[69] "If I had known that young man [Uriah Heep]," said Mr Micawber, "at the period when my difficulties came to a crisis, all I can say is, that I believe my creditors would have been better managed than they were" (David Copperfield, chap. xvii.).
[70] Works, p. 347.
[71] Ibid. p. 346. For the authority on which this interesting ornithological statement is made the reader will overhaul his Pliny (H. N. xi. chap. 3).
[72] Works, p. 326.
[73] Works, p. 328.
[74] Ibid. p. 325.
[75] Norman Lesley, Master of Rothes, eldest son of George, fifth Earl of Rothes, died without issue in 1554. This disposes of Sir Thomas Urquhart's statement. The Lesleys of Findrassie themselves claimed to be descended from Robert, the fourth son of Earl George. See Scotch Peerage Law, by J. Riddell, p. 190.
[76] Works, p. 379.
[77] Ibid. p. 380.
[78] One of these volumes containing the signature of our author is still in existence. It is a copy of Arthur Johnston's Latin poems, printed at Aberdeen by Raban, 1632, and is in the possession of the Rev. J. B. Craven, Kirkwall. It is a very fragile volume. The signature in this volume, and two others, attached to legal documents, are all that are known to be extant. We give a fac-simile of one of the latter on p. iv.