THE HISTORY OF A MAN. EDITED BY GEORGE GILFILLAN. LONDON: ARTHUR HALL, VIRTUE, & CO. 25, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1856. 3TAATSBIBLIOTHEK MUENCHEN ADVERTISEMENT. AT the close of the last chapter, I have specified the objects and aims which I have sought in the following volume. Although, formally, in many parts fictitious, the quality by which I hope it will be found peculiarly distinguished, is—fearless truthfulness; and being a book of this pretension, I anticipate not a little criticism, and, perhaps, detraction or abuse. Every "man,” however, worthy of that name, and whose "history" deserves to be written, learns, in the course of his experience, to rate these things at their true value; and so, I trust, has the author of these pages. As the history, however, of an enthusiastic votary of literature, and as replete with sketches of and conversations with literary men of eminence, it will, I believe, be found interesting to one class; as containing many pictures of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland, to another; as filled with little incidents, and, here and there, with fresh characters, to another; as casting some light upon two different modes of intellectual and moral life-the literary and the clerical—and forming a vade mecum to young aspirants |