excerpt from the book..Having, within myself, made observation of late years, that all notablecharacters, whatsoever line of life they may have pursued, and towhatever business they might belong, have made a trade of committing topaper all the surprising occurrences and remarkable events that chancedto happen to them in the course of Providence, during their journeythrough life--that such as come after them might take warning and bebenefited--I have found it incumbent on me, following a right example, todo the same thing; and have set down, in black and white, a good fewuncos, that I should reckon will not soon be forgotten, provided theymake as deep an impression on the world as they have done on me. To thisdecision I have been urged by the elbowing on of not a few judiciousfriends, among whom I would particularly remark James Batter, who hasbeen most earnest in his request, and than whom a truer judge on anythingconnected with book-lear, or a better neighbour, does not breathe thebreath of life: both of which positions will, I doubt not, appear asclear as daylight to the reader, in the course of the work: to saynothing of the approval the scheme met with from the pious MaisterWiggie, who has now gone to his account, and divers other advisers, thatwished either the general good of the world, or studied their ownparticular profit.