PREFACE. SCOTLAND has from time immemorial, enjoyed a due share of reputation for learning and good sense, but it has generally been thought deficient in wit. This deficiency has been ascribed to various causes, some contending that our dullness was owing to our high northern latitude, and the rigour of our climate.-According to the poet : "Our Northern country seldom tastes of wit, « The too cold clime is justly blamed for it." But time, which discovers most truths, has shown that the Scots are a nation not destitute of wit and fancy, more than any other people in Europe. From the period of the reformation indeed, there seems to have been a kind of Boeotian mist that clouded the hemisphere of our learning. The incessant quarrels of the clergy with James VI. in which the people took so deep an interest, engendered a severity of manners, and moroseness of character, ill suiting the sprightly sallies of wit and humour. The cruelties and severities exercised by the profligate Charles after his restoration, and his bigoted brother James, on the poor covenanters, converted the people into a nation of gloomy enthusiasts, where wit was criminal, and humour profanity. "Nothing our hearts could move, or fancy bribe, But now that the days of religious animosity and intolerance are passed away, and the despicable jargon in which it was carried on forgotten, Scottish wit shines out in its genuine lustre, founded upon good sense and a refined taste. We have had "the Spirit of English Wit," and "the Spirit of Irish Wit," collected into a focus, while the spirit and substance of iv Scottish wit has been left to evaporate in the desert air. This defect we have attempted in some measure to remedy by bringing forward the following collection of Anecdotes, Bon Mots, Jests, Puns, and Droll Stories, no inconsiderable portion of which are original, which it is hoped will shew that the Scots are possessed of some wit, both in spirit and substance. To this we have added some curious articles of literature, and a pretty copious collection of Epitaphs and Inscriptions, both original and selected, the whole being more or less connected with Scotland, and its language, making altogether a miscellany not ill suited to its title, "a Haggis," which to our northern palates, is a very agreeable dish, although the materials of which it is composed, are like old chaos, jumbled together without order or re gularity. The Editor embraces this opportunity of returning thanks to his numerous friends who have favoured him with communications to wards the present work. He requests such persons as may be pos sessed of matter of a description suited to this work, and not befor printed, that they may transmit them to the Editor by the first op portunity. The compiler of these scraps, does not expect to meet the approbation of all on every scrap, yet he flatters himself, that in the course of the work, something will be found to suit every palate. 1 The rapid sale, of a heavy impression of the early numbers, has induced the Publisher to venture a Second Edition of them, so that any person may still be supplied with complete sets, as far as published: THE SCOTCH HAGGIS. An Ugly Wife, or a Gibbet. In the 17th century, the greater part of the property lying upon the river Etricke, belonging to Scott of Harden, who made his principal residence at Oakwood Tower, a border-house of strength, still remaining upon that river, William Scott, (afterwards Sir William,) son of the head of this family, undertook an expedition against the Murrays of Elibank, whose property lay at a few miles distant. He found his enemy upon their guard, was defeated, and made prisoner in the act of driving off the cattle, which he had collected for that purpose. Our hero, Sir Gidean Murray, conducted his prisoner to the castle, where his lady received him with congratulations upon his victory, and enquiries concerning the fate to which he destined his prisoner;-"The gallows," answered Sir Gidéan, for he is said already to have acquired the honour of Knighthood: "to the gallows with the maraudér.”—“ Hout na, Sir Gidean," answered the considerate matron, in her vernacular idiom, "would you hang the winsome young Laird of Harden, when ye hae three ill |
