Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

VI PREFACE.
well known by his Missionary Travels in South Af-
rica. Mr. Campbell transcribed many of the Letters
and made several Extracts — a task of no small diffi-
culty, from the smallness and faintness of the charac-
ter in which they are written ; but his various en-
gagements hindered him from preparing them for the
Press. He committed them to the care of Dr. Charles
Stuart, of Dunearn, who, ever ready and zealous
to promote the interests of religion, willingly under-
took to superintend their publication. The volume
made its appearance about twenty years ago, and was
printed for the benefit of the Magdalene Asylum,
Edinburgh, as originally intended by Mr. Campbell.
It comprehended, however, only twelve years of the
Diary, being, as appears, all that had come into the
Editor's possession at the time of publishing.
By his diligent inquiries among the Colonel's sur*
viving friends and relatives, Dr. Stuart collected vari-
ous particulars of his family and parentage, which he
prefixed to the Extracts ; illustrating the whole with
short historical notes and explanations. He likewise
recovered twelve additional years of the Diary, which
made the series complete from 1701 to 1725. For
these he acknowledged himself indebted to the Co-
lonel's grand-nephew and representative, the late John
Blackader, Esq. Accomptant General of Excise.
The whole of the original Manuscripts, comprising
many unpublished Letters, and the remainder of the
Diary from 1700 to 1728 inclusive, are in the hands