PREFACE. ENCOURAGED by the success which in former years has attended similar productions, the Editors of the Glasgow University Album, for 1836, take the liberty of presenting to the public the University biennial offering, in the earnest hope, that, should it fail to exhibit evidences of the sustained improvement which has characterized the progress of this class of productions, since their commencement some years ago, it may, at least, be found of such a character as shall not tarnish the reputation earned by its predecessors, for the light literature of our Alma Mater. The Editors have no wish to shrink from the responsibility they voluntarily incur, in thus appearing before the public;—they will not, therefore, attempt to propitiate the indulgence of their readers by affected apologies for their own inexperience, or to disarm the severity of criticism, by allusions to circumstances certainly not the most favourable to pursuits of this nature. They are aware that by the intrinsic merits of the work they must stand or fall, independently of every adventitious consideration; and that they are only warranted in obtruding themselves upon public attention, by a reasonable prospect of respectably discharging the duties they have assumed. While they speak thus frankly, the Editors would not be held as, by any means, challenging formal criticism. They are too sensibly alive to their own short-comings, and the defects of their volume, to be at all desirous of undergoing such an ordeal; and they believe that the light texture of publications of this description forms, by common consent, a sufficient ground of exemption from a trial, which awaits works of a more elaborate kind. Without unduly taxing the indulgence of their “gentle readers,” the Editors may be permitted to hope, that, as the highest aim of their present efforts has been to please, their offering to the elegant amusements of their friends may, in turn, be accepted with a disposition to be pleased ; and if the perusal of the Album shall afford to the reader even a moderate share of the gratification which the Editors have experienced in its preparation, their labours will be amply repaid and their object fully attained. The sentiment of PREFACE. Sterne, not more finely expressed than dangerous in principle, may, after all, be harmlessly applied to such a production as the present, “ I would go fifty miles on foot to kiss the hand of that man, whose generous heart would give up the reins of his imagi. nation into his author's hands—be pleased he knows not why, and cares not wherefore." Following the example of their predecessors, and having the same end in view, that of investing the volume with additional interest and merit, the Editors have availed themselves of several contributions of individuals of acknowledged literary talent and eminence, unconnected with the University. To the contributors, generally, the Editors return their warmest thanks ;-to those without the walls of the University, whose valuable contributions adorn their pages, they express their peculiar obligations, and owe their especial acknowledgements. The pieces throughout the volume are in every respect varied in character, style, and merit; to single out and particularly to notice any one of which in preference to others might appear to savour of partiality. The Editors, however, deem it right here to advert to the highly beautiful national verses opening the volume, as being invested with a peculiar interest, from the circumstance of their being the posthumous production of James Hislop, author of the well-known and much admired stanzas entitled “The Cameronian's Dream,” composed when the writer was a shepherd boy in his native county of Ayr. This highly promising individual, when on his way a few years ago to a foreign shore, was shipwrecked and cast on an island of savages, from whom he met a barbarous, and revolting-a nameless end. |