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A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

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PREFACE. vii<br />

was only to lay a foundation, upon which either I myself,<br />

or others<br />

afterwards may build.<br />

The learned Sir George Macken/.ie began a collection <strong>of</strong> such memo-<br />

rials, which he has left behind him in manuscript ; which I have referred<br />

to as occasion required : And had he finished the same for the press, it<br />

had been great service to the public, and made a very proper appendix<br />

to his excellent Book <strong>of</strong> <strong>Heraldry</strong>. But indeed a work <strong>of</strong> that nature is<br />

too great for one man, or one age, to finish, and therefore must proceed<br />

gradually, as the circumstances <strong>of</strong> things will permit. There are some<br />

ancient families amongst us now extinct, others have lost their charters<br />

and records and there are some ; who, though they have them in their<br />

possession, yet are not willing to communicate them ; and there are many<br />

<strong>of</strong> such an indolent disposition as not to regard the history either <strong>of</strong><br />

their own, or <strong>of</strong> other considerable families : And yet without their con-<br />

currence a work <strong>of</strong> this nature cannot be completed. But as it is un-<br />

reasonable, that the more curious and inquisitive part<br />

<strong>of</strong> mankind should<br />

on in this<br />

suffer by the indolence <strong>of</strong> those men, I am resolved to go<br />

work so far as I can, w*th such helps as may be had.<br />

There are three objections which may pollibly be framed against this<br />

Treatise, which I shall endeavour, brieflly, to obviate. First, some may<br />

object, that in my memorials <strong>of</strong> families I have insisted more particu-<br />

larly on some inconsiderable families, and passed over others <strong>of</strong> greater<br />

consideration very superficially. To which I answer, That it<br />

probably<br />

may have happened so, but without any design or fault in me for some<br />

;<br />

persons have a taste for learning and antiquity beyond others, know the<br />

histories both <strong>of</strong> their own families, and <strong>of</strong> the nation in general, and are<br />

willing to do justice both to themselves and posterity, and therefore<br />

have assisted me with memorials, or allowed me to peruse their charters:<br />

Whereas others are altogether carekss <strong>of</strong> such matters, and neither are<br />

concerned for knowing, or being known. Besides, that being straitened<br />

for room, I was obliged to abridge most <strong>of</strong> my memorials, especially towards<br />

the latter end, and to omit some altogether. But as I designed my<br />

book for the xise <strong>of</strong> posterity, so in die Supplement which I intend to<br />

make to it,<br />

1 propose to omit no memorial <strong>of</strong> any family which I either<br />

have by me, or may at any time come in my way, so far as I find it duly<br />

vouched : And, therefore, if any family shall think themselves neglected<br />

hereafter, they<br />

must blame themselves.<br />

Secondly, others may object, That I have erred in sxmdry <strong>of</strong> my accounts<br />

<strong>of</strong> families. To which I answer, That the work being new, I<br />

have been obliged to go in an untrodden path, and therefore it is not to<br />

be wondered if sometimes I should miss my way; but I have endeavoured<br />

to act as cautious a part as possible, and where no proper vouchers<br />

appeared, I have chosen to be silent. If I have erred in any thing,<br />

I shall<br />

be ready, upon better information, to retract and correct the same in the<br />

above-mentioned Supplement, and shall be very thankful to any person<br />

who gives me further light in those matters. Which corrections and<br />

additions, being once printed, will be preserved for the use <strong>of</strong> posterity,<br />

and if ever the book comes to a second edition, these may be inserted in<br />

their proper places.<br />

Thirdly, it may be objected, That this may be an endless work, so that<br />

one volume may draw on another, and yet the whole never be completed.<br />

To which I answer, That a complete history <strong>of</strong> all the surnames<br />

and honourable families in Scotland is not to be expected from one hand.

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