May it pleaſe your Grace,
SCOTLAND her ſelf is my Advocate, to entreat your Graces Pardon for this Attempt; An Eſsay to reſcue her from Slander in Opinion, and Reproach in the Mouths of the partial World, however meanly performed, cannot but engage her in my Behalf.
SCOTLAND has had many an ill Picture drawn for her in the World; and as ſhe had been repreſented in Falſe Draughts, no Wonder the Injurys ſhe has ſuffered are intolerable.
All the Spies ſent hither have carry'd back an ill Report of the Land, and fill'd the World with weak Banters and Clamour at they know not what.
If I can give a better turn to the Work, and ſhow Scotland's true Picture to the World; if I can reſcue her from the Malice and Ignorance of Men, they that do'nt like it may be angry, and your Grace, diſcerning the Imperfection, may think me an ill Painter; but I am confident will pardon that, and approve the deſign, as a ſtep to abler hands in time to do the Nation more Juſtice.
This Attempt, may it pleaſe your Grace, ſhall clear the way to that general Character, in which Scotland ſhall in time, come behind no Nation in Europe, and in which ſhe know differs only thus, That they obtain a Glory they cannot merit, and Scotland merits a Glory that ſhe has not obtain'd; and the Conſequence of this muſt be, That ſhe ſhall no more be ill treated in Words by thoſe who dare not look her Sons in the Face.
When a Stranger cones into Scotland, Fill'd with thoſe formidable Ideas which the Enemies of the Nation ignorantly and maliciouſly have form'd in him, he is confounded and aſham'd of himſelf, the cultivated Lands, the Noble Harbours, the numerous Villages, the Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, and the Plenty of all things are perfect Surprizes, and he is apt to enquire whether this be Scotland or no.
