PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

IN offering a Third Edition of "Buchan" to the public, it may be necessary to state that the entire revision it has undergone was completed by the lamented Author himself, shortly before his demise, although the business of conducting it through the press was necessarily left to less efficient hands This, it is hoped, will plead the best excuse for any inaccuracies that may have inadvertently crept in.

The kind friends who have lent their assistance towards the greater accuracy of this edition will believe that their communications and suggestions were fully appreciated, and would, had it been so permitted, have been thankfully acknowledged by the Author, as they now are by her to whom the watching of the work through the press has been at once a labour of love, and a source of deep and unavailing regret.

A. P.

MORPETH, 1870.

IN coming before the public with a New Edition of "Buchan," I cannot omit the opportunity it affords me of expressing my deep sense of the favourable reception of the first impression of the work, and of the obligations I have been laid under to the editors of the many journals and periodicals in which it has been reviewed and recommended. To these I consider the rapid sale of the first edition to be mainly owing.

It would be mere affectation to conceal the pleasure I feel in having had the voice of the public so unequivocally expressed in favour of the work; although I must not be unmindful of the fact that a great portion of this favour is to be ascribed to the nature of the subject rather than to the merits of the compiler. The only adequate return I could make was by using every available means within my reach to enhance the value of the work by additional facts and incidents; and I have therefore to express my thanks to many kind friends-some of whom are personally unknown to me--who have favoured me with remarks which have put it in my power to correct a few things that were erroneously stated, and to supply others that were wanting. Let me hope, then, that the present edition will be worthy of a continuation of that favour which has been so generously accorded to the former.

J. B. P.

S. JAMES'S, Cruden,

April 20, 1859.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

IT could scarcely be expected that a record should be made of circumstances, physical and moral, relating to a particular district, without betraying some peculiarity or bias of opinion. I trust, however, that nothing in the following pages will bear to be construed into an invidious attack on those who may chance to entertain different or adverse sentiments from my own.

With a view to avoid, as much as possible, the appearance of such a design, I have, in the compilation of these fragmentary notices of Buchan, preferred, in every instance where authorities were attainable, giving their ipsissima verba, to moulding the information thus acquired into language of my own.

This little work, therefore, must be considered chiefly in the character of Notes. These have been drawn from every available source-from written records, popular tradition, and-in all practicable cases from personal observation and inquiry; my sole aim being to present, in a compact, accessible form, whatever can be gathered of the earlier history, customs, manners, and traditions of the district. The aged will frequently find the reproduction of their "old-world stories;" the young will possibly meet with subjects to awaken their interests; and all, let me hope, with something to stimulate their conservative patriotism,