and decided individuality which nature gives, and which no acquired
habits can change. Each, however, was the representative of a
class; and Edinburgh has no classes exactly of the same kind as
those to which they belonged.--Yours truly,

ANDREW PRINGLE.


Just as Mr. Snodgrass concluded the last sentence, one of the Clyde
skippers, who had fallen asleep, gave such an extravagant snore,
followed by a groan, that it set the whole company a-laughing, and
interrupted the critical strictures which would otherwise have been
made on Mr. Andrew Pringle's epistle. "Damn it," said he, "I
thought myself in a fog, and could not tell whether the land ahead
was Plada or the Lady Isle." Some of the company thought the
observation not inapplicable to what they had been hearing.

Miss Isabella Tod then begged that Miss Mally, their hostess, would
favour the company with Mrs. Pringle's communication. To this
request that considerate maiden ornament of the Kirkgate deemed it
necessary, by way of preface to the letter, to say, "Ye a' ken that
Mrs. Pringle's a managing woman, and ye maunna expect any
metaphysical philosophy from her." In the meantime, having taken
the letter from her pocket, and placed her spectacles on that
functionary of the face which was destined to wear spectacles, she
began as follows:-


LETTER XI