The coast being cleared, by the completion of these sales, and the times having assumed a much more promising appearance, than they had done for some time before, (I suppose I may say, since the sad calamity that befel our county in the spring of 1822,) I proceeded to put into execution my long formed, but often necessarily postponed, intention, in regard to issuing my prospectus, for what I now designated, "POPULAR PHILOSOPHY; or, THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, UPON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, and AGREEABLY TO THE LIGHTS OF MODERN SCIENCE, and THE PROGRESS OF NEW DISCOVERY," &c.*

So early as the 3d of November, I observe, I had been making some inquiries, preparatory to a contemplated visit to the Edinburgh College Museum, previously to going to press with my work,—and, up to the 6th, was going on pretty comfortably with my other preparations and arrangements; but, on that day, I received such a piece of appalling, and I may well say, enervating intelligence, as drove, for the time, all other thoughts out of my head, and which, had it reached me a month sooner, or, before I had issued my prospectus, might have sealed up for ever, ere its publication had commenced, the fate of my book.

for the year (as we had resolved to discontinue the license for the present) at Dunbar, on the evening of Monday, the 12th September, which he continued for that and the following week, and afterwards, in some of the adjoining villages, until the licence expired on the 8th of October, when they terminated at East Barns, after which, it was likely we had no more sales that way, till nearly the time when, my "Popular Philosophy" was finished at press, on the follow. ing year. This short series, I see, consisted of the sales at Dunbar, on the two weeks ending the 17th and the 22d September,-Linton, 26th, 27th, 28th, do. -Whitekirk, 29th,-Tyningham, 30th and 1st October,Whittingham, 3d, 4th, Stenton, 5th,-Innerwick, 6th, 7th,-East Barns, 8th.

* This I commenced doing, on Monday the 24th October, and by the morning of the 28th, the day on which my circular to the trade, is dated, I see, we had 80 names on our subscription papers-and of such a description, as might make any person proud of such a compliment, and such an acquisition,although, the numbers were afterwards much increased in course of the winter; indeed, so much so, as to make it become indeed, a matter of profit, as well as of pleasure, if things could be economically gone about, to proceed with the work. The matter I think, was at first broached, after dinner, to an intelligent young gentleman, one of the happy party, at a certain launching feast, which took place on the previous week; the recollection of which, while it calls up the remembrance of those more prosperous times to, the shipping interest, at same time, is accompanied by the most melancholy reminiscences, -as going to shew, or fix the time, when the funeral knell of that interest, at least in this quarter, may be said to have been sounded; as it does not appear, to have done much good, ever since.

I, however, must have, in some degree, recovered my spirits by the end of that month, in consequence of the number of orders, and some of them of a very flattering description, that continued to pour in from all quarters-more especially, as two of them, now before me, dated the 23d, was the commencement of, the reviving of a correspondence with, some of those excellent worthies of the earth, which it must be ever the pride of human nature, properly endowed, and rightly constituted, to correspond with.

The following kind letter, which arrived, among a number of others, from that much respected individual, whom I have before had occasion to mention, and whose signature it bears, I have deemed it proper to preserve in these pages, as a specimen, of the style of the writer, as well as of his readiness to serve me, on the present occasion :—

"ESTEEMED FRIEND,

"NEAR LONDON, 23d of 11th Month, 1825.

"I am glad to find, that it is thy intention to publish, the Book of Nature Laid Open, upon Christian principles. Our plans for teaching the poor to read, are making rapid progress, and it is of vast consequence to provide reading for them, which, while it conveys instruction, with respect to the things which are seen, and which are temporal, should give their minds a bias, towards the things which are not seen (by the natural eye,) but which are eternal, and of infinite importance-Pray, send me up a few of the printed prospectuses, and, in the meantime, put down the following subscribers :

[Here follows a list of a few names, taking among them, to the extent
of twenty-two copies of the book; but the particulars I do not deem
it necessary to repeat.]

—I remain, with best wishes for the success of thy work, thy sincere friend,

(Signed)

Addressed, "George Miller, Editor of the Book of
Nature Laid Open, Dunbar,-North Britain,"

"WM. ALLEN.

On the of December, I paid my long contemplated, and often wished for, visit to the Museum,* in which I was met by my much esteemed friend, Mr who may pos

sibly recollect, upon these pages meeting his eye, something of my prediction about meteorics, which I had an opportunity of explaining to him, as I have done several of my mysterious subjects, upon natural, not supernatural principles, in the afternoon, when we met again at Newington to dinner. On the following week, I think, on the Tuesday, I had the

See, "A peep into the Edinburgh Museum," or, the Edinburgh College Museum described, page 35 to 62, volume first, of my Popular Philosophy.

walk along by the Cove shore, as described in the 84th page of the first volume of my book; and, on the 16th, being the day on which I met some friends, on the occasion of their annual dinner at Linkheads, I observe I had, in course of the forenoon, paid a visit to the Siccar Point, as described, page 85, &c.*

My preparatory visits, however, did not end with those I have already mentioned; for my good friend, Mr — being here during his Christmas holidays, I accepted his offer to treat me with a part of a chaise, so far as the road was practicable by such a conveyance, on the condition, which was readily granted on my part, that I would treat him with the pleasure of accompanying me, on my exploratory visit to the Fairy Castles, situated in the mountainous regions to the westward of Oldhamstocks, and which I have also described at pages 92 and 173 vol. first, of my Popular Philosophy.

We set out accordingly, for that, to me, at the time, very interesting district, on the morning of Wednesday the 28th December, and, taking Oldhamstocks in our way, were there joined by my much esteemed friend, the Rev. Mr Moore, at the manse, to which we returned, after our toils for the day were over, and spent a most agreeable afternoon, in a most agreeable party, which our kind and hospitable friends had invited to meet, and to dine with us, on our return.

Our worthy host will possibly recollect, that WE WERE NOT A DAY TOO SOON for the purport of our journey, for the snow had begun to fall, before we left the village in the evening; and had we been but a day later, I am afraid, the Fairy Castles would have remained under snow, although they were not now under ground, until it had been too late to discover them, for our present purpose.

*It has been sometimes remarked, that a person in doing so and so, has "killed two dogs with one stone," but in this day's transactions, it will be seen that, in that sense, I killed no less than three. My visit to the Siccar point, was, no doubt the most important, in respect to the pursuit in which I was now so seriously engaged, but the circumstance of the dinner, with such excellent friends, and in conformity to an old established practice, would most likely have called me eastward, on that day at any rate,—and, 1 had besides, an assignation with a person to meet me there, on very particular business, from Cockburnspath, before the coach came up; and he was just, I think in time, to get all over, before the coach did come up to bear me home, from my day's labours, and the pleasant meeting, whose company, I need not say, I could have with pleasure enjoyed much longer, had circumstances permitted.

CHAPTER XXXV.-1826.

It is well for us that we cannot see into futurity, or the fate of my Popular Philosophy, might have been sealed, while in embryo-Discouraging obstacles I met with in the commencement —Inducements, to go forward.-The great engrossing subject with me in the beginning of 1826-A specimen of " my night thoughts."-Just in time to be useful. Dedication of my work to THE GREAT UNSEEN WITHIN THE VEIL.- -Proceed with it to press.-I am soon after assailed by a combination of distressing circumstances.-Deplorable reaction in the affairs of the country.-Great change in the short period of four months-Summoned to Edinburgh, on a jury trial.-Embrace the opportunity to visit the Botanic Gardens.-Rather strange anomalies in a Court of Justice. Part first of Popular Philosophy makes its appearance. -Encouraging and flattering testimonials very opportunely arrive.—Part second of my work comes out.-More flowers in my path, in the form of favourable notices. Visit a friend in the west.-Embrace the opportunity of paying a second visit to the Botanic Garden on my return.-Great heat and forwardness of the season." ANIMATED FLOWERS," attending Professor Graham's noonday lectures.-My walk in the Botanic Garden, where described.-Visit. ed by a young friend, who turns out in the end to be very useful.-I have a call from Dr Chalmers on his journey to the eastward.-Part third of P. P. appears, accompanied by a series of testimonials down to July.-Friendly advice of a friend, which, however, I am still unable to attend to.-No time for me yet to think of rest.—Part IV. of my publication makes its appearance.— Short series of sales for the winter.-Not tired of my employment during, although well pleased with the completion of, my task.-Quotation from Bishop Horne.-A small debt of gratitude paid to my young friend.-Pleasant party at Birnieknows on our return from the Cove-Shore, accompany my little coadju. tor to Edinburgh.-Deliver him over to his father.-We afterwards lose sight of him, but learn that he had found his way to the College Museum.-More disagreeables.-Letter of condolence.-New trials, which, notwithstanding all its pleasing toils, contribute to make the year 1826, set in clouds -Adver. tise my book as an appropriate Christmas, or New Years Gift.-Congratulatory and friendly communications received after the completion of the work.

I TOOK occasion to remark in my last chapter, that if a certain piece of appalling intelligence had reached me, a very short time before it did, the fate of my book might have been sealed, ere it had commenced-or, in other words, the prospectus, might never have been published, and now, I may safely say, that could I have foreseen the consequences of those disastrous storms, which were already giving some indications of their approach, when I went to press, early in January, 1826-I might have still hesitated to advance, or trem

bled on the threshold; and had I seen, besides, those other portentous specks that severally made their appearance, at different intervals, above my horizon, developing themselves as the year advanced, until they at last appeared clothed in that malignant form of baneful influence, which could not fail, to shake the nerves, of one situated as I was too soon afterwards,—I certainly, after all my preparations and procedure, would have been disposed to shrink from the task, I had, in a moment of fancied security, now entered upon,-I may say, at once with cheerfulness and alacrity.

But, it is not for us to see into futurity; and I never was one of those, who, having put my hand to the plough, thought of looking back, while there remained a possibility, or the shadow of a possibility, of getting forward. So, although a little note that I received, of date so early as the 4th, might have been considered as a kind of indication of what I had to expect from one quarter, and the howling of the growing storm, that afterwards made such dreadful havoc among those connected with the book trade, overthrowing among the rest, the long established, and supposed firmly cemented, firm of Messrs A. C. and Co., (the report of whose failure reached me a few days after,) gave me too much reason to fear, that I would have but a precarious prop to lean on, in another. Yet, as my dependence in this matter, had been chiefly placed on the effects of my own exertions, aided by those of private friends out of the trade, and as I had, by such means, already secured a most respectable, as well as numerous list of subscribers, I could by no means consider myself so much at the mercy of that hurricane, which seemed, in the first instance, to have marked the bookselling trade for its victims, and I consequently resolved to proceed with my publication, and ventured forward.

Nor, were my operations, in the prosecution, of what I must now call, for a time, my almost all-engrossing work, confined to my day hours; they continued, as formerly, to be occasionally the burden of my night thoughts.*

* As an anecdote illustrative of this, I would briefly notice, that the second four descriptive lines at the foot of the emblematical frontispiece for the first volume, was the mere effusion of an after thought, that came across my mind, during "the