kindly to such questioning, for she knew it was not meant unkindly. The cart was soon unladen, and the furniture put into the empty room. A cheerful fire was blazing, and the animated and interested faces of the honest folks who crowded into it, on a slight acquaintance, unceremoniously and curiously, but without rudeness, gave a cheerful welcome to the new dwelling. In a quarter of an hour the beds were laid down the room decently arranged-one and all of the neighbours said, 'Gude night,' and the door was closed upon the Lyndsays in their new dwelling.

They blessed and ate their bread in peace. The Bible was then opened, and Margaret read a chapter. There was frequent and loud noise in the lane of passing merriment or anger, but this little congregation worshipped God in a hymn, Esther's sweet voice leading the sacred melody, and they knelt together in prayer. It has been beautifully said by one whose works are not unknown in the dwellings of the poor Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep! He, like the world, his ready visit pays Where fortune smiles; the wretched he forsakes; Swift on his downy pinions flies from wo, And lights on lids unsullied with a tear.

Not so did sleep this night forsake the wretched. He came like moonlight into the house of the widow and the fatherless, and, under the shadow of his wings, their souls lay in oblivion of all trouble, or perhaps solaced even with delightful dreams.

He has edited Gilpin's Forest Scenery, and Sir Uvedale Price's Essays on the Picturesque, adding much new matter to each; and he was commissioned to write a memorial of her Majesty Queen Victoria's visit to Scotland in 1842. A complete knowledge of his native country, its scenery, people, history, and antiquities-a talent for picturesque delineation and a taste for architecture, landscape-gardening, and its attendant rural and elegant pursuits, distinguish this author.

The Youth and Manhood of Cyril Thornton, 1827, was hailed as one of the most vigorous and interesting fictions of the day. It contained sketches of college life, military campaigns, and other bustling scenes and adventures strongly impressed with truth and reality. Some of the foreign scenes in this work are very vividly drawn. It was the production of the late THOMAS HAMILTON, Esq., who visited America, and wrote a lively ingenious work on the new world, entitled Men and Manners in America, 1833. Mr Hamilton was one of the many travellers who disliked the peculiar customs, the democratic government, and social habits of the Americans; and he spoke his mind freely, but apparently in a spirit of truth and candour.

In 1828 a good imitation of the style of Galt was published by MR MOIR of Musselburgh, under the title of The Life of Mansie Waugh, Tailor in Dalkeith. Parts of this amusing autobiography had previously appeared in Blackwood's Magazine, and it was much exhibition of genuine Scottish character. relished for its quaint simplicity, shrewdness, and

Among the other writers of fiction who at this time published anonymously in Edinburgh was an English divine, DR JAMES HOOK (1771-1828), the only brother of Theodore Hook, and who was dean of Worcester and archdeacon of Huntingdon. To indulge his native wit and humour, and perhaps to spread those loyal Tory principles which, like his brother, he carried to their utmost extent, Dr Hook wrote two novels, Pen Owen, 1822, and Percy Mal

In 1824 Mr Wilson published another but inferior story, The Foresters. It certainly is a singular and interesting feature in the genius of an author known as an active man of the world, who has spent most of his time in the higher social circles of his native country and in England, and whose scholastic and political tastes would seem to point to a different result, that, instead of portraying the manners with which he is familiar-instead of indulging in witty dialogue or humorous illustration, he should have selected homely Scottish subjects for his works of fiction, and appeared never so happy or so enthusiastic as when expatiating on theory, 1823. They are clever irregular works, touchjoys and sorrows of his humble countrymen in the sequestered and unambitious walks of life.

Various other novels issued about this time from the Edinburgh press. MRS JOHNSTONE published anonymously Clan Albyn (1815), a tale written before the appearance of Waverley, and approaching that work in the romantic glow which it casts over Highland character and scenery. Mrs Grant of Laggan (a highly competent authority) has borne testimony to the correctness of the Highland descriptions in Clan Albyn.' A second novel, Elizabeth de Bruce, was published by Mrs Johnstone in 1827, containing happy sketches of familiar Scottish life. This lady is also authoress of some interesting tales for children, The Diversions of Hollycot, The Nights of the Round Table, &c. and is also an extensive contributor to the periodical literature of the day. Her style is easy and elegant, and her writings are marked by good sense and a richly cultivated mind.

SIR THOMAS DICK LAUDER, Bart., has written two novels connected with Scottish life and history, Lochandhu, 1825, and The Wolf of Badenoch, 1827. In 1830 Sir Thomas wrote an interesting account of the Great Floods in Morayshire, which happened in the autumn of 1829. He was then a resident among the romantic scenes of this unexampled inundation, and has described its effects with great picturesqueness and beauty, and with many homely and pathetic episodes relative to the suffering people.. Sir Thomas has also published a series of Highland Rambles, much inferior to his early novels, though abounding, like them, in striking descriptions of natural scenery.

ing on modern events and living characters, and discussing various political questions which then engaged attention. Pen Owen' is the superior novel, and contains some good humour and satire on Welsh genealogy and antiquities. Dr Hook wrote several political pamphlets, sermons, and charges.

ANDREW PICKEN was born at Paisley in the year 1788. He was the son of a manufacturer, and brought up to a mercantile life. He was engaged in business for some time in the West Indies, afterwards in a bank in Ireland, in Glasgow, and in Liverpool. At the latter place he established himself as a bookseller, but was unsuccessful, chiefly through some speculations entered into at that feverish period, which reached its ultimatum in the panic of 1826. Mr Picken then went to London to pursue literature as a profession. While resident in Glasgow, he published his first work, Tales and Sketches of the West of Scotland, which gave offence by some satirical portraits, but was generally esteemed for its local fidelity and natural painting. His novel of The Sectarian; or the Church and the Meeting-House, three volumes, 1829, displayed more vigorous and concen trated powers; but the subject was unhappy, and the pictures which the author drew of the dissenters, representing them as selfish, hypocritical, and sordid, irritated a great body of the public. Next year Mr Picken made a more successful appearance. The Dominie's Legacy, three volumes, was warmly wel comed by novel readers, and a second edition was called for by the end of the year. This work consists of a number of Scottish stories (like Mr Carleton's Irish Tales), some humorous and some pathe

tic. Minister Tam and Mary Ogilvy approach near thor, female at least, whom he had ever seen among to the happiest efforts of Galt. The characters and the long list he had encountered with; simple, full incidents are alike natural and striking. The same of humour, and exceedingly ready at repartée; and year our author conciliated the evangelical dissenters all this without the least affectation of the blue by an interesting religious compilation-Travels and stocking.' This is high praise; but the readers of Researches of Eminent English Missionaries; includ- Miss Ferrier's novels will at once recognise it as ing a Historical Sketch of the Progress and Present characteristic, and exactly what they would have State of the Principal Protestant Missions of late Years. anticipated. This lady is a Scottish Miss EdgeIn 1831 Mr Picken issued The Club-Book, a collec- worth of a lively, practical, penetrating cast of tion of original tales by different authors. Mr James, mind; skilful in depicting character and seizing Tyrone Power, Galt, Mr Moir, James Hogg, Mr upon national peculiarities; caustic in her wit and Jerdan, and Allan Cunningham, contributed each a humour, with a quick sense of the ludicrous; and story, and the editor himself added two-The Deer | desirous of inculcating sound morality and attention Stalkers, and the Three Kearneys. His next work to the courtesies and charities of life. In some paswas Traditionary Stories of Old Families, the first sages, indeed, she evinces a deep religious feeling, part of a series which was to embrace the legendary approaching to the evangelical views of Hannah history of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Such a More; but the general strain of her writing relates work might be rendered highly interesting and po- to the foibles and oddities of mankind, and no one pular, for almost every old family has some tradi- has drawn them with greater breadth of comic hutionary lore-some tale of love, or war, or supersti-mour or effect. Her scenes often resemble the style tion-that is handed down from generation to gene- of our best old comedies, and she may boast, like ration. Mr Picken now applied himself to another Foote, of adding many new and original characters Scottish novel, The Black Watch (the original name to the stock of our comic literature. Her first work of the gallant 42d regiment); and he had just com- is a complete gallery of this kind. The plot is very pleted this work when he was struck with an at- inartificial; but after the first twenty pages, when tack of apoplexy, which in a fortnight proved fatal. Douglas conducts his pampered and selfish Lady He died on the 23d of November 1833. Mr Picken, Juliana to Glenfern castle, the interest never flags. according to one of his friends, was the dominie of The three maiden aunts at Glenfern-Miss Jacky, his own tales-simple, affectionate, retiring; dwell-who was all over sense, the universal manager and ing apart from the world, and blending in all his views of it the gentle and tender feelings reflected from his own mind.'

MISS FERRIER.

This lady is authoress of Marriage, published in 1818, The Inheritance, 1824, and Destiny, or the Chief's Daughter, 1831-all novels in three volumes each. We learn from Mr Lockhart's Life of Scott, that Miss Ferrier is daughter of James Ferrier, Esq., 'one of Sir Walter's brethren of the clerk's table;' and the great novelist, at the conclusion of the Tales of My Landlord, alluded to his sister shadow,' the author of the very lively work entitled Marriage,' as one of the labourers capable of gathering in the large harvest of Scottish character and fiction.* In his private diary he has also mentioned Miss Ferrier as a gifted personage, having, besides her great talents, conversation the least exigeante of any au

* In describing the melancholy situation of Sir Walter the year before his death, Mr Lockhart introduces Miss Ferrier in a very amiable light. To assist them (the family of Scott) in amusing him in the hours which he spent out of his study, and especially that he might be tempted to make those hours more frequent, his daughters had invited his friend the authoress of Marriage" "to come out to Abbotsford; and her coming was

serviceable: for she knew and loved him well, and she had seen enough of affliction akin to his to be well skilled in dealing with it. She could not be an hour in his company without

observing what filled his children with more sorrow than all the rest of the case. He would begin a story as gaily as ever, and go on, in spite of the hesitation in his speech, to tell it with highly picturesque effect, but before he reached the point, it would seem as if some internal spring had given way; he paused, and gazed round him with the blank anxiety of look that a blind man has when he has dropped his staff. Unthink ing friends sometimes pained him sadly by giving him the catch-word abruptly. I noticed the delicacy of Miss Ferrier on such occasions. Her sight was bad, and she took care not to use her glasses when he was speaking; and she affected to getting as dull as a post; I have not heard a word since you

be also troubled with deafness, and would say, "Well, I am

said so and so," being sure to mention a circumstance behind

that at which he had really halted. He then took up the thread with his habitual smile of courtesy, as if forgetting his case entirely in the consideration of the lady's infirmity.'

detected, Miss Grizzy, the letter-writer, and Miss
Nicky, who was not wanting for sense either,
are an inimitable family group. Mrs Violet Mac-
shake, the last remaining branch of the noble race
of Girnachgowl, is a representative of the old hard-
featured, close-handed, proud, yet kind-hearted
Scottish matron, vigorous and sarcastic at the age
of ninety, and despising all modern manners and
innovations. Then there is the sentimental Mrs
Gaffaw, who had weak nerves and headaches; was
above managing her house, read novels, dyed rib-
bons, and altered her gowns according to every pat-
tern she could see or hear of. There is a shade of
caricature in some of these female portraits, not-
withstanding the explanation of the authoress that
they lived at a time when Scotland was very diffe-
rent from what it is now-when female education
was little attended to even in families of the highest
rank; and consequently the ladies of those days
possessed a raciness in their manners and ideas that
we should vainly seek for in this age of cultivation
and refinement. It is not only, however, in satirising
the foibles of her own sex that Miss Ferrier displays
such original talent and humour. Dr Redgill, a
medical hanger-on and diner-out, is a gourmand of
the first class, who looks upon bad dinners to be the
source of much of the misery we hear of in the
married life, and who compares a woman's reputa-
tion to a beefsteak if once breathed upon, 'tis good
for nothing.' Many sly satirical touches occur through-
out the work. In one of Miss Grizzy's letters we hear
of a Major MacTavish of the militia, who, indepen-
dent of his rank, which Grizzy thought was very
high, distinguished himself, and showed the greatest
bravery once when there was a very serious riot
about the raising the potatoes a penny a peck, when
there was no occasion for it, in the town of Dunoon.
We are told also that country visits should seldom ||
exceed three days-the rest day, the dressed day, and
the pressed day. There is a great shrewdness and
knowledge of human nature in the manner in which
the three aunts got over their sorrow for the death
of their father, the old laird. They sighed and
mourned for a time, but soon found occupation con-
genial to their nature in the little department of
life: dressing crape; reviving black silk; converting

narrow hems into broad hems; and, in short, who 'Impruvements!' turning sharply round upon her; so busy, so important, as the ladies of Glenfern?' what ken ye about impruvements, bairn? A bonny The most striking picture in the book is that of impruvement, or ens no, to see tyleyors and sclaters the Mrs Violet MacShake, who is introduced as liv- leavin' whar I mind jewks and yerls. An' that great ing in a lofty lodging in the Old Town of Edinburgh, glowerin' New Toon there,' pointing out of her winwhere she is visited by her grand-nephew Mr Doug-dows, 'whar I used to sit an' luck oot at bonny green las, and his niece Mary. In person she is tall and parks, an' see the coos milket, and the bits o' bairnies hard-favoured, and dressed in an antiquated style :-rowin' an' tumlin', an' the lasses trampin' i' their

As soon as she recognised Mr Douglas, she welcomed him with much cordiality, shook him long and heartily by the hand, patted him on the back, looked into his face with much seeming satisfaction; and, in short, gave all the demonstrations of gladness usual with gentlewomen of a certain age. Her pleasure, however, appeared to be rather an impromptu than a habitual feeling; for, as the surprise wore off, her visage resumed its harsh and sarcastic expression, and she seemed eager to efface any agreeable impression her reception might have excited.

And wha thought o' seein' ye enoo?' said she in a quick gabbling voice; what's brought you to the toon? Are you come to spend your honest faither's siller ere he's weel cauld in his grave, puir man?'

Mr Douglas explained that it was upon account of

his niece's health.

་

tubs what see I noo but stane an' lime, an' stoor an' dirt, an' idle cheels an' dinkit oot madams prancin'. Impruvements indeed!'

Mr

Mary found she was not likely to advance her uncle's fortune by the judiciousness of her remarks, therefore prudently resolved to hazard no more. Douglas, who was more au fait to the prejudices of old age, and who was always amused with her bitter remarks, when they did not touch himself, encouraged her to continue the conversation by some observation on the prevailing manners.

'Mainers!' repeated she with a contemptuous laugh; 'what ca' ye mainers noo, for I dinna ken? ilk ane gangs bang intill their neebor's hoos, an' bang oot o't, as it war a chynge-hoos; an' as for the maister o't, he's no o' sae muckle vaalu as the flunky heard him tell, ilka maister o' a family had his ain ahint his chyre. I' my grandfaither's time, as I hae sate in his ain hoos; ay! an' sat wi' his hat on his Health!' repeated she with a sardonic smile, it heed afore the best o' the land, an' had his ain dish, wad mak an ool laugh to hear the wark that's made an' was ay helpit first, an keepit up his owthority as aboot young fowk's health noo-a-days. I wonder a man sude du. Paurents war paurents than-bairns what ye're a' made o',' grasping Mary's arm in her dardna set up their gabs afore them than as they du great bony hand-a wheen puir feckless windle-noo. They ne'er presumed to say their heeds war straes-ye maun awa to Ingland for your healths. their ain i' thae days-wife an' servants, reteeners Set ye up! I wonder what cam o' the lasses i' my an' childer, a' trummelt i' the presence o' their time that butel to bide at hame? And whilk o' ye, heed.' I sude like to ken, 'll e'er leive to see ninety-sax, like me. Health! he, he!'

Mary, glad of a pretence to indulge the mirth the old lady's manner and appearance had excited, joined most heartily in the laugh.

Tak aff yere bannet, bairn, an' let me see your face; wha can tell what like ye are wi' that snule o' a thing on your head? Then after taking an accurate survey of her face, she pushed aside her pelisse Weel, its ae mercy I see ye hae neither the red heed nor the muckle cuits o' the Douglases. I kenna whuther your faither has them or no. I ne'er set een on him: neither him nor his braw leddy thought it worth their while to speer after me; but I was at nae loss, by a' accounts.'

You have not asked after any of your Glenfern friends,' said Mr Douglas, hoping to touch a more sympathetic chord.

'Time eneugh-wull ye let me draw my breath, man-fowk canna say awthing at ance. An' ye bute to hae an Inglish wife tu, a Scotch lass wadna ser' ye. An' yere wean, I'se warran' its ane o' the warld's wonders-it's been unca lang o' comin'-he, he!' 'He has begun life under very melancholy auspices, poor fellow!' said Mr Douglas, in allusion to his father's death.

An' wha's faut was that? I ne'er heard tell o' the like o't, to hae the bairn kirsened an' its grandfaither deein'! But fowk are naither born, nor kirsened, nor do they wad or dee as they used to du-awthing's changed.'

'You must, indeed, have witnessed many changes?' observed Mr Douglas, rather at a loss how to utter anything of a conciliatory nature.

Changes!-weel a wat I sometimes wunder if it's the same warld, an' if it's my ain heed that's upon my shoothers.'

But with these changes you must also have seen many improvements?' said Mary in a tone of diffi

dence.

1 Behoved.

*

Here a long pinch of snuff caused a pause in the old lady's harangue. Mr Douglas availed himself of the opportunity to rise and take leave.

'Oo, what's takin' ye awa, Archie, in sic a hurry? Sit doon there,' laying her hand upon his arm, an' rest ye, an' tak a glass o' wine an' a bit breed; or maybe,' turning to Mary, 'ye wad rather hae a drap broth to warm ye? What gars ye look sae blae, bairn? I'm sure it's no cauld; but ye're just like the lave: ye gang a' skiltin' about the streets half naked, an' than ye maun sit an' birsle yoursels afore the fire at

hame.'

She had now shuffled along to the further end of the room, and opening a press, took out wine and a plateful of various-shaped articles of bread, which she handed to Mary.

'Hae, bairn-tak a cookie-tak it up-what are you feared for! it'll no bite ye. Here's t'ye, Glenfern, an' your wife an' your wean; puir tead, it's no had a very chancy ootset, weel a wat.'

The wine being drank, and the cookies discussed, Mr Douglas made another attempt to withdraw, but in vain.

'Canna ye sit still a wee, man, an' let me speer after my auld freens at Glenfern? Hoo's Grizzy, an' Jacky, an' Nicky ?-aye workin' awa at the peels an' the drogs-he, he! I ne'er swallowed a peel nor gied a doit for drogs a' my days, an' see an ony o' them 'll rin a race wi' me whan they're naur five

score.'

Mr Douglas here paid some compliments upon her appearance, which were pretty graciously received; and added that he was the bearer of a letter from his aunt Grizzy, which he would send along with a roebuck and brace of moor-game.

'Gin your roebuck's nae better than your last, atweel it's no worth the sendin': poor dry fissinless dirt, no worth the chowin'; weel a wat I begrudged my teeth on't. Your muirfowl war nae that ill, but they're no worth the carryin'; they're doug cheap i'

the market enoo, so it's nae great compliment. Gin ye had brought me a leg o' gude mutton, or a cauler sawmont, there would hae been some sense in't; but ye're ane o' the fowk that'll ne'er harry yoursell wi' your presents; it's but the pickle powther they cost ye, an' I'se warran' ye're thinkin' mair o' your ain diversion than o' my stamick whan ye're at the shootin' o' them, puir beasts.'

Mr Douglas had borne the various indignities levelled against himself and his family with a philosophy that had no parallel in his life before, but to this attack upon his game he was not proof. His colour rose, his eyes flashed fire, and something resembling an oath burst from his lips as he strode indignantly towards the door.

His friend, however, was too nimble for him. She stepped before him, and, breaking into a discordant laugh as she patted him on the back, 'So I see ye're just the auld man, Archie-aye ready to tak the strums an ye dinna get a' thing your ain wye. Mony a time I had to fleech ye oot o' the dorts when ye was a callant. Do ye mind hoo ye was affronted because I set ye doon to a cauld pigeon-pye an' a tanker o' tippenny ae night to your fowerhoors afore some leddies-he, he, he! Weel a wat yere wife maun hae her ain adoos to manage ye, for ye're a cumstairy chield, Archie.'

Mr Douglas still looked as if he was irresolute whether to laugh or be angry.

'Come, come, sit ye doon there till I speak to this bairn,' said she, as she pulled Mary into an adjoining bed-chamber, which wore the same aspect of chilly neatness as the one they had quitted. Then pulling a huge bunch of keys from her pocket, she opened a drawer, out of which she took a pair of diamond earrings. Hae, bairn,' said she, as she stuffed them into Mary's hand; they belanged to your faither's grandmother. She was a gude woman, an' had fouran'-twenty sons an' dochters, an' I wuss ye nae waur fortin than just to hae as mony. But mind ye,' with a shake of her bony finger, 'they maun a' be Scots. Gin I thought ye wad mairry ony pock-puddin', fient haed wad ye hae gotten frae me. Noo had your tongue, and dinna deive me wi' thanks,' almost pushing her into the parlour again; and sin ye're gawn awa' the morn, I'll see nae mair o' ye enoo-so fare ye weel. But, Archie, ye maun come an' tak your breakfast wi' me. I hae muckle to say to you; but ye mauna be sae hard upon my baps as ye used to be,' with a facetious grin to her mollified favourite as they shook hands and parted.

Aware, perhaps, of the defective outline or story of her first novel, Miss Ferrier has bestowed much more pains on the construction of the Inheritance.' It is too complicated for an analysis in this place; but we may mention that it is connected with high life and a wide range of characters, the heroine being a young lady born in France, and heiress to a splendid estate and peerage in Scotland, to which, after various adventures and reverses, she finally succeeds. The tale is well arranged and developed. Its chief attraction, however, consists in the delineation of characters. Uncle Adam and Miss Pratt -the former a touchy, sensitive, rich East Indian, and the latter another of Miss Ferrier's inimitable old maids-are among the best of the portraits; but the canvass is full of happy and striking sketches. 'Destiny' is connected with Highland scenery and Highland manners, but is far from romantic. Miss Ferrier is as human and as discerning in her tastes and researches as Miss Edgeworth. The chief, Glenroy, is proud and irascible, spoiled by the fawning of his inferiors, and in his family circle is generous without kindness, and profuse without benevolence. The Highland minister, Mr Duncan MacDow,

James Morier

East in a series of novels-The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan, three volumes, 1824 (with a second part published in two volumes in 1828); Zohrab, the Hostage, three volumes, 1832; Ayesha, the Maid of Kars, three volumes, 1834; and The Mirza, three volumes, 1841. The object of his first work was, he says, the single idea of illustrating Eastern manners by contrast with those of England, and the author evinces a minute and familiar acquaintance with the habits and customs of the Persians. The truth of his satirical descriptions and allusions was felt even by the court of Persia; for Mr Morier has published a letter from a minister of state in that country, expressing the displeasure which the king felt at the very foolish business' of the book. It is probable, however, as the author supposes, that this irritation may lead to reflection, and reflection to amendment, as he conceives the Persians to be, in talent and natural capacity, equal to any nation in the world, and would be no less on a level with them in feeling, honesty, and the higher moral qualities, were their education favourable. The hero of Mr Morier's tale is an adventurer like Gil Blas, and as much buffeted about in the world.