The Huntly Casket and Other Tales and Lyrics (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1861 Excerpt: ... in solitude. In this way, one of the longest and best--as is generally admitted--of all his tales, " The Huntly Casket," was produced, as well as " The Yeoman's Guerdon," " The Village Legend," and " A Jacobite Legend." Thus augmented, " The Tales of my Grandmother," in two volumes 12mo, were published in the beginning of 1825. They were favourably received by the press. The work, however, was very incorrectly printed, especially the second volume, which was wholly composed of the additional matter, though it was 'understood the manuscript had previously undergone the revision of some of the publisher's litterateurs. The edition, if I remember rightly, did not exceed 750; but the price, One Guinea, was at least two-thirds more than similar works bring now. Just when our author's hopes were highest, and ere time had been allowed to. work off the edition, down came the extensive bibliopole house of " Constable & Co.," taking the world by surprise, and involving " The Great Unknown" in its ruins. Mr Crawford was also a pecuniary sufferer. The printing of the Ayr edition had not been fully liquidated; and he lost all his expected gain, besides expenses, on the Edinburgh one. In an obituary notice which appeared in the Ayr Advertiser, immediately after his death, it is stated that he was upwards of. 30 out of pocket by the transaction; and that his estimated loss of stock and profit was not less than 250--a sum he could ill spare at the time But it is necessary that I should now revert to the earlier history of our author. From the Kirksession books of Ayr, I find that he was the son of William Crawford, hairdresser, and Eobina Thomson, and born on the 15th January 1784. He is said to have been of a lively, playful disposition from his earliest years-...