avoided, except by more torture than yielding.... It is difficult for those who have been under a more natural system to comprehend how a sensible man, a respectable matron, a worthy old maid, and especially a girl, could be expected to go into company easily, on such conditions[33]." This accompaniment of domestic drinking by a toast or sentiment--the practice of which is now confined to public entertainments--was then invariable in private parties, and was supposed to enliven and promote the good fellowship of the social circle. Thus Fergusson, in one of his poems, in describing a dinner, says-- "The grace is said; it's nae ower lang, The claret reams in bells. Quo' Deacon, 'Let the toast round gang; Come, here's our noble sels Weel met the day.'" There was a great variety of these toasts, some of them exclusively Scottish. A correspondent has favoured me with a few reminiscences of such incentives to inebriety. The ordinary form of drinking a health was in the address, "Here's t' ye." Then such as the following were named by successive members of the company at the call of the host:-- _The land o' cakes_ (Scotland). _Mair freens and less need o' them. Thumping luck and fat weans_. _When we're gaun up the hill o' fortune may we ne'er meet a freen' coming doun. May ne'er waur be amang us. May the hinges o' freendship never rust, or the wings o' luve lose a feather. Here's to them that lo'es us, or lenns us a lift. Here's health to the sick, stilts to the lame; claise to the back, and brose to the wame. Here's health, wealth, wit, and meal. The deil rock them in a creel that does na' wish us a' weel. Horny hands and weather-beaten haffets (cheeks). The rending o' rocks and the pu'in' doun o' auld houses_. The above two belong to the mason craft; the first implies a wish for plenty of work, and health to do it; the second, to erect new buildings and clear away old ones. _May the winds o' adversity ne'er blaw open our door. May poortith ne'er throw us in the dirt, or gowd into the high saddle[34]. May the mouse ne'er leave our meal-pock wi' the tear in its e'e. Blythe may we a' be. Ill may we never see. Breeks and brochan (brose). May we ne'er want a freend, or a drappie to gie him. Gude een to you a', an' tak your nappy. A willy-waught's a gude night cappy[35]. May we a' be canty an' cosy, An' ilk hae a wife in his bosy_. _A cosy but, and a canty ben, To couthie[36] women and trusty men. The ingle neuk wi' routh[37] o' bannoch and bairns. Here's to him wha winna beguile ye. Mair sense and mair siller. Horn, corn, wool, an' yarn[38]_.