In Unique Traditions of Scotland, by John Gordon Barbour (Hamilton,
Adams, and Co.), we have one of those new editions which are almost, if not quite, as interesting as strictly new books. It throws a curious side-light on the fairydom (the Scotch fairies seem to have been rather bony), the patriotism, and the persecuted Presbyterianism of Scotland. Mr. Barbour deals in his "Traditions" chiefly with the West and South of Scotland, where Brace had
his toughest struggles, and where the co-religionists of Balfour of Burleigb suffered moat at the hands of the followers and imi- tators of Claverhoase, of whom one Griereon of Lag who figures in these pages appears to have been the worst. Besides this, however, Mr. Barbour through his " Traditions "—which are really short stories, bearing such titles as " The Sutor'a Seat," " The Red Comyn's Castle," "The Withering of the Oak-Tree," Aso.—tells a good deal about Scandinavians, and various mysterious or mythical monsters that have played their part in the temporal and also in the spiritual life of early Scotland. There is barely a Soothe° that has not heard, or perhaps need, the phrase " Athol° Brose ;" but how few Sootchmen even, who have not read Mr. Bar hour's pp. 97-102, could tell its origin ! This writer has an old-fashioned, perfervid, almost spluttering style ; and he hits oat occasionally against aristocratic impurities and what not, after the manner of one of his own Covenanters. Bat he obviously means well ; and after a time, his style is accepted by the reader as part of himself. It is a pity that in the new issue of this book, the original edition of which is dated 1833, there should have been given " a Tarshish MS.," which looks at least like an imitation of some squib of the same kind that had appeared before. It is in any case out of place here, and at this time of day.
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