hat this man's corpse has been
miraculously preserved frae decay, a hunder times langer than any other
body's, or than ever a tanner's. But now I could wager a guinea it has
been for the preservation o' that little book. And Lord kens what may
be in't! It will maybe reveal some mystery that mankind disna ken
naething about yet."

"If there be any mysteries in it," returned the other, "it is not for
your handling, my dear friend, who are too much taken up about
mysteries already." And with these words he presented the mysterious
pamphlet to me. With very little trouble, save that of a thorough
drying, I unrolled it all with ease, and found the very tract which I
have here ventured to lay before the public, part of it in small bad
print, and the remainder in manuscript. The title page is written and
is as follows:

THE PRIVATE MEMOIRS
AND CONFESSIONS
OF A JUSTIFIED SINNER:

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF

Fideli certa merces.

And, alongst the head, it is the same as given in the present edition
of the work. I altered the title to A Self-justified Sinner, but my
booksellers did not approve of it; and, there being a curse pronounced
by the writer on him that should dare to alter or amend, I have let it
stand as it is. Should it be thought to attach discredit to any
received principle of our Church, I am blameless. The printed part ends
at page 201 and the rest is in a fine old hand, extremely small and
close. I have ordered the printer to procure a facsimile of it, to be
bound in with the volume. [v. Frontispiece.]

With regard to the work itself, I dare not venture a judgment, for I do
not understand it. I believe no person, man or woman, will ever peruse
it with the same attention that I have done, and yet I confess that I
do not comprehend the writer's drift. It is certainly impossible that
these scenes could ever have occurred that he describes as having
himself transacted. I think it may be possible that he had some hand in
the death of his brother, and yet I am disposed greatly to doubt it;
and the numerous traditions, etc. which remain of that event may be
attributable to the work having been printed and burnt, and of course
the story known to all the printers, with their families and gossips.
That the young Laird of Dalcastle came by a violent death, there
remains no doubt; but that this wretch slew him, there is to me a good
deal. However, allowing this to have been the case, I account all the
rest either