twenty pages of this
edition. Very few had such a right to speak about the strange
commotion created by the act of the two English Bishops, and
the manner in which they tried to lay the storm, and still
fewer could have done it with such effect.

One fruit of your work is sure to abide. As long as Scotland
lasts, _your_ name will "be associated with gentle and happy
_Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character_."

Mrs. Hanna joins me in affectionate regard.--With highest
respect and esteem, I ever am, yours very truly,

WM. HANNA.

DEAN RAMSAY to Rev. Dr. L. ALEXANDER.

23 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh.

January 29, 1872.

My clear Dr. Alexander--Since I had the pleasure of your most
agreeable visit, and its accompanying conversation, I have
been very unwell and hardly left the house. You mentioned the
reference made by Dean Stanley (?) to the story of the
semi-idiot boy and his receiving the communion with such
heart-felt reality. I forgot to mention that, summer before
last, two American gentlemen were announced, who talked very
pleasantly before I found who they were--one a Baptist
minister at Boston, and the other a professor in a college. I
did not know why they had called at all until the minister
_let on_ that he did not like to be in Edinburgh without
waiting upon the author of _Reminiscences_, as the book had
much interested him in Scottish life, language and character,
before he had been a visitor on the Scottish shores. "But
chiefly," he added, "I wished to tell you that the day before
I sailed I preached in a large store to above two thousand
people; that from your book I had to them brought forward the
anecdote of the simpleton lad's deep feeling in seeing the
'_pretty man_' in the communion, and of his being found dead
next morning." To which he added, in strong American tones,
"I pledge _myself_ to you, sir, there was not a dry eye in
the whole assembly."

It is a feature of modern times how anecdotes, sayings,
expressions, etc., pass amongst the human race. I have
received from Sir Thomas Biddulph an expression of the
Queen's pleasure at finding pure _Scottish_ anecdotes have
been so popular in England. How fond she is of
Scotland!--With much esteem, I am very truly yours,

E.B. RAMSAY.