I SHALL not insist on an apology why I trouble the sweating press, though I might use and plead the common topics, taken from the advice and importunity of others, and to prevent the publishing of some of these remarks, excerpt from my papers, by some into whose hands they had fallen, after they had lien by me several months.
There are several grave persons in these isles, of good and solid judgment, both ministers and others, who, being better acquainted with the places of their ordinary residence than it can be supposed I had occasion to be, might have published something more valuable on this head, and set their remarks in a clearer light ; as likewise some of my dear brethren of the commission might have done it to greater advantage. Yet the engagements that lay on me to transcribe the most remarkable occurrences, and the solicitation of some thereupon to publish them, have some way obliged me to make this appearance. However, if others hereby shall be excited to serve the public, by giving a fuller and clearer description of these generally little known places, this essay will not prove altogether unuseful ; and if I had known that any intended to have published something of this nature, the world had not been troubled with my scribbling.
I hope none will judge that I act without my line, in giving descriptions of this nature, seeing all are called to " remember the works of the Lord, and talk of his doings," as they have occasion : and all along I endeavour to keep in mind the character I bear, dropping something of a spiritual improvement.
Our historians, such as I have consulted, have given but a very brief and lame, and in some things a false, account of those places, especially Zetland, which ,is unknown to the most of the nation, if not that they have only heard there were such isles as the Zetlandick. It is true, there is one Mr. Wallace, a late minister in Orkney, who hath gratified the world by giving a description of the Orkney isles ; but neither Zetland nor Caithness doth he meddle with : and as to Orkney, there are several things which de-serve their own remark he makes no mention of ; and others have fallen out since his time, which I have noticed : so that, on the whole, the account now given even of Orkney will appear almost new to any who shall be pleased to compare the two descriptions together.
No doubt but such as know these places will desiderate several things no less remark-able than what are observed ; but still my reader would remember that this is but a diary transcribed. Yet this I may say, as I have not willingly suffered myself to be imposed on, so neither have I imposed any thing on the credulous world, but delivered such things which either I was witness to, or had good ground to believe from persons worthy of credit; so that if any thing appear questionable, I have ordinarily in general given my author for it.
I suppose the judicious reader, in perusing the following sheets, will find things both curious and instructive, affording matter of meditation to the wise observers of Providence.
As to any philosophical or philological observes, as I am unfit for, so am I far from a magisterial dictating of them to any, but soberly proposed my own sentiments, which, if my reader do not relish, he may follow his own.
Although the style be not quaint and elegant, embellished with the ornaments of art, yet I hope it will be found plain and intelligible ; and though sometimes obliged to express myself in the dialect or idiotism of the country, yet ordinarily such words and phrases are some way explained : so when I speak of Orkney or Zetland as not in Scotland, though depending thereupon, I express myself as the country do.
As to the commission's work I have not meddled therewith, except when the thread of the history did require me to touch it. However, this I may add, our weak endeavours for the advancement of the interest of our Lord Jesus in these remote corners have not been found by superior judicatories altogether unsuccessful; and I suppose it repents none of us of our voyage thither, however dangerous it did prove.
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