1819.]. 12mo, pp. 116; with woodcut frontispiece, woodcut title-page vignette, and 34 small wood engraved portraits; without front free endpaper; title-page with some offsetting from frontispiece, a little browned throughout due to paper quality, with some marginal soiling and foxing in places, some insignificant nicking to upper margin of p. 53, with some creasing in places; contemporary red morocco backed marbled boards, spine ruled in gilt, head of spine nicked with small loss, spine sunned with some ink staining at tail, joints rubbed, covers with some surface abrasions, extremities bumped and lightly worn; with contemporary(?) ownership signature of ‘Edward Lawrence, Marsh House, Thatcham, Berks’ on front paste-down; despite slight wear still an appealing copy. Scarce first edition of this attractive historical work for children, including 34 circular woodcut portraits of Scottish monarchs, and the work of Alexander Bower (fl. 1804-1830), one time teacher and then assistant-librarian at the University of Edinburgh. In his brief preface Bower notes that he has consulted ‘the best authorities on the subject, viz. Fordoun, Boethius, Buchanan, Leslie, Pinkerton, Lord Hailes, Robertson, Laing, &c. The transactions of a more recent date are taken from the most authentic sources; and nothing is advanced of the truth of which the young reader can have any doubt, if credit can be given to the early history of any nation’. Bower begins with the reign of Fergus I and concludes with the death of Anne in 1714. Barely a paragraph is given over to the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745, and Bower concludes by saying ‘During the reign of his present majesty, George III., very little can be mentioned in regard to Scotland which does not equally apply to the other parts of the British dominions. In every public question the Scots take a similar interest with their other fellow subjects; and in the late arduous contest in particular, have distinguished themselves by their loyalty and zeal for the prosperity of the public service’ (p. 111).
Bower published a similar abridged history of Ireland for children in 1819, and it is commonly assumed that the present work was published in the same year. He is also remembered for his ‘Account of the Life of James Beattie’ (1804), ‘Life of Luther’ (1813), a three volume ‘History of the University of Edinburgh’ (1817-1830) and ‘The Edinburgh Student’s guide’ (1824).