A Tour through some of the Islands of Orkney and Shetland, with a view chiefly to objects of Natural History, but including also occasional remarks on the state of the inhabitants, their husbandry, and fisheries [bound with] List of Fishes Found in the Frith of Forth, and Rivers and Lakes near Edinburgh, with Remarks by Patrick Neill - 1806

Edinburgh, London: A Constable and Company, and John Murray, 1806 A fair copy of Patrick Neill's description of his tour in Orkney and Shetland in contemporary half leather binding. Bound with a copy of his paper on Fishes, first read to the Wernerian Natural History Society in 1808, and inscribed 'With best compliments from PN'. Patrick Neill (1776-1851) was a printer who became particularly known for his 'interests' in botany and horticulture. He was a founding Member and first Secretary of the Wernerian Natural History Society. He visited Orkney and Shetland in 1804/5 and his account was initially published in parts through The Scots Magazine. He was appalled by the miserable conditions experienced by ordinary people on the islands and he started a lively debate on the issue. In the preface of the whole work, published 1806, he states 'it was almost impossible not to take some notice of the state of the inhabitants of the islands. The freedom of my remarks however, on the unfortunate condition of the common people in Shetland, has brought upon me the censure of some of the landholders, which they have, very unnecessarily vented in unmeaning scurrility through the medium of the newspapers and of Grub-street pamphlets......The mere republication of the whole tour will, to the Public in general, be sufficient for my vindication'. This copy is in contemporary half calf with gilt-lined raised bands, title label and date to spine. The boards are marbled. The binding has scuffing and wear and the front board is detached, but it would be an easy repair. The endpapers are newer and have the bookplate of John Davie Manson Robertson, a noted Orcadian book collector to the front pastedown. Contents: initial blank; title (with small paper nibblle and part of old signature at the top); preface 4pp; contents 3pp; text pp 1-113; appendices - answers to strictures, mineralogy, additional orkney plants, birds of orkney, agricultural society of orkney, timber, herrings, whales; postscript; finis p239. List of Fishes pp 1-30. Contents generally in very good clean condition with some pencil lining and notes and the odd spot or mark.