You are about to read one of the most amazing books ever written. This book remained in print from 1746 until at least 1890 Aberdeen University - MacBean Collection and went through no fewer than twenty-one editions as observed in "Notes and Queries - 1923 s12-XII: 172" by P. J. ANDERSON which were donated by William MacBean to the University of Aberdeen. Five more were noted by Dr. Blaikie and two more found in the British museum. It was even reprinted in 1974 and attributed to John Burton as part of the "Flowering of the Novel" series.

Several factors contributed to its success:

1. It reads like it was written by someone who went along with the rebels (supposedly John Murray Esq., his secretary)
2. It goes into great detail about what was happening at every stage of the campaign with great credibility
3. It was translated into French (Ascanius ou le Jeune Avanturier), Italian, and Spanish (Ascanio o el joven aventurero (1750))
4. But mostly, the British government attempted to suppress it by suing the author and publishers for seditious libel

Ralph Griffiths

Attributed to Dr. Ralph Griffiths, editor of "The Monthly Review". However, he could have been protecting his source Neil MacEachen as suggested by Robert Chambers.