ADVERTISEMENT.

THE defign of the following Account is to answer fuch inquiries as are daily made with regard to the Origin, Progress, and Prefent State of the SOCIETY of SCOTS ANTIQUARIES. This task was impofed upon the Editor, who fhall always be folicitous to render himself serviceable to a Body of Men, who have associated themfelves for purposes which promise much utility to their Country.

To gratify curiofity, as well as to inform the Public concerning the condition of the Society, a fimilar Publication will annually

appear.

ACCOUNT

OF THE

ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.

MA

ANY causes have been hostile to the political and historical monuments of Scotland. Our defolating wars with England continued for ages. The demolition of antient buildings, the deftruction of public archieves, and private documents, were confequences of these unhappy contefts. When peace was established between the two nations, religious and feudal diffentions arose among ourselves, and produced effects equally pernicious to the objects of the Hiftorian and Antiquary.

THOUGH the operation of these and fimilar causes has long ceased, yet, by annihilating our principal materials, they depreffed the fpirit of inquiry, and made us negligent of those which had escaped the general devastation.

It might have been expected, that the union of the two kingdoms would have suddenly removed every obftruction to the progress of fcience and of literature in this country. But, even fince that aufpicious aera, Scotland has had her convulfions. Befides, till we were happily united to England, not in government only, but in loyalty and affection to a common Sovereign, it was not, perhaps, altogether A confiftent