The laird's eldest son was rather a simpleton.

Laird says, 'I am going to send the young laird abroad,' 'What for ?' asks the tenant; answered, 'To see the world;' tenant replies, 'But, lord-sake, laird, will no the world see _him_ ?'" An admirably humorous reply is recorded of a Scotch officer, well known and esteemed in his day for mirth and humour.

Captain Innes of the Guards (usually called Jock Innes by his contemporaries) was with others getting ready for Flushing or some of those expeditions of the beginning of the great war.

His commanding officer (Lord Huntly, my correspondent thinks) remonstrated about the badness of his hat, and recommended a new one--"Na, na! bide a wee," said Jock; "where we're gain' faith there'll soon be mair hats nor _heads_." I recollect being much amused with a Scottish reference of this kind in the heart of London.

Many years ago a Scotch party had dined at Simpson's famous beef-steak house in the Strand.