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INTRODUCTION.

SCOTLAND has been invariably described as a poverty-stricken field as regards architectural illustration; and the writer, when he commenced his labours as a stranger to the country, of course shared in the general opinion. But he was speedily undeceived, and at once extended his labours very considerably beyond his original intentions. In spite of these additions, however, the results of his travels so multiplied the subjects for delineation, that some of those issued at the commencement of the work would have been withheld, to be replaced by others of higher merit, could the extent of the field have been from the first foreseen. This, however, was impossible; and, in consequence, the limits originally assigned to the publication have been reached, while many subjects, which may appear to some of sufficient extent, and sufficiently in harmony with its general scope, to have claimed place in it, remain entirely untouched.

At the same time it must be remembered, that the intention of this Work was not to represent all the Antiquities of Scotland, but such a selection as should combine the spirit of the whole, by the features conveyed in those delineated. Hence many edifices, singularly plain in their character, have found places in it; while others, embracing both elaborate design and constructive merit, have been omitted, simply to avoid repetition. Thus a sketch was made of the elaborate hall-ceiling at Muchalls, which does not appear in our book, because its design proved to be fairly indexed by the examples at Craigievar, Glammis, and Winton. Muchalls, therefore, only appears in its less ornamental features ; but it has distinct peculiarities to warrant its delineation-i. e., the subordination of the turret to the line of the crow-stepped gable, and the (supposed) only specimen of the bartizaned courtyard wall remaining in Scotland.

Again, many persons have pleaded that the interesting Chapel in Edinburgh Castle

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should be illustrated in this collection. They are referred to the interiors of Dalmeny and Leuchars as embodying its general features, for it is but their designs in miniature; and are reminded distinctly, that our object has been to seize the distinctive features, rather than to present multiplied examples. Thus, again, Kelburne, near Largs, would, as an architectural design, hardly be admissible into the series; but it cannot be too strongly urged upon the notice of Scotchmen, that it is in the secondary examples of their architecture that they will find the points of detail generally preserved. We see in Kelburne the only ancient metallic termination to the turret which the writer has met with; and this distinctly shows the finishing personality and nationality of Scotch architecture-the crest of the Laird surmounted by the Thistle. Then there is the ingeniously ornamented sun-dial, where every inch of surface is made to tell the story of time, under every possible contortion of form and position; and where its pinnacle, by a series of nomes, imitates the crocketing of Gothic architecture.

During his journeyings through Scotland, so many places, unknown to fame, presented themselves to his notice, that the writer determined, should other circumstances seem to warrant a work supplementary to the present publication, to remain in the field until every architectural vestige was made known in a form, and at a price, that would have insured its introduction even to the cottage. He considers that were a respect for Antiquities once created among the labouring population, it would do more, by tenfold, for their preservation than any means which could be devised short of actual restoration. This idea, however, he has now been compelled to abandon.

The labours of another gentleman must not pass without mention here--those of John Hill Burton, advocate, whose name stands honourably connected with the paths of literature. To his local knowledge of Scotch History and Antiquities, this work is very considerably indebted in the historical notices and descriptions.

There yet remains a strong claim to be acknowledged by the writer. In lonely wanderings from beaten tracks, and where travellers would seek in vain for inns, he has invariably found a warm welcome in the manse, and much valuable guidance and aid with regard to the objects of his researches. To these ministers of the Presbyterian Church he offers acknowledgments, for their readiness both in ministering to his personal wants, and in adding to his knowledge of their local antiquities. He recalls with unmitigated pleasure the time passed in their society, and by the experience thus gained has readily perceived their hold upon the affections of their flocks, by uniting the character of the temporal friend with that of the Christian monitor and instructor. But for their active help, these volumes would, indeed, have had a toilsome addition to the labour they have required.

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Finally, his thanks must be given to those gentlemen, in front of whose names he has prefixed a mark in the List of Subscribers, for their active and kindly personal aid in behalf of his labours.

It has, perhaps, never before occurred that the Antiquities of a country have been so carefully collated, as those of Scotland have now been, by one individual. In the mass of previous antiquarian publications, miscellaneous contributions, from artists who too often translated nature as they thought she should appear, frequently show the same subject under the most extraordinary changes; and hence the cause of their want of value is the absence of truth.

To show how architectural works were formerly produced, the writer may, without injurious or invidious comparisons, instance the case of Captain Grose, who followed in the wake of Adam de Cardonell as an illustrator of Scotch Antiquities. Burns's "chiel' amang ye taking notes" is really entitled to great credit as one of the originators of illustrated antiquarian works; and to his honour it is to be said, that, unlike most modern editors, he does give the artists credit for their productions-he does not fancy that their combined works are his own.

Grose's preface to the Antiquities of Scotland is singularly illustrative of the ancient "getting up" of works. He begins by acknowledging with marked distinction the higher class, who, coming first in the shape of an artillery officer, supplied "elegant drawings." His compliments gradually cool down to the parties who executed drawings, who are termed "worthy friends," and "friend." Then he is coldly "obligated" to others, of humbler worldly position, and the freezing-point comes at last in the mention of his own footman's contributions! "It is necessary to inform the reader that the following views were drawn by my servant, Thomas Cocking, who promises to make an accurate draughtsman." And then Grose adds, "I likewise reduced and finished up every drawing but one for the engraver "-a sentence conveying a most significant admission as to the ultimate resemblance of the engravings to the buildings. His artists first corrected nature, and he added to their inaccuracies by correcting them.

Whatever may be the lack of artistic merit in the present collection, Scotland at least possesses in its pages that which no other country can show. Her Antiquities, instead of passing, in their representation, through a variety of hands, have been carefully delineated on the spot, with the object of correctness held as paramount; and constant has been the watch against fancy, either on the part of the delineator or the engraver. All other considerations have been sacrificed to the attainment of accuracy; and, on this account, even improbable effects of light and shade have been admitted. Light upon all features requiring delineation has been the rule; for it would have been inconsistent with the

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object of affording an accurate representation of interesting details, to present them in

the obscurity of shade. The consequence of maintaining a system so fatal to Pictorial effect as this, has rendered the engravings frequently crude, and there is not the polish necessary to carry the multitude in their favour; but there is the native vigour of the originals there is the truth, as far as the ability of the draughtsman could translate it; and this is their real value.

John Knox and his followers have the credit of destroying or damaging the ancient churches of Scotland generally-a credit most unfairly and unjustly awarded. Doubtless there is much truly laid to the charge of that great star of the Reformation, and to his satellites; but, their wrath was not against the Church-it was against what they considered the idolatrous part of her doctrines. John Knox was not the destroyer he is represented. To the last hundred years Scotland can trace more destruction among her Antiquities than ever occurred before; and her own children, from no religious or party prejudices, but from sheer motives of gain, have been the despoilers. Did the magnates of the burgh want a few good feasts ?-the funds were at hand, by an appropriation of dressed stone from the ready-made quarry presented by the old cathedral or abbey. Did the baronial leader, or the laird descended from him, want farmsteadings, stone-walls, or cottars' houses built?-the old abbey or castle wall was immediately made use of. Those who wish proof of this assertion may see its evidences either at the village of New Abbey, near Dumfries, or in the dikes about Kildrummie, in Aberdeenshire. So strong, indeed, was the desire for appropriating such precious spoils in Scotland, that even in a report from a surveyor to the Government, some few years back, upon the cost of some repairs to another building, the destruction of one of the most interesting Baronial remains in the country was suggested, on account of the saving to be effected by using its materials.*

The admirers of these corporate bodies are specially invited to examine any of the great ruins in the ancient burghs. Do they present any masses of fallen or ivy-covered ruins? We answer, No. There they are-fresh made, clean-picked, and naked skeletonsstanding rugged against the sky; having all the hideousness of destruction, instead of the picturesque beauty which invariably accompanies natural decay. They are, in fact, thus mostly sham ruins; and hence Scotland has more cockneyism in her old buildings than all the rest of the United Kingdom, even if we place modern antiquities in the opposite scale.

In reflecting upon these destructive acts of the higher powers, it is melancholy to observe how completely the lesson has been learned by the peasantry. The former generally took

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the main buildings away, to build houses for the latter; and these, in their turn, destroyed the remainder, stone by stone, to sand the floors laid down by their landlords. Had a better example been set, many a noble pile, too recently destroyed piecemeal in this way, would have remained to swell the Antiquities of Scotland. But who can blame the general population? They but followed the example which their superiors had already set them.

We return for one moment to John Knox and his followers. Their destructive instructions are clear, their motives unquestionable. The actions went beyond their intentions; but what reformer could ever stop the career of his followers ?-could stem the torrent at a moment's notice? Doubtless the powers set in motion by the Scottish Reformation leaders went rapidly beyond their control, and ended in destruction. But with this we have no concern. Let us look at the precise extent of the objects which the leaders had in view. In our description of Dunkeld, the order for demolition is quoted; and now we ask attention to the preservative clause, which in all cases followed the order "And fail not, but ye tak gude heed that neither the desks, winnocks, nor doors, be any ways hurt or broken, either stane wark, glassin wark, or iron wark."

In spite of Knox and his followers, of fire and sword, and of these yet more extensive and modern devastations from the rapacity or the general indifference of the population, from the earliest ages down to the present day, Scotland has many a mine of architectural wealth remaining unwrought, and literally day by day falling to waste. Many edifices, of both historical and architectural interest, are silently disappearing from the land, without even the existence of a drawing to recall their features in times to come, when it will become, not a mere fashion, but a matter of deep interest and pride, to preserve the only tangible objects which as visibly connect men with their predecessors while living, as the kirkyard does invisibly when they mingle in death.

Scotland is not a poor country, although the general assertion is to the contrary. She is rich in Antiquities, rich in the energy of her population, and rich in money too. Where is the land whose acres bring a higher rental? Where is the land whose sons realise larger fortunes? We, therefore, warn Scotland of the everlasting disgrace which the neglect of her Stone Records is bringing, whether they be of ancient date or modern, whether they consist of the dismembered remains of the old Trinity College Church at Edinburgh, or the Parthenonical ruins which frown upon them from the summit of the Calton Hill.

Surely the mention of these matters should lead to a movement for results differing from the ruinous course still proceeding. Surely there should be patriotism enough in Scotland to effect something for preservation; and those Scotchmen who originate the

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