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LATTER STRUGGLES

IN THE

JOURNEY OF LIFE;

OR,
THE AFTERNOON OF MY DAYS:

COMPREHENDING CHIEFLY, THE PERIOD
BETWEEN MY FORTY-FIFTH, AND THE END OF MY SIXTIETH YEAR, BEING
THE FOURTH BOOK OF MY PILGRIMAGE:

FROM, THE
RETROSPECTIONS OF A SEXAGENARIAN:

IN WHICH,
SOME OF THE MORE RECENT UPS AND DOWNS,—THE JOYS AND SORROWS,

THE HOPES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS,—
OF A LIFE PASSED IN COMPARATIVE OBSCURITY, BUT REPLETE WITH MUCH STRIKING
VICISSITUDE, AND NOT WITHOUT SOME OCCASIONAL ATTEMPTS TO BE USEFUL,

WILL BE FOUND DELINEATED
In such a way, as cannot fail to interest the careful observer of the Providential development of
human events,-to excite the sympathy of those who admire the patient and persevering efforts of
suffering humanity, in the midst of misfortunes of an appalling nature, and surrounded
by difficulties of no ordinary description,- and to impress upon all, the instability

and uncertainty, of earthly comforts and human acquirements ;

ILLUSTRATING AND INCULCATING AS THE NARRATIVE PROCEEDS,
SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS AND SUBLIME MAXIMS OF OUR

CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY;

NOT IN EXAMPLES DRAWN FROM FICTITIOUS REPRESENTATIONS; OR IMA-
GINARY CHARACTERS, EXISTING ONLY IN THE REGIONS OF FANCY AND
ROMANCE ; BUT FROM THE INCIDENTS, AND EVERY DAY OCCURRENCES, OF
THE LATTER, AND MOST UNFORTUNATE PART OF, THE REAL LIFE OF

A COUNTRY BOOKSELLER:
Who exercised that profession in his little Provincial Locality with varied success, for the greater
part of half a century, during which time, however, he became more extensively useful and better
known, by his Literary and Editorial labours,-being the author of Popular Philosophy, or
the Book of Nature Laid Open on Christian Principles, &c.„The affecting History of Tom
Bragwell,- as well as of a number of minor pieces which have appeared in his different
publications,-particularly in the Cheap Magazine, and Monthly Monitor, or, Philan-

thropic Museum ; of both of which, he was the Editor as well as Publisher.

“U'hat! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?”—JOB.

“ Th’ applause of listning Senates to command,
The threats of pain and ruin to despise,

To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land,
And read his hist'ry in a nation's eyes,
H & lot for bade,"

ALT. from GRAY.
“ What tho' no sculptur'd pile his name displays,

Like those who perish in their country's cause!
What tho' no epic muse, in living lay8,

Records his dreadful daring with applause
Yet shall, Remembrance from Oblivion's vale,
Relieve his scene."

ALT. from FALCONER.

J

EDINBURGII PRINTED BY JAMES COLSTON,
FOR THE AUTHOR, GEORGE MILLER, OF DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN:

TO WHOM, OR TO WILLIAM MILLER, BOOKSELLER THERE,

ORDERS MAY BE ADDRESSED

Price Eight Shillings, done up in cloth.

1833,

MY OLD AND MUCH RESPECTED BRETHREN OF THE BOOKSELLING

PROFESSION,

MY MUCH ESTEEMED VOLUNTARY AUXILIARIES; WHETHER IN, OR

OUT OF THE TRADE:

OR,

MY KIND, OBLIGING, AND HIGHLY VALUED PRIVATE FRIENDS, WHO

HAVE EXERTED THEMSELVES TO SERVE ME,

I DESIRE TO DEDICATE, AS IS MOST JUSTLY DUE, FOR THE KIND SHARE THEY HAVE TAKEN IN THE ACT OF BRINGING IT INTO EXISTENCE, AND OF MAKING IT AVAILABLE, TO THE AUTHOR,

FOR THE PURPOSES INTENDED,
THE PRESENT VOLUME, COMPRISING MY

LATTER STRUGGLES:

BRINQ, PRINCIPALLY CONFINED TO THE OCCURRENCES OF THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS; AND CONSTITUTING, WHAT MAY BE CALLED, THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE LIFE OF

A SEXAGENARIAN.

WITH MY MOST FERVENT WISHES,

THAT THE BEST BLESSINGS OF THE ALMIGHTY MAY BE SHOWERED DOWN

UPON THEIR HEADS-THAT THEY BE BLESSED IN

THEIR BASKET AND IN THEIR STORE IN

THEIR FAMILY AND CONNEXIONS

THEIR HEALTH AND SICKNESS-THEIR LIFE AND DEATH.

IN THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE
MAY THEY EVER BE UNDER THE PECULIAR CARE OF A WATCHFUL
PROVIDENCE—AND, WHEN TIME'S CURTAIN IS ABOUT TO DROP, AND
THEY HAVE ARRIVED NEAR THE CLOSE OF THE JOURNEY OF LIFE,

MAY THAT SWEET REQUIEM
NEVER CEASE SOUNDING IN THEIR EARS, UNTIL, WITH HOPE

OF LONGER LIFE, SENSATION ITSELF, FAIL,
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.