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2. Lothian Tom."-Analysis of same.-Critical remarks.-Lothian Tom's English prototype.—Brief notice of the English chapbook entitled "The Merry Conceits of Tom Long, the Carrier."-The "Toms' of fiction.-John Franky, the English fool.

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CHAPTER VI.

II.-Simple Prose Narratives.—Continued.

1. (3.) "John Cheap, the Chapman."-Analysis

of his exploits.-Critical remarks.

2. (4.) a. "Leper, the Tailor."-b. "The Grand Solemnity of the Tailor's Funeral."

3. (5.) "John Falkirk's Jokes."

4. (6.) "John Falkirk's Carriches."-Critical remarks.-Immorality of the lower classes

in Scotland last century.

5. (7.) "Paddy from Cork."

6. (8.) "History of Buchaven; or, Wise Willie

and Witty Eppy."

General resume of the preceding Chapters.

Concluding remarks.

1. What are Chap-books? 2. The objects and limits of this book.

§ 3. Previous writings on the subject.

§ 4. The character and value of chap-books.

§ 5. Political aspects of Scotland in the Eighteenth Century.

6. Social aspects.

8. Insecurity of life. 9. Popular superstitions. 10. Severity of the penal code.

§ 11. Tyranny of the Kirk Session.

§ 12. Tyranny in the domestic circle.

§ 13. One-sided administration of law.

§ 14. Intemperance of the age. 7. Want of roads and con- 15. Popular games. veyances. 16. General features.

§ 1. It is easier to say what a chap-book is, than to define what it is not. As M. Charles Nisard, in his account of the popular literature of France, remarks of the "almanachs,"-"Il ne manque pas de gens aujourd'hui qui pensent vous embarrasser en vous demandant qui n'a pas son journal? Ils vous embarrasseraient bien

davantage s'ils demandaient qui n'a pas son almanach ?" So it may be asked, what are not chap-books? Chambers's Encyclopædia defines them as "a variety of old and scarce tracts of a homely kind, which at one time formed the only popular literature. In the trade of the bookseller they are distinguishable from the ordinary products of the press by their inferior paper and typography, and are reputed to have been sold by chapmen or peddlers." This, however, is not nearly comprehensive enough, including but a very small portion of the literature embraced under the class 'chap:' for chapbooks vary greatly in shape, price, and character; from the half-penny villainously printed sheet of paper or broadsheet, containing the last dying speech and confession of Nichol Mushet, the murderer, to the neatly bound and fairly printed "History of the Rebellion in 1745," consisting of some 200 pages, and illustrated with diagrams and a likeness of the author. In short, 'chap-book' was the name given to almost every species of publication that was hawked round the country districts of Scotland last century,—

including broadsides of all kinds; humorous sketches, sacred and profane; political and sectarian squibs; histories, romantic and narrative; jest-books and manuals of instruction in dancing, cookery, charms, and the interpretation of dreams: ranging in price from a farthing to a six-pence and a shilling each. Originally, the word had a more limited signification; the earliest chapbooks being nearly uniform in size and price. Each volume consisted of a twenty-fourpage single sheet, duodecimo, execrably coarse in texture, dirty gray or whity-brown in colour, illustrated by one or more rough woodcuts, and printed in a rude and unfinished style of typography. In size and shape they were identical with their modern representatives, which are still issued in large numbers under the name of 'penny histories,' and are sold at country fairs and gatherings in Britain by travelling packmen. The prefix chap' originally meant to cheap or cheapen,' as in the word 'cheapening-place,' meaning a market-place,— hence the English Cheapside and Eastcheap.

Chapman' is the designation given to those

peddlers, or, as they were often called, 'flying' or 'itinerant' stationers, who at one time were the only merchants in rural districts; and the literature, which they carried nicely assorted in their packs in little pigeon-holes, was called chap-books.

§ 2. It is not our intention to treat of chap-books in the larger signification of the word. That would necessitate the introduction of several chapters on love-songs, ballads, party squibs,and miscellaneous tracts, which have been discussed repeatedly by many eminent men; and to the information already accumulated regarding which no one, who did not devote the greater part of his life to the work, could hope to add any thing new. While, therefore, it will be necessary to refer incidentally to these forms of literature, these chapters will be devoted to a consideration of those humorous penny histories, and sketches-mostly of local origin, and consisting generally of twenty-four pages-which may be said to have sprung into existence toward the middle of last century, and to which we must turn for the fullest and truest expression of