Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: https://books.google.com/books?id=djYoAQAAIAAJ The Works of GPR James, Esq. Volume 17 (University of California, Davis) [Illustration: Frontispiece] GOWRIE: OR, THE KING'S PLOT. BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. STATIONERS' HALL COURT. MDCCCXLVIII. THE WORKS OF G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. "D'autres auteurs l'ont encore plus avili, (le roman,) en y mêlant les tableaux dégoutant du vice; et tandis que le premier avantage des fictions est de rassembler autour de l'homme tout ce qui, dans la nature, peut lui servir de leçon ou de modèle, on a imaginé qu'on tirerait une utilité quelconque des peintures odieuses de mauvaises m[oe]urs; comme si elles pouvaient jamais; laisser le c[oe]ur qui les repousse, dans une situation aussi pure que le c[oe]ur qui les aurait toujours Ignorées. Mais un roman tel qu'on peut le concevoir, tel que nous en avons quelques modèles, est une des plus belles productions de l'esprit humain, une des plus influentes sur la morale des individus, qui doit former ensuite les m[oe]urs publiques."--MADAME DE STAËL. _Essai sur les Fictions_. "Poca favilla gran flamma seconda: Forse diretro a me, con miglior voci Si pregherà, perchè Cirra risonda." DANTE. _Paradiso_, Canto I. VOL. XVII. GOWRIE. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. STATIONERS' HALL COURT. MDCCCXLVIII. NOTICE. The Author is aware that the Frontispiece of this Work is very bad; but in justice to the Engraver, he thinks it fair to state, that in consequence of a necessary change in the publishing arrangements, a space of time totally insufficient was all that could be allowed for the device of a subject, and the execution of the plate. Another illustration, for insertion in "Gowrie," will be given in the succeeding volume of this edition. TO HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. Madam, Man's mind lives too much upon credit. We borrow our thoughts and opinions, and too often trade with the intellectual property of others, when it would be much better for every man to cultivate his own little field, and bring its original produce to market, if he would but be content with what God has given him.