CLOSING YEAKS. 433 



less variety of character and stirring incident. To compensate for 

 that want, however, they have certain deeper qualities. The dis- 

 cussions they contain on some of the highest questions of morals, 

 and the criticisms on some of the masterpieces of ancient and mod- 

 ern poetry, appear to me to be of the very highest value. In the 

 first of these papers some noble thoughts will be found upon the 

 rituals of the Church, from which I should like to extract his defi- 

 nition of what composes the Scottish service : — 



" The Scottish service comprehends prayer, praise, doctrine ; all 

 three necessary verbal arts amongst Christians met, but each in ut- 

 most simplicity. The praise, which unites the voices of the con- 

 gregation, must be written. The prayer, which is the turning 

 towards God of the soul of the shepherd upon behalf of the flock, 



When he took out art Instrument, bored thirty holes at twice I 

 As they sailed, etc 



Then some they ran with cloaks, 

 And some they ran with caps, 



Eek, etc., 

 To try if they could stap the oaut- water drapa, 



As they sailed, etc. 



About and about, 

 And about went he, 



Eek, etc., 

 Until he cam back to the Goulden Vanitee, 



As they sailed, etc. 



" Now throw me o'er a rope, 

 And pu' me up on buird; 



Eek, etc., 

 And prove unto me as guid as your word :" 



As ye sail, etc. 



" We'll no' throw you o'er a rope, 

 Nor pu' you up on buird, 



Eek, otc, 

 Nor prove unto you as guid as our word," 



As we sail, etc. 



Out spoke the little cabin-boy, 

 Out spoke he, 



Eek, etc., 

 " Then hang me I'll sink ye as I sunk the French Gallee," 



As you sail, etc. 



JJut they've thrown him o'er a rope, 

 And have pu'd him up on buird, 



Eek, etc., 

 And have proved unto him far better than their word: 



As they sailed, etc. 



I am indebted for the words and the music to my friend Mr. P. S. Fraser. 

 18* 



