This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1893 Excerpt: ... ADDENDA. In deviating from the general rule observed by local chroniclers, of making the concluding chapter consist of the statistical matter, and reserving the account of their material prosperity for the last word, I am perhaps to blame; but there is much in the foregoing history which requires adverting to in an explanatory spirit. There have also been omissions which I should like to supply; therefore, I find it imperative that the following pages should be added, which I hope shall, in some measure, serve to throw light on what has gone before, and also to complete, as far as possible, the narrative of facts applicable to my subject. In doing so I may probably appear to repeat myself too much, but I shall willingly run that risk if I may be enabled thereby to furnish the information which it is my ambition to bring before the public regarding my native parish. Of course I do not pretend to pronounce with authority on any debateable point, and when I touch upon such in an argumentative vein, I am merely echoing the opinions and sentiments of our recent and credited writers. In beginning this volume I followed the time-hallowed custom of my predecessors in this particular branch of work, by attempting to explain the origin of the name of Liberton. That is a course which, in our remarkably composite language, is well calculated to lead to dubiety, if not confusion. I find that this district is full of names so complicated as to excite the curiosity of most persons, whilst it opens up a tempting field of operations for the philological disputant. In fact it seems to be the happy hunting ground of that kind of etymologist whom I may venture to dub the worddissector. The derivation of Lothian has been greatly canvassed. Buchanan says that it was so called af... |