Iona Club. An association founded in 1833 to investigate and illustrate the history, antiquities and early literature of the Highlands. Dissolved in 1838. Publications

Collectanca de Rebus Albanicis, consisting of original papers and documents relating to the history of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1847.

Jethart Pears.-Jedburgh was long famous for its pears, apples, plums-once "cried" in the streets of London, where the "Jethart pears" were a favorite fruit and a source of considerable income to their growers.

John o' Groat's buckie.-Name given to the only European cowry known (Cypræa Europea), which is cast up at John o' Groat's by the tide.

King of Thieves.-Name given to Adam Scott, last inhabitant of Tushielaw Castle, Ettrick. He is said to have been hanged by James V on an elm (still shown in the courtyard). Another name for him was "King of the Border."

Lawnmarket, Edinburgh.-It derives its name from the stalls and booths which used to be erected here, especially on market days, for the sale of "linen."

Licking the Birse.-The old ceremony of admittance to the dignity of burgess of the town of Selkirk involves the penalty of sucking a brush of bristles such as shoemakers use, dipped in wine. This is called "licking the birse."

Men o' the Mearns. The particular name given to natives of Kincardineshire, often associated with the ideas of skill and strength; hence the proverb, "I can dae fat a dow; the men o' the Mearns can dae nae mair."

Rose of Jedwood.-Name given to Mary Somerville, author of The Connection of the Physical Sciences and other works. She was born in Jedburgh

Manse, December 26, 1780, and died in Naples, 1872.

Scotch Miss Austen, The.-The name applied to Miss Ferrier by Sir Walter Scott, from her clever novels of Highland life..

Seven Spears of Wedderburn.--Name given by Sir Walter Scott to the seven sons of Sir David Horne, of Wedderburn, who accompanied their father to the ill-fated field of Flodden, where the father and his eldest son were slain.

Sir Paraffin Young.-A facetious name applied by Dr. David Livingstone (in letter dated Unyanyembe, in Africa, March 13, 1872) to James Young, of Kelley, the inventor of paraffin.

Spalding Club.-A book club formed. in Aberdeen in 1839, and named after John Spalding (fl. 1624-45), commissary clerk of Aberdeen and diarist. It published a large number of works on the literature, history and antiquities of northeastern Scotland. Dissolved in 1870, and revived in 1887 as "New Spalding Club."

Tiger Earl.-Name given to Alexander, fourth earl of Crawford (fifteenth century), from the fierceness of his disposition.

Whigs' Vault, The.-Name given to a dungeon in Dunnottar Castle, in which 167 Covenanters were confined for three months in 1685.

A CELTIC SCHOLAR'S LOSS.

A terrible misfortune has befallen Prof. Heinrich Zimmer, one of the greatest Celtic scholars in Europe. His house in Berlin was lately burned down, and the whole of his valuable library and manuscript collections destroyed. His manuscripts included materials for a Dictionary of Old Irish, and for a third edition of the Grammatica Celtica of

Zeuss. In trying to save some of the most precious of the books and manuscripts, Mrs. Zimmer was very seriously injured and her life endangered. Professor Zimmer himself, broken down in health from overwork, was absent on a vacation in the Hartz Mountains. Though but little more than 50 years of age, he is one of the greatest Celtic scholars in Europe. His principal work in Celtic includes "Keltische Studien" (two volumes), "Glossæ Hibernicæ," "Nennius Vindicatus," "The Celtic Church in Britain and Ireland," recently translated into English. Zimmer until recently was Professor of Sanscrit and Comparative Philology in the University of Griefswald, Prussia, and is now the first occupant of the newly created chair of Celtic in Berlin University. Through the initiative of Alfred Nutt, the London publisher, so well known for his interest in Celtic studies, a plan has been arranged to replace as far as may be possible Professor Zimmer's Celtic library. Mr. Nutt offers to take charge of and forward any books and pamphlets sent to him for that purpose. As a nucleus Mr. Nutt has set aside a copy of every Celtic work published by his house. G. F. B.

HAPPY WITH THE PIPES.

BY TED TICKLETALE.

Some like the fun of rolling in the hay; Some crave the joy of basking in the

sun;

A few prefer to while their time away Among the moors with setters and a .gun.

The great variety of human wish

Adds to the zest of happy, married life;

When Mr. Dick makes up his mind to fish,

A visit to the zoo demands his wife.

When Mrs. Mac. is really in the mood To play golf down upon the verdant links,

Her husband, though he otherwise is good,

Prefers a trip to Coney-and cool drinks.

But of all earthly pleasures I can think, From playing golf to shooting grouse

or snipes,

Give me of mountain dew a good, deep drink

And leave me 'mong the hills to play the pipes.

Dundas Castle was built by John Dundas, who in the year 1491 was given a charter by James IV to the island of Inchgarvie, lying in the Firth of Forth, opposite the castle and its lands. This charter is dated 14th of May, 1491. By it the King gives to "our familiar and beloved friend and esquire, John Dundas

and his heirs, all and whole the Island of Inchgarvie and the said John has power to build thereon a Castle or Fort to such height, length and breadth as the said John and his heirs may deem fit and most expedient."

Dundas and his heirs were declared to be perpetual governors. The castle

by the great cantilever bridge, begun in 1878 and finished in 1890.

The original charter to John Dundas included 400 acres of land, 200 acres of which was given in fee to the Carmelite Monks by George Dundas, upon which lands they built a monastery, and with their successors lived within it for 200 years. This monastery was consesecrated by the monks to the Blessed Virgin. The church can still be seen and examined by those who delight to trace Gothic architecture. The castle is nine miles from Edinburgh, on what is known as the Queensferry road, and six miles. above is Dumferline, the Westminster Abbey of Scotland.

From this family of Dundas there came to Philadelphia in the year 1757 James Dundas, who settled in Kensing

James had twelve children-four sons and eight daughters-all born at Kensington, Philadelphia. His fifth daughter, Elizabeth, born at Kensington January 28, 1764, married Henry Pratt, a wealthy merchant and owner of Lemon Hill, Fairmount Park, known in his day as Pratt's Garden. John, eldest son of James, born February 28, 1759, settled in Virginia, owning a large estate in Fairfax county of said State. John's eldest son, James, married a daughter of Henry Pratt and Elizabeth Dundas. This James built the house at Broad and Walnut streets, buying the lot at the time it was known as Vauxhall Gardens. James was born June 21, 1786, at Alexandria, Va., and died in Philadelphia in July, 1865. It is to be It is to be noted that there were two generations in this country, prior to James Dundas of Broad and Walnut streets, who took up arms during the Revolution against the mother country, and in the War of 1812, and were therefore debarred and de

clared aliens under the treaty of 1792, which treaty is still extant, never having been repealed by England's Parliament.

This statement is taken from records in the office of the Lord Lyon King at Arms in Edinburgh, and the Charter Chests at Dundas Castle and family records in America.

SIR WALTER SCOTT TO SIR ROBERT DUNDAS.

The following letter of the late Sir Walter Scott has never appeared in print. before now. It was given to us for publication by a distant relative of Sir Robert Dundas, who lives in Philadelphia. The letter explains itself: "Private."

My Dear Sir Robert—

I return you Lord Melville's letter, and as it is chiefly intended for my perusal, I am under the necessity of adding a few observations.

My Lord Melville is fully entitled to undervalue my arguments and contravene the facts which I have aired. Very possibly the former may not be worth minding, and the latter in some degree incorrect, though I believe the general statement will be found substantial.

But I think it hard to be called a highwayman for taking the field on this occasion, when God knows I had no personal booty to hope for. I think Lord Melville might have at least allowed the credit of Don Quixote, who took the field as an imaginary righter of wrongs.

Twice in my life I have volunteered in public affairs. Once about twenty years ago when, with zeal, if with little. talent, when I did so on behalf of an honored friend and patron. By doing so I gave great offence to persons then high in office, some of whom thought it worth while to follow up the debit with something like persecution, insisting that I

should be sent to Coventry by every friend I had connected with that side in politics. I have never regretted that I did this, though the result was painful. In the present case the concern which as an individual I am bound to take in the welfare of my country has appeared to me to dictate another interference at which to say the truth I did expect from the begining (sic) some of my friends would be displeased.

I cannot complain of the consequences in either of the cases since I incur'd the risque of them voluntarily. But I think the motive leading me to a line of conduct which is at least completely disinterested, ought to have been considered. I am perfectly aware that the pamphlet was warmly written but its subject was warmly felt and I would not term a blister inflammatory because it awakened the patient. So much for intention and manner of expression. I have not the vanity to think Lord Melville wished me to enter into argument on the subject. Were I to do so with a view to his Lordship's private information I could say very much more connected with matters in which he is deeply interested to show why the course I have taken is beneficial to Scotland and to his Lordship, as the guardian of her subjects. But the mode in which his Lordship has intimated his sentiments renders this impossible. I might I think complain that so long a letter is sent for the purpose of being shown to his Lordship's private and confidential friends, and is not to be copied although I am so deeply implicated-or even a copy of it permitted to remain with me, the person at, though not to whom the whole is written. Most of these individuals must in our little and limited circle be my friends also, and it seems hard that where such sharp language is

used I am to be deprived of the usual privilege of putting myself on my own. defence, and that before such a special jury.

The circumstances respecting the Naval Station and military force are not written by me on my own authority, for I know nothing of the matter, but were inserted on the information of a personal friend, no less of mine than of Lord Melville, and they really are not founded on anything of much-importance, and the general statement is not, I think, untested. The clubbery of our great officers of State is certainly accurate. The facts alluded to by Lord Melville respecting something like insecurity of the banks, I certainly never heard. But who was more distressed during the changeful events of the last war than the Bank of England; and so must every great commercial body during such extraordinary circumstances-it is not for such but for the ordinary state of commerce that laws are made. When danger comes according to circumstances marshal (sic) Law is proclaimed. The Habeas Corpus is suspended and the issuing of specie from the bank is dispensed with. But these, like the appointment of a Dictator in Rome, on the dictates of stern necessity, Legislators do not make laws for them. I must with whatever pain to myself understand the circulation of such a paper without any copy being permitted as a general annunciation to Lord Melville's friends that Malachi is under the ban of his party. I am not surprised that Lord Melville parts lightly with a friendship which, however sincere, cannot be of any consequence to him. He cannot prevent me from continuing the same good wishes to him which no man has more sincerely entertained, and which no endurance of his resentment can alter. Other times may come before we are