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III

T has long been a jut and general Complaint, that among all the Muic Books of SCOTS SONGS that have been hitherto offered to the Public, not one, nor even all of them put together, can be aid to have merited the name of what may be called A COMPLETE COLLECTION; having been publihed only in detached pieces and parcels; amounting however upon the whole, to more than twice the price of this Publication; attended moreover with this further diadvantage, that they have been printed in uch large unportable Sizes, that they could by no means anwer the purpoe of being pocket-companions; which is no mall incumbrance, epecially to the admirers of ocial Muic.

To remedy thee, and all other complaints and inconveniencies of the kind, this work, now before the public eye, has been undertaken, and carried on, Under the Patronage, direction, and Review of a number of Gentlemen of undiputed tate, who have been pleaed to encourage, enrich, and adorn the whole literary part of the Performance. The Publiher begs leave only to ay, that he has trenuouly endeavoured, and will perevere to exert his utmot kill and aiduity in executing the mechanical part of the work. And he flatters himelf, that his laudable unremitted emulation to gain the public eteem, will meet with the favourable regard of his obliging friends and generous Subcribers. The Subcription will be kept open, at leat, to the publication of the Second Volume: which was all originally intended; and which will be publihed as oon as the work can be executed, which is already in great forwardnes. Each Volume contains ONE HUNDRED Songs, with the original Muic, embellihed with Thorough Bases by one of the ablet Maters. And beides thee hundred Songs, under the Muic and Song inerted in the repective titles at the tops of the page, the performer will frequently find two or three additional Sets of appoite words to the ame tune; adapted to the VOICE, HARPSICHORD, and PIANO-FORTE, &c.

It was intended, and mentioned in the Propoals, to have adopted a Coniderable Variety of the mot Muical and Sentimental of the Englih and Irih Songs; But this Scheme, not happening to meet with the general approbation, after everal plates had been engraved for the purpoe, it was determined, in compliance with what eemed to be the almot univeral inclination of the Subcribers, to potpone it for the preent, with a full intention to reume it afterwards, if it hall yet appear to be deired and encouraged, in a third, or a fourth Volume.

In the meantime, it is humbly requeted, if any Lady or Gentleman have any meritorious Song with the Muic (never hitherto Publihed) of the true Ancient Caledonian train, that they would be pleaed to tranmit the ame to the Publiher, that it may be ubmitted to the proper Judges, and o be preerved in this Repoitory of our National Muic and Song, by their mot

JAMES JOHNSON. Edin$r$. Bell's Wynd, May 22. 1787.