EDINBURGH: Printed by George Ramsay & Company. SOLD BY THOMAS BRYCE AND CO. NO. 13, INFIRMARY STREET ; 1811. ΤΟ THE MOST PUISSANT PRINCE, JOHN DUKE OF ATHOLL, &c. &c. &c. THIS VIEW OF THE LAWS OF AN ANCIENT KINGDOM, FOR CENTURIES SEDULOUSLY PROTECTED AND CHERISHED UNDER THE AUSPICIOUS DOMINION OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS ANCESTORS, IS, WITH GREAT DEFERENCE AND RESPECT, INSCRIBED, BY HIS GRACE'S MOST OBEDIENT AND DEVOTED SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. ADVERTISEMENT. Ir is a singular fact, that, in the present age of active inquiry, there should be in the midst of the British European dominions an isolated spot retaining its primitive constitution, the peculiar characters of which are scarcely known beyond the narrow space over which their influence extends. That such a country, and such a constitution do actually exist, is pretty generally known, yet few or none have deemed any investigation of the peculiarities of either worthy of notice, except in those points to which personal danger and impending ruin may have imperiously called for attention. The Isle of Man presents to us the singular phe nomenon alluded to. Surrounded on every side by the British empire, and being itself an appendage to the British crown, it retains its |