|
 To
The Honourable Lady Anne Margaret Grant of Grant.
Madam,
It is with sincere feelings of
diffidence that the writer of the following little Sketches ventures, in
this manner, to place his imperfect performance under the Patronage of
pour Ladyship’s name. Faulty,
however, as his gleanings may be, in a literary point of view, they may
perhaps, nevertheless, afford an hour’s agreeable pastime to those amiable
and benevolent characters, whose hearts, however much elevated in station
above the sphere of the humble
cottage, yet love to study and contemplate the romantic feelings and
primitive manners of its lowly inhabitants. From the ancient and venerable
Castle of your Forefathers, your eye can behold many a neat and
comfortable cottage, around the hearth of which the little stories
recorded in the following pages are often told; and those lively scenes of
innocent amusements attempted to be portrayed, are occasionally acted. To
the Family of GRANT, those scenes of rural conviviality amongst their
dependants must be particularly interesting, if they know how much the
mention of their names, and the praise of their virtues, are blended with
their celebration.
It is true, Madam, the external
chivalry of Feudal Clanship has now almost wholly decayed with the
interesting institution which gave rise to it. But there is still a magic
chain of connections existing betwixt the Chief of GRANT and his Clan,
which all the laws of Legislation, and all the revolutions of time, shall
never be able to dissolve;—a chain originally forged, and daily riveted,
by paternal acts of generosity on the part of the Chief and unbounded
attachment on the part of the Clan. Of this inviolable attachment, the
sons of the Spey, on a late occasion, peculiarly momentous to your
Ladyship and an amiable Sister, exhibited a memorable proof to the world.
That your Ladyship may be long
spared to exercise those rare virtues of heart, which so eminently
distinguished your much revered Parents, and which are so happily
inherited by their illustrious Offspring, shall always be the sincere
prayer of
Your Ladyship’s
Most devoted, humble Servant,
W. GRANT STEWART.
Congash, Strathspey,
December, 1822.
Contents
Also added
a wee chapter about Leprechauns |
