THE

EPISTLES OF NOA H.

THE

Epistles of Noah

EDITED BY

GEORGE UMBER, A.R.A.

"Sae I've begun to scrawl, but whether
In rhyme, or prose, or baith thegither,
Or some hotch-potch that's rightly neither,
Let time mak' proof;

But I shall scribble down some blether
Just clean aff loof."

INTRODUCTION:

Editorial Difficulties and their Solution.

:0:

I DON'T know whether I was more astonished at being asked to edit the Epistles of Dr. Noah, or at the original character of the reason given for the selection of my humble self for the task.

I had to read the letter containing this request over two or three times before I could realize that it wasn't a mistake; and it was no joke, but solemn earnest, as the parcel of MSS. accompanying the letter abundantly testified.

To be sure, it was extremely gratifying to me, as an artist, to find that my work was so highly appreciated by my patrons. To admit, however, that the quality of that work afforded a guarantee for a similar excellence in the thorny walk of letters, was too much even for my faith, gently stimulated as it was at that moment with the pleasant wine of vanity.