This accompaniment of domestic drinking by a toast or sentiment—­the practice of which is now confined to public entertainments—­was then invariable in private parties, and was supposed to enliven and promote the good fellowship of the social circle.  Thus Fergusson, in one of his poems, in describing a dinner, says—­

“The grace is said; it’s nae ower lang,
The claret reams in bells. 
Quo’ Deacon, ’Let the toast round gang;
Come, here’s our noble sels

      Weel met the day.’”

There was a great variety of these toasts, some of them exclusively Scottish.  A correspondent has favoured me with a few reminiscences of such incentives to inebriety.

The ordinary form of drinking a health was in the address, “Here’s t’ ye.”

Then such as the following were named by successive members of the company at the call of the host:—­

     The land o’ cakes (Scotland).
     Mair freens and less need o’ them. 
     Thumping luck and fat weans.

     When we’re gaun up the hill o’ fortune may we ne’er
       meet a freen’ coming doun. 
     May ne’er waur be amang us. 
     May the hinges o’ freendship never rust, or the wings o’
       luve lose a feather. 
     Here’s to them that lo’es us, or lenns us a lift. 
     Here’s health to the sick, stilts to the lame; claise to
       the back, and brose to the wame. 
     Here’s health, wealth, wit, and meal. 
     The deil rock them in a creel that does na’ wish us a’
       weel. 
     Horny hands and weather-beaten haffets (cheeks). 
     The rending o’ rocks and the pu’in’ doun o’ auld
       houses.

The above two belong to the mason craft; the first implies a wish for plenty of work, and health to do it; the second, to erect new buildings and clear away old ones.

     May the winds o’ adversity ne’er blaw open our door. 
     May poortith ne’er throw us in the dirt, or gowd into
       the high saddle[34]. 
     May the mouse ne’er leave our meal-pock wi’ the tear
       in its e’e. 
     Blythe may we a’ be. 
     Ill may we never see. 
     Breeks and brochan (brose). 
     May we ne’er want a freend, or a drappie to gie him. 
     Gude een to you a’, an’ tak your nappy. 
     A willy-waught’s a gude night cappy[35]. 
     May we a’ be canty an’ cosy,
     An’ ilk hae a wife in his bosy.
     A cosy but, and a canty ben,
     To couthie[36] women and trusty men. 
     The ingle neuk wi’ routh[37] o’ bannoch and bairns. 
     Here’s to him wha winna beguile ye. 
     Mair sense and mair siller. 
     Horn, corn, wool, an’ yarn[38].