

Extracts from the Note-Book of Gregory Greathead, Esq. 257 



CLANJAMFRIE, n. The Scotch synonyme for the " tag-rag-and- 

 bobtail," or dregs of the people. 



Jaffrey's Close enters from the Goosedubbs, and contains a very consider- 

 able number of inhabitants, many of whom are of questionable character. 

 The waggish gentleman from whom the said close derives its patronymic, was 

 once in company with a Highlandman of the name of Campbell, who was 

 lording it over some of the Macs, &c., in the company, and boasting .of the 

 antiquity, great names, and numbers belonging to his clan. Mr. Jaffrey at 

 once offered to take a bet with the Celt, that the clan to which he belonged 

 was more numerous than his. " Your clan ! your clan ! who ever heard 

 before now of the Clan-Jaffrey ?" " Donald, I'll let your friends here be the 

 judge." " Very well, then, five pounds to a shilling." " I belong to the 

 Clan-Jamfrie, so down wi* your dust." 



EXAMIN, w. An examination by a clergyman of the theological 

 knowledge of his parishioners. 



It is principally applied to the practice of the clergy, who appoint that those 

 of their hearers residing in a certain locality, shall attend at a given place, 

 generally a school-house, or barn of some farmer, to answer such questions 

 regarding their knowledge, "life, and conversation," as the minister may 

 think proper to test their knowledge and practice. 



Mr. Fullarton had advertised from his pulpit that he was to have a diet of 

 examination in a certain district of his parish, Dairy ; and on meeting Will 

 Speir gathering eggs, he inquired at him why he never compeared at the diets 

 of examination ? Quoth Will, " Ye dinna gie fair play." " Why ?" said the 

 minister. " Ye should gie question about," answered Will. This point was 

 settled by the parties, and Will appeared. Fullarton " How many Gods 

 are there, William ?" Will" There is but one only, the living and true God." 

 Mr. F. was proceeding with the second question, " How many persons.?" &c. 

 when he was interrupted by Will "Na, na; a bargain's a bargain : How 

 many devils are there ?" Fullarton " I cannot tell." " Is that the gate o' 

 ye already ?" said Will ; and made off with himself as quickly as possible. 



FORGATHER, v. To meet, to fall in with. 



A certain shopkeeper in Beith had been indebted to the father of Will 

 Speir, and Will, wisely for himself, thought that he should claim on the 

 estate of his son ; but the claim was not sustained. " So, your father is 

 dead, Will ?" said the person applied to. " Ay, Meed is he." " " Well, Will, 

 so is mine ; and the twa can settle their accounts whan they forgather." 



EXTRACTS FROM THE NOTE-BOOK OF GREGORY 

 GREATHEAD, ESQ. 



IN offering the following extracts to his readers, the editor holds 

 himself perfectly absolved from the imputation of all irreverent desire 

 to unveil the secret self-communion of the illustrious defunct, 

 inasmuch as, from the peculiar style in which those extracts were 

 written, it was evidently the intention of the gifted individual whose 

 name they bear, at some period or other, to give them to the world. 

 A sufficient reason for their not having been so made public during 

 his life-time, will easily suggest itself to those who were familiar 

 with his modest and retiring disposition, and indeed to all who call 

 MARCH, 1837. S 



