—I would be glad if any of your readers can afford me any information regarding the writer of a work bearing the following title:—
"A History of the Island of Anglesey, from its first Invasion by the Romans, until finally acceded to the Crown of England, &c. Serving as a Supplement to Rowlands' Mona Antiqua Restaurata. To which are also added, Memoirs of Owen Glendower, 4to. Lond. 1775, pp. 88."
Watt, in his Bibliotheca Britannica, ascribes to Dr. John Campbell, author of a Political Survey of Great Britain, &c., &c., the authorship of a little world entitled—
"A true and exact Description of the Island of Shetland, &c. Together with an account of the Great White Herring Fishery of that place, 12 mo. Lond. 1750, and 2d ed. 1753."
In the preface the writer states that he spent five years in Shetland. Now I want to know if Dr. Campbell ever spent five years in Shetland; for if not, he could not be the author, though it would appear from vol. i. p. 679. of the Political Survey that he had at least visited Shetland more than once. Also, as I have only the second edition, if any one would be so kind as to give me a copy of the title-page of the first edition, and the number of pages, I would feel obliged, as I suspect that in both these respects the editions differ.
Βορεας.
[The following is a copy of the title-page of the first edition of the latter work:—"An Exact and Authentic Account of the greatest White Herring Fishery in Scotland, carried on yearly in the Island of Zetland, by the Dutch only. The Method the Dutch use in catching the Herrings, and an exact account of their way of curing, and lasting, or casking them. And a Method laid down whereby we may easily engross that profitable branch of trade into our own hands. To which is prefixed a Description of the Island, its situation, produce, the manners and customs of the inhabitants, and their method of trading with the Dutch. By a Gentleman who resided Five Years on the Island. London: Printed for Joseph Davidson, at the Angel, in the Poultry, 1750." Pp. 34, and a Preface to the Candid Reader of three pages.]
The Word "Rile."
—May I add to the East-Anglian Vocabulary the adjective rile == muddy? "The water is too rile to drink" was the remark of a servant the other day. The verb to rile is given in Forby's Vocabulary.
CHARLES THIRIOLD.