Gordon prefaces his Journal with a short explanation of its plan and purpose.

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

REFACE.



XV



Gordon prefaces his Journal with a short explanation of its
plan and purpose. But he forgets to tell us when it was that he
began thus 'to write the story of his own life.' We may con-
jecture, however, that it was not until after he had been some time
at Moscow— perhaps in 1662 or 1663, when he had completed his
twenty-eighth year, had gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and,
after much meditation, had made up his mind to marry All that
is written before this time bears sufficient evidence of being written
after the event ; '^ and it is here that the author is seen to most
advantage. When his Diary really becomes such, when the inci-
dents of each day are recorded as it passes, he too often proves
lamentably tedious. It is not merely that his page is filled with
trifles— dry, interminable lists of rivers crossed or stages passed,
letters received and answered, visits made, or bills paid. But even
when historical figures appear upon the scene, it is for the most
part only to provoke expectation which is left unsatisfied. We
have seldom more than a bare, bald, note of their names. Thus
we are told of meetings at London in 1666, with Prince Rupert,
with Clarendon, and with Lauderdale ; but nearly all that we learn
of them is that the first was very sick, that the second was con-
fined by the gout to Berkshire House, and that the third gave Sunday
dinners at his house at Highgate, and one evening kept the author
waiting half-an-hour, and did not see him after all.'^ So, of a con-

'" Traces of foreign idiom show them- (p. 3.) ' I was put to lodge and dyet by a

selves in the very first lines of the .Journal. vviddow' — (p. 4.) ' Here wee tooke up our

We have « as' used in the sense of ' than,' lodging bxj Mr. Menczes'— (p. 7.) ' My

' by' for ' with,' and the like. Thus, ' 1 have mother came foure dayes thereafter, of whom

mentioned no more of publick efFaires as I received the benediction and tooke my

came to my knowledge'— (p. 3.") « I cannot leave'— (p. 5.) ' I was very astonished' —

tell you a better or truer reason for writing (p. 8.)
this, at that it is to please my owne fancy' — '" Pp. 82-90.