The transition from Scottish expressions to Scottish Poetry is easy and natural.  In fact, the most interesting feature now belonging to Scottish life and social habits is, to a certain extent, becoming with many a matter of reminiscence of Poetry in the Scottish dialect, as being the most permanent and the most familiar feature of Scottish characteristics.  It is becoming a matter of history, in so far as we find that it has for some time ceased to be cultivated with much ardour, or to attract much popularity.  In fact, since the time of Burns, it has been losing its hold on the public mind.  It is a remarkable fact that neither Scott nor Wilson, both admirers of Burns, both copious writers of poetry themselves, both also so distinguished as writers of Scottish prose, should have written any poetry strictly in the form of pure Scottish dialect.  “Jock o’ Hazeldean” I hardly admit to be an exception.  It is not Scottish.  If, indeed, Sir Walter wrote the scrap of the beautiful ballad in the “Antiquary”—­

     “Now haud your tongue, baith wife and carle,
       And listen, great and sma’,
     And I will sing of Glenallan’s Earl,
       That fought at the red Harlaw”—­

one cannot but regret that he had not written more of the same.  Campbell, a poet and a Scotsman, has not attempted it.  In short, we do not find poetry in the Scottish dialect at all kept up in Scotland.  It is every year becoming more a matter of research and reminiscence.  Nothing new is added to the old stock, and indeed it is surprising to see the ignorance and want of interest displayed by many young persons in this department of literature.  How few read the works of Allan Ramsay, once so popular, and still so full of pastoral imagery!  There are occasionally new editions of the Gentle Shepherd, but I suspect for a limited class of readers.  I am assured the boys of the High School, Academy, etc., do not care even for Burns.  As poetry in the Scottish dialect is thus slipping away from the public Scottish mind, I thought it very suitable to a work of this character to supply a list of modern Scottish dialect writers.  This I am able to provide by the kindness of our distinguished antiquary, Mr. David Laing—­the fulness and correctness of whose acquirements are only equalled by his readiness and courtesy in communicating his information to others:—­

SCOTTISH POETS OF THE LAST CENTURY.

ALLAN RAMSAY.  B. 1686.  D. 1757.  His Gentle Shepherd, completed in 1725, and his Collected Poems in 1721-1728.

It cannot be said there was any want of successors, however obscure, following in the same track.  Those chiefly deserving of notice were—­

ALEXANDER Ross of Lochlee.  B. 1700.  D. 1783. The Fortunate Shepherdess.

ROBERT FERGUSSON.  B. 1750.  D. 1774. Leith Races, Caller Oysters, etc.

REV.  JOHN SKINNER.  B. 1721.  D. 1807. Tullochgorum.