Anecdote¹ of School Days, Upon which Mr. Thomas Scott Proposed to Found a Tale of Fiction.

It is well known in the South that there is little or no boxing at the Scottish schools. About forty or fifty years ago, however, a far more dangerous mode of fighting, in parties or factions², was permitted in the streets of Edinburgh, to the great disgrace of the police, and danger of the parties concerned. These parties were generally formed from the quarters of the town in which the combatants resided, those of a particular square or district fighting against those of an adjoining one. Hence it happened that the children of the higher classes were often pitted against those of the lower, each taking their side according to the residence of their friends. So far as I recollect³, however, it was unmingled either with feelings of democracy or aristocracy, or, indeed, with malice⁴ or ill-will of any kind towards the opposite party. In fact, it was only a rough mode of play. Such contests were, however, maintained with great vigour⁵ with stones and sticks and fisticuffs, when one party dared to charge, and the other stood their ground. Of course mischief⁶ sometimes happened; boys are said to have been killed at these “bickers⁷,” as they were called, and serious accidents certainly took place, as many contemporaries can bear witness.

The Author’s father residing in George Square, in the southern side of Edinburgh, the boys belonging to that family, with others in the square, were arranged into a sort of company, to which a lady of distinction presented a handsome set of colours. Now this company, or regiment⁸, as a matter of course, was engaged in weekly warfare⁹ with the boys inhabiting the Crosscauseway, Bristo Street, the Potter Row, — in short, the neighbouring suburbs. These last were chiefly of the lower rank, but

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