My peculiar writer following narratives is such that reader to overlook the absence of explanation how they came into my possession Withal, my knowledge of him is so meager that rather not undertake if he were himself persuaded truth of what he relates; certainly such inquiries as thought it worth while to set about in every instance tended to confirmation statements made Yet his style, most part devoid alike of artifice and art, almost baldly simple and direct, seems hardly compatible disingenuousness of merely literary intention; one would call it the manner of one more concerned fruits of research than flowers of expression In transcribing his notes and fortifying their claim to attention by giving them something of an orderly arrangement, conscientiously refrained from embellishing them small ornaments of diction as felt myself able to bestow, which only impertinent, even if pleasing, but given me somewhat closer work than care and to avow