To those who have not given their attention to the subject for the elucidation of which this volume has been written, I would present two specimens of the sort of materials from which they may expect to find these Reminiscences are compiled.  They are chosen to indicate a style of life and manners now fast fading away, and are taken from a period which lies within the scope of our own recollections.  Now, a subject like this can only be illustrated by a copious application of anecdotes which must show the features of the past.  And let me premise that I make use of anecdotes not for the purpose of telling a good story, but solely in the way of illustration.  I am quite certain that there was an originality, a dry and humorous mode of viewing persons and events, quite peculiar to the older Scottish characters.  And I am equally certain, that their peculiar humour can only be exhibited in examples.  From the late Mr. Erskine of Linlathan I received the following:—­Mr. Erskine recollected an old housekeeper at Airth, who belonged to this class of character.  A speech of this Mrs. Henderson was preserved in the family as having been made by her at the time of the execution of Louis XVI. in 1793.  She was noticing the violent emotion exhibited by Mr. Bruce of Kinnaird, the Abyssinian traveller, at the sad event which had just taken place, and added, in the following quaint and caustic terms, “There’s Kinnaird greeting as if there was nae a saunt on earth but himsel’ and the king o’ France.”  How utterly unlike anything that would be said on such an occasion by an English person in the same position in life!

For the same purpose, let me introduce a characteristic little Scottish scene, which my cousin, the late Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, used to describe with great humour.  Sir Thomas had a tenant on his estate, a very shrewd clever man, whom he was sometimes in the habit of consulting about country matters.  On one occasion he came over to Crathes Castle, and asked to see Sir Thomas.  He was accordingly ushered in, accompanied by a young man of very simple appearance, who gazed about the room in a stupid vacant manner.  The old man began by saying that he understood there was a farm on the estate to be let, and that he knew a very fine young man whom he wished to recommend as tenant.  He said he had plenty of siller, and had studied farming on the most approved principles—­sheep-farming in the Highlands, cattle-farming in the Lowlands, and so forth, and, in short, was a model farmer.  When he had finished his statement, Sir Thomas, looking very significantly at his companion, addressed the old man (as he was usually addressed in the county by the name of his farm)—­“Well, Drummy, and is this your friend whom you propose for the farm?” to which Drummy replied, “Oh fie, na.  Hout! that is a kind o’ a Feel, a friend (i.e. a relation) o’ the wife’s, and I just brought him ower wi’ me to show him the place.”