Scotland's Skaith; Or, The History o' Will and Jean Own True a Tale: Together with Some Additional Poems, by th Author of the Harp. Embellished with Elegant Engravings

Edinburgh: Printed by Mundnell and Son, R. Babk Close; Sold by A. Guthrie, Bookseller, South-Side, 1795. FIRST EDITION. Tall 8vo, 229 x 130 mms., pp. [62], including eight pages of subscribers, engraved (by R. Scott after D. Allen) frontispiece, two ofther full-page engraved plates (by F. Thomson after Van Der Gucht), bound in early 19th century quarter cloth spine, boards, with paper labels on spine and and front cover. A very good copy. Hector Macneill (1746–1818) spent most of his early career working in the West Indies, particularly in Jamaica, but he found time to write his first poem before departing for Jamaica, The Harp: a Legendary Tale, which he published in 1789. His most famous poem, is, of course, this one, first published in 1795; there were 14 editions in the first year. The Critical Review noticed it in the same year, saying that it should be no surprise that the work was so popular in Scotland, "when we consider the merit and moral tendency of the production. The pernicious consequences of the use of spirituous liquors to the lower ranks has long been the subject of regret to the serious observer, and of some declamation to the moralist; but, perhaps, has never been painted in more just and lively colours, than in this little interestsing tale...."