To that nation I owe my birth and education; and to that manner of speaking I was used from my infancy, to such a degree that I became in some measure remarkable for it." This was written in 1721, and we may see from Mr.Kelly's account what a change has taken place in society as regards this mode of intercourse.

Our author states that he has "omitted in his collection many popular proverbs which are very pat and expressive," and adds as his reason, that "since it does not become a man of manners to use them, it does not become a man of my age and profession to write them." What was Mr.Kelly's profession or what his age does not appear from any statements in this volume; but, judging by many proverbs which he has _retained_, those which consideration of years and of profession induced him to omit must have been bad indeed, and unbecoming for _any_ age or _any_ profession[84].

The third collection by Mr.Fergusson is mentioned by Kelly as the only one which had been made before his time, and that he had not met with it till he had made considerable progress in his own collection.

The book is now extremely rare, and fetches a high price.

By the great kindness of the learned librarian, I have been permitted to see the copy belonging to the library of the Writers to the Signet.