The language of the proverbial wisdom has the true Scottish flavour; not only is this the case with the proverbs themselves, but the dedication to the tenantry of Scotland, prefixed to the collection, is written in pure Scottish dialect.

From this dedication I make an extract, which falls in with our plan of recording Scotch reminiscences, as Allan Ramsay there states the great value set upon proverbs in his day, and the great importance which he attaches to them as teachers of moral wisdom, and as combining amusement with instruction.

The prose of Allan Ramsay has, too, a spice of his poetry in its composition.

His dedication is, To the tenantry of Scotland, farmers of the dales, and storemasters of the hills-- "Worthy friends--The following hoard of wise sayings and observations of our forefathers, which have been gathering through mony bygane ages, I have collected with great care, and restored to their proper sense....
"As naething helps our happiness mair than to have the mind made up wi' right principles, I desire you, for the thriving and pleasure of you and yours, to use your een and lend your lugs to these guid _auld saws_, that shine wi' wail'd sense, and will as lang as the world wags.

Gar your bairns get them by heart; let them have a place among your family-books, and may never a window-sole through the country be without them.