enthusiastic descriptions, rendered Angus himself not the least interesting and romantic object in these ‘Alpine solitudes.’ Some compliments on his powers of delineation encouraged him to speak of his manuscripts. Little persuasion was necessary to induce him to recite some of the most choice passages, which he did in a manner admirably harmonizing with the matter. As his confidence increased, he began to hint his intentions of publication: and, at last, in the fullness of his heart, he offered, as a mark of peculiar attachment and regard, to entrust the stranger with his manuscripts, on condition that he would send them to the press.
To give its full value to this mark of confidence, it was accompanied with the assurance that he knew no other person whom he could have trusted so far. ‘It was impossible’ he said, ‘to divine what advantage a designing person might take of such a trust.’ And with this becoming caution he had refused, though very earnestly untreated, to give the manuscripts to a gentleman on whom he was somewhat dependent, lest, by publishing them surreptitiously, he might cheat him of his well earned fame.
To save him from all such anxiety in future, and to discharge, at the same time, an important duty to the public, they have been sent to the press with all convenient speed. With a due tenderness for the Author’s reputation, not a word nor a letter has been altered from his manuscripts; and we trust it is not too sanguine to hope, that they will excite in every reader, an interest similar to that which we feel in ushering them into the world.
