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.