added by authority of the General Assembly.  There seems to be a pretty general tendency in the Episcopal Church to adopt at present the extensive collection called “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” containing 386 pieces.  Copies of the words alone are to be procured for one penny, and the whole, with tunes attached, to be procured for 1_s_. 6_d_.  The Hymns Ancient and Modern are not set forth with any Ecclesiastical sanction.  It is supposed, however, that there will be a Hymnal published by the Church of England on authority, and if so, our Church will be likely to adopt it.  The Established Church Hymnal Committee have lately sanctioned a very interesting collection of 200 pieces.  The compilation has been made with liberality of feeling as well as with good taste.  There are several of Neale’s translations from mediaeval hymns, several from John Keble, and the whole concludes with the Te Deum taken literally from the Prayer-Book.

This mention of Scottish Psalmody and Scottish Hymnology, whether for private or for public worship, naturally brings us to a very important division of our subject; I mean the general question of reminiscences of Scottish religious feelings and observances; and first in regard to Scottish clergy.

My esteemed friend, Lord Neaves, who, it is well known, combines with his great legal knowledge and high literary acquirements a keen sense of the humorous, has sometimes pleasantly complained of my drawing so many of my specimens of Scottish humour from sayings and doings of Scottish ministers.  They were a shrewd and observant race.  They lived amongst their own people from year to year, and understood the Scottish type of character.  Their retired habits and familiar intercourse with their parishioners gave rise to many quaint and racy communications.  They were excellent men, well suited to their pastoral work, and did much good amongst their congregations; for it should be always remembered that a national church requires a sympathy and resemblance between the pastors and the flocks.  Both will be found to change together.  Nothing could be further from my mind in recording these stories, than the idea of casting ridicule upon such an order of men.  My own feelings as a Scotsman, with all their ancestral associations, lead me to cherish their memory with pride and deep interest, I may appeal also to the fact that many contributions to this volume are voluntary offerings from distinguished clergymen of the Church of Scotland, as well as of the Free Church and of other Presbyterian communities.  Indeed, no persons enjoy these stories more than ministers themselves.  I recollect many years ago travelling to Perth in the old stage-coach days, and enjoying the society of a Scottish clergyman, who was a most amusing companion, and full of stories, the quaint humour of which accorded with his own disposition.  When we had come through Glen Farg, my companion pointed out that we were in the parish of Dron.  With much