An historical account of the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland

Abstract

Like other nations of Europe, the political and historical monuments of Scotland have not only been injured by the natural operations of time, but by many other causes. Our desolating and depredatory wars with England continued for ages. The demolition of ancient buildings, the destruction of public archives, and of private documents, were results of these unhappy contests. When the two nations were partially united, by the succession of our James VI to the throne of England, a temporary peace was established, and promised great and mutual advantages. But, not long after this auspicious event, fanatical and feudal dissentions arose, and produced effects equally pernicious to the objects of the Historian and Antiquary. Though these and similar causes have long ceased, yet, by annihilating our principal materials, they depressed the spirit of inquiry, and made us negligent of those which had escaped the general devastation.