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Minor Queries.
_Original Words of old Scotch Airs._--Can any one tell me where the
original words of many fine old Scotch airs are to be found? The wretched
verses of Allan Ramsay, and others of the same school, are adapted to the
"Yellow-haired Laddie," "Ettrick Banks," "The Bush aboon Traquair," "Mary
Scott," and hundreds of others. There must exist old words to many of these
airs, which at least will possess some local characteristics, and be a
blessed change from the "nymphs" and "swains," the "Stephens" and
"Lythias," which now pollute and degrade them. Any information on this
subject will be received most thankfully. I particularly wish to recover
some old words to the air of "Mary Scott." The only verse I remember is
this,--
"Mary's black, and Mary's white,
Mary is the king's delight;
The king's delight, and the prince's marrow,
Mary Scott, the Flower of Yarrow."