reception which they have given to works, that have little more than some truth
of colouring to recommend them, and to take my respectful leave, as one who is
not likely again to solicit their favour.
 
To the above advertisement, which was prefixed to the first edition of the
Antiquary, it is necessary in the present edition to add a few words,
transferred from the Introduction to the Chronicles of the Canongate, respecting
the character of Jonathan Oldbuck.
    »I may here state generally, that although I have deemed historical
personages free subjects of delineation, I have never on any occasion violated
the respect due to private life. It was indeed impossible that traits proper to
persons, both living and dead, with whom I have had intercourse in society,
should not have risen to my pen in such
