CORRESPONDENCE.

BIOGRAPHICAL REMARKS.

BUENS COMPAEED WITH OTHEE LETTEE-WEITEES.

of HAVING now arrived at the general mass of our general excellence and perfection, as a piece r Author's Letters, which are devoted to no special artistic w orkmanship according to which, its rank

as must be determined : and subject nor limited to any particular class of corre- a literary composition his best its moral characteristics as an of spondents, and in which a number of and second, exponent most characteristic effusions are to be found, we the writer's mind such as its frankness, its have less of mere criticism to advance than the suggestiveness, its reserve; its sprightliness, its its or extent of the subject might seem to call for. It tenderness, its humour; moral dignity its as the remains, indeed, only farther to say, critically delicacy, its solemnity, pathos, subject

: considerations in that in this general department there is more or the case may imply two are but which in variety and freedom, more abandon and sometimes criticism which entirely distinct, even more license of style than in most of what judging of letters can hardly ever be separated. certain letters to we have The best intentioned letter in the world (if we except Hill) yet might as luxuriance of of be a failure in and the had before us ; much humour, comparative composition, of eloquence, of illustration, and more diversity of most perfect piece epistolary workmanship of the be in moral so that topic than in almost anything, perhaps, might contemptible aspect; same sort to be met with in the same number of excellence in one way should by no means be to illustrate the as excellence in pages. At this point, however, accepted necessarily implying remarks have hitherto the other. But because more than principles on which our letters, any other sort of are understood to be been founded, and to justify in some degree the composition, of our Author's the of the writer's or the reflec- high opinion we have expressed transcript heart, with that of tion of his or the revelation of himself in epistolary work in comparison others, mind, without which would be of we think it almost indispensable to present a paral- various ways, they value at all both the moral and the artistic lel or two from the same department of literature. no of such are almost invari- In judging a Letter critically, two distinct con- qualities compositions into account the siderations must be taken into account: first, the ably taken together; indeed, its its moral are riot style of its composition its ease, elegance, improperly preferred; although excellence and in both are force; its clearness, its conciseness, its fluency; the highest variety to a letter the rank its adaptation to circumstances or to persons; its indispensable give highest 134 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS

in its own department of literature. The good- of well-known faculty among his own contem- ness and the honesty which blunder, are not poraries; to whom application for a letter to in- struct order precisely for epistles; but the elegance or per- or to enliven them was their favourite of his fection which lies, or fawns, or grossly flatters, the day had an incomparable style of or outrages, or insults, damns the writer : prolixity own, with a certain interwoven charm of familiar and monotony fatigue, and too much brevity dis- elegance in diction, almost indefinable. We speak appoints the reader. In short, it requires heart, from some reasonable acquaintance with his text. intellect, and pen the heart predominating chiefly The style itself is easy, equable, and varied to a short of the and insinu- produce letter; and nothing equable varied ; respectful, deferential, finest native instinct, or greatest acquired skill, can ating; entertaining in narrative, gossiping in de- regulate their union to perfection. tail; persistent and effective; jocular, and solemnly Letter-writing, as a distinct branch of literature, absurd at carnival seasons, or on carnival topics has been cultivated some of the distin- such as masks and noses methodical by most ; clear, concise, guished authors in ancient and modern times; but on business affairs, and affectionately earnest on the letter-writing of the moderns has the advan- all matters of moment; with a vein of friendliest of more varied natural like in all. tage, perhaps, being and ; humour, quicksilver solution, pervading and foremost, as well as first, among the letter- The diction is always elegant: no slips in that, no writers of modern Europe, the Italians demand inequalities, no blunders, no mistakes. It may not our critical attention and homage. As for the rise to eloquence, for the writer affects nothing; ancients, we cannot now afford space for criticism but it never sinks to commonplace, for he knows on them, nor would it be of much service in his capabilities and his rank. Any topic social, our present work. Cicero, for example, as being political, religious, artistic or absurd; or no topic classic and at but the of some friend purely altogether unimaginative ; whose all, simple demand for letters, although ornate and beautiful, are more a letter, is enough for him. He adopts, or creates, elaborate, didactic, or prosaic works than sympa- or constitutes a topic, from the instant he puts pen thetic or spontaneous effusions we need not here to paper till he kisses hands and retires from view. quote; nor Pliny. They stand by themselves A perfect, masterly, and accomplished letter-writer there, as models of their sort; but have little or is this man. In addition to which, certain moral nothing in common with the passionate or poetic qualities are conspicuous in his epistles, which Scotsman. Before all other letter-writers of the ought particularly in the present case to be speci- highest reputation, we select at once, for com- fied. There is much good nature, much inclina- with the parison Burns, name of Annibal Caro, tion to oblige, much real kindness of disposition; already referred to, as justly entitled to the very amazing discrimination of character, and an almost rank in foremost that department. Montaigne, incomparable tact, when addressing a correspondent r who informs us in his vehement entertaining way, with some object of his own in view. It w ould be that he had as (so early 1580) not fewer than "an difficult, indeed, to imagine anything more perfect hundred several volumes" of Italian letters in his than his manner on such occasions. Yet withal, own library, prefers, without hesitation, to them and in the most delicate or even dangerous cases those of all, Annibal Caro, then recently published; of that kind, a composure resulting from conscious- and no one who has at the admirable of is glanced ness superior capacity perceptible throughout ; of specimens epistolary writing long known to so that no result, whatever it might be, should the world as the "Lettere Famigliari" of that seem to take him by surprise. Some expressions can have author, any doubt at all about his pre- of his, indeed (that might be quoted), in such eminence. difficult circumstances, with every possible con- Annibal Caro who, besides being a poet and dition of success or failure implied, addressed to poetical translator of note, and a dignitary in the those who might have life or death in their hands, whose church, shrewdness and accomplishments are absolute perfection. In these various qualities secured his together own promotion from the as an epistolary writer, and in their combination, humblest sphere, was a recognised letter-writer he is perhaps unrivalled. EDITOR'S REMARKS.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

As between him and Burns, there are many was, in fact, impossible for him; and he inevit- of in this view of their or with violence. points resemblance quali- ably breaks through it, awkwardly fications in the ease, the fluency, and the adapt- To Annibal Caro, on the contrary, it was a second in in him ation of language to the character and theme nature. There may be solitary instances hand but there are also of difference most in little of conscious ; points too, which a assumption remarkable, which must now be more minutely superiority, or the slightest strain of vehemence specified. The most prominent of these are (1) occurs; but it is so qualified with easy badinage, the passionate abandon and luxury of speech in or so interwoven with dexterous compliment, Burns on any, and conspicuously on certain topics, that it is scarcely felt or seen. It is impossible, which is scarcely, if ever, manifest in the ecclesi- in fact, in such cases, to tell whether it be there astic. (2) The occasional restlessness, and in- or no. To have been anything else to his cor- equality of tone corresponding to the constitution respondent than an accomplished, persuasive, of the Poet and the Scotchman, which is totally entertaining, and irresistible alter ego, would with imperceptible in the Italian and the Priest. With him have been at once an outrage on etiquette him, all thoughts seem to be regulated, all passions and on humanity. No distinction between two subdued, all personal interests kept in decorous writers of the same sort, and writing undeniably abeyance, and all opinions or expressions on all for the most part with the same object the en- themes however varied (except where display or lightenment or delectation of their correspondents prominence would be becoming or imperative), in view, could be more obvious or complete. dovetailed and adroitest of the two was Annibal Caro the adjusted with absolute nicety, and The ; yet with the utmost ease: Burns also could do manliest of the two was Robert Burns. this, but he did not stoop to do it did often, in Having attempted such a comparison of our of fact, to his own disadvantage, the very reverse. Author with so distinguished a model epistolary for (3) Penally, which makes the characteristic dis- excellence, we can hardly avoid referring a tinction between the men as men, and also as moment to his English counterpart in style, the letter-writers and which those who read them amiable and illustrious author of ' The Task,' who the letter- for comparison will do well to note, as indicating stands confessedly pre-eminent among in his a most singular moral power, of opposite descrip- writers of his age arid country. Cowper in his tion and yet of similar effect, in each that the easy, fluent, elegant self-adaptation, and one with a sort of passionate eloquence assimilates quiet artistic handling of the slightest, of the very his correspondent to himself, where the other, with slightest themes imperceptible almost from their elegant adaptation of thought and language, as- mere tenuity till he developes them, and evanescent similates himself to his correspondent. Burns until he fixes them in ink investing them with discoveries or narration sympathetically, sometimes forcibly, appropriates the interest of new dreamy his correspondent takes for granted that there in the hush of an afternoon, whilst the clock clicks from the can be no answer, no reply, no effectual resist- in the neighbourhood or pictures eye him

: reader at once of Annibal Caro is ance at least, when he speaks Caro sympatheti- wall, reminds a ; cally allows himself to be appropriated; is all Annibal Caro's second self, in fact, so far as style is Caro's life things, by anticipation, to all men : but in both concerned, although Annibal and habits cases, the process is effected with the hand of a were by no means of the secluded sort. He has master, and the effect is substantially the same not, however, the same versatility of power for all is would labour the correspondent attracted, or propitiated, subjects as the old Italian; more or subdued stormed or taken 'and the writer conspicuously, for example, in handling certain for the moment is triumphant. In writing to solemn or painful themes; nor has he the same 'Clarinda' sometimes, for obvious reasons; and sort of light-heartedness unqualified, unscrupulous soul. In the Italian occasionally to Thomson on controverted topics, gaiety of these, surpasses him. and in one or two other solitary instances, our But he has a light-heartedness of his own, most a Author does indeed adopt the self-assimilating engaging, most beautiful; and gentle humour style; but never consistently or long. That style that plays upon the paper like a beam that could [PROSE WORKS.

and of there is no to be made between disport itself without excess among butterflies style, comparison within the them. There a difference in the cir- tea cups, or indulge its utmost vagaries was, indeed, limits a but that would cumstances of their lives, and in the of garden walk ; certainly respective never ensconce itself for observation on a ladder, circles of their acquaintance, sufficient to account for this. The seclusion of and or sun itself, even in the company of nobles, Huntingdon Olney, was not with arms akimbo at a public-house. As to their enlivened by an occasional newspaper, Burns to much or diversified treatment of trifles, they differ thus from very likely suggest deep the that they both systematically make much of acquaintance with the world; nor correspon- of or a their difficulty before beginning, and forewarn you dence two amiable lady cousins, couple they have nothing to say: he says nothing of of orthodox clergymen of the most exemplary letter all the of the difficulties at all, yet leaves an admirable sect, endowed equally with graces out of nothing, in your hands. Christian life and all the advantages of comfort- like of Cowper's mere diction is, if possible, more able livings, to stimulate to much variety style Caro's than his style a most perfect arrange- or elicit untried gifts of epistolary eloquence. of ment of words and unexceptionable choice The wonder rather is, how with such correspon- phrases. Some expressions, some entire sentences, dents only or chiefly, and subjects alone that indeed, both introductory and valedictory (in could be acceptable to them; with hares and which he much excels), seem to be actually copied pigeons only for playfellows or dependents, and from Caro; and it is difficult to believe that he above all wanting that absorbing passion which was not intimately acquainted with him, although blazed in Burns like a fiery fountain of inspiration, anything like mere appropriation of terms from his correspondence should be so varied as it is. him is not to be conjectured. His pretty frequent His uniformity, nevertheless, it must be admitted, elaboration on the other hand, and careful attention borders on monotony, and we long in vain for to periods and periodic rhythm, to give point and the appearance of some ruder element to endanger emphasis and periphrasis their proper place, re- its tranquillity and divert its course. But then, it mind us not only of Caro throughout, but also would no longer have been Cowper's. Upon the of Burns's earlier and more studied efforts : there whole, it seems evident that, with any number

is, however, a perceptible difference in the latter of correspondents and with any choice of topics, case. In Burns one can perceive that the most Cowper could not have written in a lifetime the studied effort of his is far unequal to express, or same number of first-class letters on the same oftener to repress, himself. There is more below variety of topics, and to the same multitude of than any formal utterance of his own is adequate correspondents, that Burns did simultaneously in either to conceal or divulge. In Cowper it is the course of a few months or years. just the reverse: nothing remains to be written, In one other respect, on which we desire now after what you see. Burns's early formality was to touch most briefly, they also differed widely. the decorous epistolary performance of a youth Cowper's religion as manifested in his letters eager for applause or conscious of superiority; however genuine and consolatory it might be and was never so perfect as Cowper's : Cowper's, to himself would have been utterly abhorrent to on the other hand, was the finished work of a Robert Burns, and could nowhere have found any weaker and a smaller man, thankful to have place in his correspondence. They were both con- escaped from madness, and conscious of no other stitutionally subject to the profoundest religious who had no passion ; other aspirations of the sort melancholy, and had both, in their youth at least, those beyond of the moment which were to a strong tendency to doctrinal speculations in amuse himself or gratify a friend, or illustrate theology; but the relief obtained in their respec- his own and piety narrate his own occupations; tive cases, even by theoretical apprehension of the and who longed again, good-naturedly, to endite truth, was diametrically opposite. In his earlier another in " epistle another frank," with the same letters, which are full of it; and wherever else innocent in view. object he touches on the theme, it is self, religious self, In of and variety topics corresponding variety self-humiliation. that is, unconscious self-compla- EDITOR'S REIVIARKS.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 137

cency; gratitude for gifts of grace, which gifts critically compared with the remains of other imply of course his own gracious experience; and letter-writers differently situated. A very con- most affectionate prayerful concern for the spiritual siderable number also do not rank much higher safety of other men, which means that he and all than mere hurried scrawls about the typographical his are spiritually safe : but apparently, an utter emendations, or editorial accuracy of his works, inability to extend religious sympathy beyond the and are hardly therefore to be dignified with the smallest section of the world, or to see anything, name of letters, although they are included as or at least much, in the wisdom or providence of such among the rest. Of the comparatively small God beyond what may contribute to the temporal number which remain, from a collection amounting to and eternal advantage of the chosen few. These more than five hundred and fifty, and which as are traits and topics which, if they pervaded the letters, in our acceptation of the term, are to be whole of his correspondence, as happily they do compared with other letters, two things with re- not, would fatigue any general reader; and mark spect to their style are first to be considered, the very narrowest phase of complacent pharisaical before any comparisons can be made at all. In childhood. But such was the model religion of the the first place, the sort of language, being at the age, in the midst of abounding social and political commencement of the modern era, is perceptibly corruption, and such the sort of piety in which different from that of Burns or Cowper, who this gifted yet be-clouded soul took refuge. A were the last representatives of an older era : and rebel fancy or two, and some natural longings secondly, the tone being essentially aristocratic, after social endearments unincumbered with re- with the careless dash of nonchalant indifference familiar ligious bigotries and drawbacks are no doubt to about it, insensibly assumed in intercourse be met with, even among these very epistles, which with social inferiors and sometimes dependents, cannot be concluded always in the appropriate with the generous enough purpose of breaking solemn style. But in this respect alone, so great down all conventional barriers between himself a difference appears between him and Burns, that and them, gives an air of ease and readiness to no sort of comparison can be attempted. It is the diction which, in other circumstances, it might all these serious contrast, all. Yet the geniality, the hu- not have retained. With deductions and mility, and godlike charity of Burns are worth a conditions, however, Lord Byron's correspondence is of and thousand such scriptural epistolary disquisitions as the correspondence a great letter-writer, we frequently find in Cowper, and are a thousand exhibits some of the finest specimens of epistolary times better atonement for the very rudeness and composition in the language. licence which here and there appear, than the most To speak farther of its literary characteristics, elaborate declarations of the of selfish with- repentance. % however, monotony complaint of It was our intention at this point to have quoted out cause, and of petulant aspersion his fellow- at some length one other illustrious name, more creatures without end or object, both of which nearly resembling our Author's own than perhaps pervade the whole; and the inexcusable accumu- any other the name of a poet who, like him, was lation of oaths, and occasional use of slang, which an extensive and letter-writer also so much of it, are faults which must spontaneous ; disfigure but as our limits now preclude any lengthened offend the most partial reader. They seem utterly notice, we shall content ourselves with but a brief inconsistent with his own indisputable greatness, reference to Lord Byron. An elaborate notice of and drag the writer down to the level of the Lord Byron's correspondence, indeed, is perhaps mere misanthrope or flash-man on town. A mur- less necessary, inasmuch as a very considerable mur of dissatisfaction with himself or the world number of the numerous letters his lordship Avrote now and then, as we sometimes find in the best were more descriptive journals of travel always writers, would have been natural or excusable in as fre- admirable, with remarks on society in which he him; and a passionate ejaculation such a oath mingled gossipy and shrewd, or diplomatic com- quently occurs in Burns, or even downright or munications with respect to Greece, than letters upon occasion, interjected to relieve his spleen be ex- properly so called, or such at least as could be to give piquancy to a dull theme, might *s [PROSE WORKS.

plained and relished in such a man; but page to the miscellaneous or any other particular portion after page of sneering, of wilful swearing, or of of it; and farther, that in making such comparison petty scandal, with scarcely the relief of a single between him and the highest models of epistolary- tear or the sunshine of a genuine smile is over- writing, we are much disposed to limit our review whelming at once to taste and patience. In two to letters written by him from after the commence- hundred and fifty letters we remember only one ment of his authorship. There are comparatively that afforded ourselves a hearty burst of laughter, few indeed before that date, but they are not to be and not more than a score that rose to the highest compared in general excellence with those which level of dignity or beauty not one of them with were then and subsequently indited. It seemed to pathos. In his journal, indeed, one pathetic touch require the encouragement of decided success to about the unlucky shooting of an eaglet, which liberate his hand, and induce the flow of humour* reminds us much of Burns, appears. and of eloquence by which his correspondence was On the moral secrets these letters unfold we invariably after distinguished. have nothing here to advance. Many a noble deed Of the miscellaneous correspondence now im- of charity and forbearance they record; many an mediately before us setting the letters to Mr. incomprehensible folly, to say the least of it, Graham of Fintry, which, from their special char- they suggest. It is of their literary character- acter, have an importance of their own, aside- istics alone we now speak. All that we see and and looking to the combination of various elements blame, or at least lament, might be affectation: if in the several series, we are inclined to select so, it was in sorrowful taste. But the perceptible those addressed to Mr. Ainslie (which, after all, of want geniality and tenderness, to all but a few is a series very likely incomplete) as the most literary cronies and admiring worshipping friends, characteristic of our Author. The letters of that defaces the beauty of the whole scroll; and we series still preserved to us are all humorous, sigh with dissatisfaction and regret ourselves in natural, and varied humorous and natural, be- the of that very reading it, he who wrote so easily yond the ordinary sense of these terms. The and well, and might have written so delightfully letters to Cunningham, which have more of the if he should would, have understood so little, literary cast about them, without being absolutely after the art all, penman's of human sympathy. literary, are characteristic also, but they are not In of there is in him at so natural whilst those to Nicol have a variety topic, nothing always ; all like Burns; and in appropriate diversity of good deal of exaggerated banter in them not style on this or that theme, as it occurs there rising to perfect humour as those to Ainslie gene- is but little approach to him. The student who rally do, and sometimes oversfe*p~ping the fair reads five carefully letters of Lord Byron's (ex- limitations of banter itself. The letters to Smith, for on cept biographical purposes) has read fifty in in which mirth and humour verge occasionally fact. The topics are his own works and travels, uproar, are excellent specimens of their kind; his extravagancies, his difficulties, and his"" con- whilst those to Richmond, Brown, Brice, and Cand- with a dash of the what one brother indite temporaries, politics ; and style, lish are pretty much might the highest sometimes the lowest style of the in affectionate confidence to another on affairs of with clubs, postscripts out of number. In this the heart, or on prospects in life in which brothers view of the matter, few collections of letters per- only had an interest : those to Richmond, however, could be haps imagined more characteristic or appear to us extremely beautiful in their way, as but reliable; beyond that, as in relation to other specimens of such correspondence. The letters to letter-writers Burns in particular the comparison Ballantyne, Gavin Hamilton, Dalrymple, and others ends. In Burns we have sometimes an oath, and of their standing in society, are necessarily some- sometimes an indecorum but sympathy and sin- what in the style of letters to a patron; but with cerity always, and slang never. such an admixture of freedom and jocularity, never- In these concluding remarks, it is perhaps neces- theless, as to indicate the independence of the to sary observe that they refer to our Author's writer. One at least, of those addressed to Gavin entire at correspondence large, and not exclusively Hamilton, is inimitable in its solemn sarcastic tone; EDITOR'S REMARKS.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 139

and several other individual specimens are con- which has already been piiblished almost entire, and spicuous in their place. The letters to Muir, which both of which we have been kindly permitted to are various, ranging from mere notes of exuberant transcribe for the present edition. to like confessions jocularity something religious But of all the series here represented, that ad- or for a constitute consolatory thoughts dying man, dressed to Mr. Aiken was originally the most what for the -to be seems, unfortunately world, beautiful and perfect. Only three letters, however, a series. One out hopelessly imperfect fragment only of twenty or thirty, to that early friend and we have been able, through the kindness of an patron of our Author's, are now extant; and of esteemed friend and school-fellow, Mr. John Reid these, one now appears for the first time. This of this city, to add to the previous list; the rest, valuable collection, treasured always with the whatever were, we have reason to believe, are utmost care, was surreptitiously removed from irretrievably lost. Their history, which is some^ \ Mr. Aiken's repositories the very year of the Poet's what singular, may be briefly stated. One of our death, and has never since been heard of. The Author's earliest friends was the late William Reid, particulars of this loss we learn from Mr. Aiken's Esq., of Messrs. Brash & Reid, booksellers, Glasgow grandson, P. F. Aiken, Esq., Wallcroft House, a their himself poet. Of friendship we shall here- Bristol, who has politely forwarded us a copy after have some interesting details to record : but of his aunt Miss Aiken's letter to Allan Cunning- as regards the present correspondence, the follow- ham on this, and on some other matters affecting ing statement, on his son's authority, must suffice. the correspondence. Certain erroneous conclusions Muir himself, or members of his family, seem to by Allan Cunningham, with respect to the con- have had some intimate business or other relations tinuance of our Author's friendly relation to Mr. with Mr. William Reid; in consequence of which, Aiken, founded apparently on the want of this not only portions of the correspondence now in correspondence, and other circumstances hereafter but a considerable of question, amount other liter- to be referred to occasioned some just regret, ary property, the remains of our Author, in Muir's if not annoyance, to Miss Aiken; who accordingly possession, came ultimately into Mr. Reid's hands. addressed the letter in question to Mr. Cunning- Some of these pieces found their way to the world ham, July, 1835, to anticipate the second edition by various uncertain channels most probably in of his Life and Works of Burns which letter, Stewart's Glasgow edition of 1801. But the corre- we are sorry to learn, Mr. Cunningham never spondence and other miscellaneous documents were, condescended to answer. So far as the loss of shortly before Mr. Reid's death, accidentally so the correspondence is concerned, the following damaged by water, through an inundation of the quotation from the document now before us will

as to : Clyde,* be not only illegible, but beyond all be interesting hope of restoration. Single fragments recovered heard in the from the mass were carefully preserved, and have Having spring of 1796 that our poor friend was in bad health, we felt how valuable his since from time to time obtained circulation. The very doubly letters would be in the event of his death, and I collected remaining documents, still in Mr. John Reid's pos- them all, and tied them up according to their dates, include laying session, two of the letters to Muir ; one of them away safely, as I then thought, before setting out for Dumfries and Liverpool where my brother Andrew was * of In spring 1831, by the breaking up of the ice on the settled as a merchant, and recently married. At the former above that river came down in Clyde Glasgow, such flood as place I staid some days with my uncle Dr. Copeland, and to all the vessels then in harbour carry from their moorings, one of them my emaciated, but still animated friend, Burns, with much of the breast- together strong work to which they spent delightfully with me there our last meeting! He, 'were made fast. All the houses in Clyde Buildings, where alas, sank rapidly after; and before winter I had much Mr. Reid's then were family resided, inundated several feet communication with Dr. Currie at Liverpool, our friend above the street and the inhabitants had to level, employ and medical man, as to his proposed work : and finding ladders the second from storey windows to obtain egress. A a want of letters, and knowing there were few so favour- since in course of pillar, removed improvements, was erected able, to the Poet's memory as those to my father, I wrote the by Clyde Trustees at Yoker, opposite Renfrew, to mark to him to send them by the mail. On going to the place the of the inundation height there. Date of flood, Tuesday, where the parcel had been deposited, it was gone ! and 1831. February 8, although every exertion was made then and often since to LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

could trace them discover and recover the Letters, we never ; considering the delicacy of the writer's position and we were forced to conclude that a of some gay youth in asking or acknowledging so many favours, we genius, then a clerk of my Father's, had secretly taken hold to be one of the most perfect compositions them to peruse, and my demand coming unexpectedly he of its kind own in could not restore and so had destroyed them, as he soon after (his included) any language. contain refutations left his situation and tho country, and died some years Of those which refer to, and after without making any discovery. I merely, Sir, state of, the calumnious charges so frequently made these circumstances to to that there was no in- you, prove against the writer, about the time of the French terruption in the correspondence between Burns and my had * * * Revolution, one letter we have already father. (9) occasion to lament as unworthy of his own dignity, The correspondence, thus lost, extended over a and could wish almost it had never been indited; period of ten years, and never ceased till Burns but the other which follows on the same subject, had been long in Dumfriesshire. It is described and written manifestly with more composure, is a by Miss Aiken elsewhere in the same letter, as clear, manly, and unexceptionable document, which " beautiful, pure and interesting." How an attest- those who have been accustomed to traduce his ation of this kind so honourable to all honestly conduct or his reputation, in this matter, would do concerned, and so important to the credit of well dispassionately to consider. For this valuable Burns's memory, should have been contemptu- series, originally most incomplete, the world is ously ignored by Mr. Cunningham, we are much indebted to the editorial care of Mr. Chambers, at a loss to imagine unless he had some theory through whose instrumentality it was first made of his own to maintain, which evidence so un- known, in its present form, to the public. impeachable would have overthrown. This, in- Among the remaining documents in this depart- deed, seems to have been the case, as we shall ment, with special biographical interest attached, hereafter see. In the meantime, it may be ob- we cannot conclude these general remarks without served that the very letter to Mr. Aiken pub- directing our readers' attention to one now for lished by Cunningham himself (2) in our edition the first time published, which throws much and of this series and misplaced by him, demonstrates long desiderated light on the social and financial the inaccuracy of his own conclusion; and if far- difficulties of our Author's later years. The true ther evidence were required, letter (3), now for source of these pecuniary troubles, and of the the first time presented to the public, corroborates humiliating embarrassments connected with them, Miss Aiken's testimony and finishes the argument. so often obscurely referred to, or misapprehended Of the letters to Graham of Fintry, already and misrepresented to his disadvantage, the letter alluded to as of being special peculiar interest, we (1) to Captain John Hamilton most beautiful and have farther now to add that they are in many affecting in its manly avowal of inability and dis- respects, both literary and biographical, among tress, originating in the purest generosity, in a the most important in the whole of our Author's great measure adequately explains. What the correspondence. Mr. Graham was not only a true full amount of the disastrous obligation referred literary friend to whom therefore many episto- to might be, we are not informed, and who the lary poetical effusions, as well as prose letters, very person was to whom it had been incurred were addressed; but he was also a generous pro- we can only conjecture; but that it was enough fessional patron, whose influence at the board of to originate a debt which was never discharged, to Excise, procure promotion where possible, or to we know, and enough to bring a cloud of despon- represent the true facts of the case when defence dency on the writer's mind for the brief remaining accusations against injurious was required, was of portion of his life, we see. For such opportune the utmost value; and to this much honoured in- elucidation of this painful subject as the letter in fluential in both friend, these relations, our Author question affords, and for the light which it reflects had frequent occasion to address himself. The at last on the whole of that period long so dark, letters are all of the very highest rank as episto- we, and all true friends of the Poet's memory, are one of lary compositions ; them, indeed letter (5) indebted to Mr. Manners of Croydon. : ff-;..-. CORRESPONDENCE.

him. He still stands out and : but (i.) JtTv. John against steady denying proof was led yesternight of circumstances highly suspicious : EDINBURGH. almost de facto, one of the servant girls made faith that she upon a time rashly entered the house to speak in your cant, Pel. 1786. " Mossgiel, 17, in the hour of cause." MY DEAR SIR, I have waited on Armour since her return home ; not from I HAVE not time at to for silence present upbraid you your any the least view of reconciliation, but merely to ask for her and I shall I received with neglect; only say yours great health and to you I will confess it from a foolish hankering I have enclosed a piece of ware for pleasure. you rhyming fondness very ill placed indeed. The mother forbade me the I have been with the Muses since your perusal. very busy house, nor did Jean show the penitence that might have been I saw you, and have composed, among several others, "The expected. However, the priest, I am informed, will give me a Ordination," a poem on Mr. M'Kinlay's being called to Kil- certificate as a single man, if I comply with the rules of the marnock; "Scotch Drink," a "The Cotter's Saturday poem; church, which for that very reason I intend to do. "An Address to the Devil," &c. I have likewise Night;" I am going to put on sack-cloth and ashes this day. I am completed poem on the but have not shown it my "Dogs," indulged so far as to appear in my own seat. Peccavi, pater; to the world. My chief patron now is Mr. Aiken, in Ayr, miserere mei. My book will be ready in a fortnight. If you who is pleased to express great approbation of works. my have any subscribers, return them by Connel. The Lord Be so good as send me Fergusson, by Connel, and I will stand with the righteous : Amen, anien ! remit you the money. I have no news to acquaint you with E. B. about Mauchline, they are just going on in the old way. I have some very important news with respect to myself, not the most agreeable news that I am sure you cannot guess, ME. but I shall give you the particulars another time. I am (3.) TO JOHN EICHMOND. extremely happy with Smith; he is the only friend I have Old Forest* 30th 1786. now in Mauchline. I can scarcely forgive your long neglect Rome. July, of me, and I beg you will let me hear from you regularly by MY DEAR EICHMOND, meet in Connel. If you would act your part as a friend, I am sure MY hour is now come you and I will never weeks at neither good nor bad fortune should strange or alter me. Britain more. I have orders, within three farthest, the from to Excuse haste, as I got yours but yesterday. to repair aboard Nancy, Captain Smith, Clyde and to call at to our friend I am, my dear Sir, yours, Jamaica, Antigua. This, except E. B. Smith, whom God long preserve, is a secret about Mauchline. "Would you believe it ? Armour has got a warrant to throw me in jail till I find security for an enormous sum. This they keep an entire secret, but I got it by a channel they little dream of; and I am wandering from one friend's house to another, and, like a true son of the "have no where (2.) TO ME. JOHN EICHMOND. gospel, to head." I know will an execration on EDINBURGH. lay my you pour her head, but spare the poor, ill-advised girl, for my sake; though may all the furies that rend the injured, enraged Mossgiel, 9th July, 1786. lover's bosom, await her mother until her latest hour ! I MY DEAR FRIEND, write in a moment of rage, reflecting on my miserable situ- WITH the sincerest grief I read your letter. You are truly ation exiled, abandoned, forlorn. I can write no more let a son of misfortune. I shall be extremely anxious to hear me hear from you by the return of coach. I will write you from you how your health goes on; if it is in any way re- ere I or if Leith well in go. establishing, promises ; short, how you I am, dear Sir, feel in the inner man. Yours here and hereafter, No news worth was in the any thing: only godly Bryan E. B. inquisition yesterday, and half the country-side as witnesses * [Near Kilmarnock.] 142 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

(40 TO ME. JOHN EICHMOND. [Mr. Kennedy, afterwards factor to the Earl of Breadalbane, occupied at this time some office in a similar department at Dumfries House, residence of Patrick, last Earl of Dumfries his and it ; from whom, by only daughter heiress, accrued, 1th 1787. Mossgiel, July, together with extensive estates, to the family of Bute. The house itself was built MY DEAR EICHMOND, by Jean Armour's grandfather, and is situated about half-way between Auchinleck and of such I AM all impatience to hear of your fate since the old Ochiltree. The generosity on our Author's part of risking the safety a treasure as the "Cotter's Saturday Night," without the security of a duplicate, confounder of right and has turned out of place, wrong you for the gratification of a comparative stranger, may well excite astonishment, and by his journey to answer his indictment at the bar of the certainly requires no commentary.] other world. He will find the practice of the court so differ- ent from the practice in which he has for so many years been thoroughly hackneyed, that his friends, if he had any con- nections truly of that kind, which I rather doubt, may well tremble for his sake. His chicane, his left-handed wisdom, (20 TO ME. JOHN KENNEDY. which stood so firmly by him, to such good purpose, here, 20th 1786. like other accomplices in robbery and plunder, will, now the Mossgiel, April, piratical business is blown, in all probability turn king's SIR, BY some in Mr. I did not hear of evidence, and then the devil's bagpiper will touch him off neglect Hamilton, your " kind for a 'till this I will Bundle and go !" request subscription paper day. not for nor the manner If he has left you any legacy, I beg your pardon for all attempt any acknowledgment this, in which I see name in Mr. Hamilton's this; if not, I know you will swear to every word I said your subscription about him. list. Allow me only to say, Sir, I feel the weight of the debt. I have lately been rambling over by Dumbarton and I have here enclosed a small the latest Inveraray, and running a drunken race on the side of Loch likewise piece, very with a his of productions.* I am a deal with some Lomond wild Highlandman ; horse, which had my good pleased sentiments as are the native never known the ornaments of iron or leather, zigzagged myself, they just querulous of a as the across before old spavin'd hunter, whose name is feelings heart, which, elegantly melting Gray my Jenny " has marked for her own." Geddes, and down came the Highlandman, horse and all, and says, melancholy down came and so I such a Our race comes on that scene of Jenny my hardship ; have got a-pace; much-expected and mirth but to me it no to that skinful of bruises and wounds, that I shall be at least four revelry ; brings joy equal with which last flattered the weeks before I dare venture on my journey to Edinburgh. meeting your expectation of, indebted humble Not one new thing under the sun has happened in Mauch- Sir, your Servant, Hne since left it. I this will find as E. B. you hope you comfortably * " [Lines To a Mountain Daisy."] situated as if so formerly, or, heaven pleases, more ; but, at all events, I trust you will let me know of course how matters stand with you, well or ill. 'Tis but poor consolation to tell the world when matters but go wrong ; you know very well your connection and mine stands on a different footing. (3.) TO. ME. JOHN KENNEDY. I am ever, my dear friend, yours, E. B. Mossyiel, 16th May, 1786. [The young friend to whom these letters are addressed was originally a clerk in DEAR SIR, Mr. Hamilton's office at Mauchline. He removed afterwards to his pursue legal I sent the as I studies in where he HAVE you above hasty copy promised. In Edinburgh ; received Burns on his first visit to the capital, in his own humble apartment, Baxter's Close, Lawnmarket. Burns shared both about three or four weeks I shall probably set the press room and bed, and seems to have been on terms of with his brotherly friendship a-going. I am much hurried at present, otherwise your correspondent.] diligence, so very friendly in my subscription, should have a more lengthened acknowledgment from, Dear Sir, your obliged Servant, E. B. (i.) Jttr. John DUMFRIES HOUSE.

Mossgiel, 3rd March, 1786. (4.) TO ME. JOHN KENNEDY. SIR, I HAVE done myself the pleasure of complying with your Kilmarnock, [August,~\ 1786. request in sending you my Cottager. If you have a leisure MY DEAR SIR, I should be minute, glad you would copy it, and return me YOUR facetious of the 3rd inst. me much either the truly epistle gave original or the transcript, as I have not a copy of entertainment. I was only sorry I had not the pleasure of it by me, and I have a friend who wishes to see it. seeing you as I passed your way, but we shall bring up all our "Now, Kennedy, if foot or horse, &c." leeway on Wednesday, the 16th current, when I hope to have EOBT. BURNESS. it in my power to call on you and take a kind, very probably IP GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 143

a last : I orders I believe all of abortive but adieu, before I go for Jamaica and expect hopes staying at home will be ; to repair to Greenock every day. I have at last made my more of this when, in the latter part of next week, you shall public appearance, and am solemnly inaugurated into the be troubled with a visit from, my dear Sir, numerous class. Could I have got a carrier, you should Your most devoted, have had a score of vouchers for but now E. B. my authorship; * [Copy of "Tbe Calf."] you have them, let them speak for themselves.

Farewell, dear friend ! may guid luck hit you,

And 'mang her favorites admit you ! If e'er Detraction shore to smit you,

nane believe him ! May (3.) TO ME. EOBEET MUIE. And ony de'il that thinks to get you, Good Lord deceive him. Mossgiel, 18th Nov., 1786. E. B. MY DEAR SIR, INCLOSED you have "Tarn Samson," as I intend to print him. I am thinking for my Edinburgh expedition on Mon- day or Tuesday come se'ennight, for pos. I will see you on (10 Mv. l&crberi Mun, Tuesday first. I am ever, your much indebted, KILMARNOCK. E. B.

Mossgiel, 20th March, 1786. DEAR SIR, I AM heartily sorry I had not the pleasure of seeing you as returned Mauchline but as I was you through ; engaged, (4.) [TO ME. EOBEET MUIE.] I could not be in town before the evening. I here enclose you my "Scotch Drink," and "may the MY DEAR SIR, follow with a blessing for your edification." I hope, I DELAYED writing you till I [was] able to give you some * some time before we hear the gowk, to have the pleasure of rational account of [myself] and my affairs. I am got under seeing you at Kilmarnock, when I intend we shall have a the p[atronage] of the Duchess of Gordon, Countess Dowager between in a which will bo a of Pro- gill us, mutchkin-stoup ; great of Glencairn, Sir John Whitefoord, the Dean Faculty, comfort and consolation to, fessors Blair, Stewart, Gre[gory] and several others of the Dear Sir, your humble Servant, noblesse and literati. I believe I shall begin at Mr. Creech's EGBERT still as to BURNESS. as [publisher]. I am undetermined the future; * think of it. I have now neither house [The cuckoo is heard in this country, for the first time in the season, in the and, as usual, [ne]ver month of April.] nor home that I can call my own, but live on the world at on the road to large. I am just a poor wayfaring Pilgrim wanderer and in a Parnassus ; thoughtless sojourner strange kind letter from Mr. A. land. [I] received a very Dalziel, thanks and him I will for which return him my ; [tell] (2.) TO ME. EOBEET MUIE, please in a or two. Mr. Dr. KILMARNOCK. write him day Parker, Charles, Corsan, I remember in and honest John [Wilson ?] quondam printer, when I in rhyme. To all of [whom], till I Mossgiel, Friday Morning, [Sept. ? 1786.] my prayers pray MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER, have an opportunity WARM recollection of an absent friend presses so hard Edinr., loth Dec., 1786. upon my heart, that I send him the prefixed bagatelle,* how honest-hearted and pleased with the thought that it will greet the man of my I forgot to tell you [Andrew?] * * She is of the bosom, and be a kind of distant language of friendship. [his wife?] Matty [no]blest * * * * You will have heard that poor Armour has repaid me Creator's fine a double. A very boy and girl have awakened a thought no but -which from the [The above fragment, which has address, manifestly, in to this we and feelings that thrill, some with tender pleasure and some names and references which occur it, belongs series, carefully from in of our friend John Reid, Esq., Kingston Place, with foreboding anguish, through my soul. print original possession to for this and other similar favours we have again to record Glasgow ; whom, The was an on poem nearly extemporaneous production, a our acknowledgments. In consequence of this letter, Mr. Muir seems to have wager with Mr. Hamilton, that I would not produce a poem interested himself on behalf of the Edinburgh edition, which is acknowledged in In the next letter, in our Author's affectionate but independent manner. filling on the subject in a given time. up the blanks (occasioned, as we have already explained how, p. 139,) the only If think it worth read it to Charles and doubt are those in the sentence but you while, Mr. W. two about which we have any concluding ; we are much disposed to believe that the parties alluded to are Andrew Bruce and Parker, and if choose a of it, it is at their service, they copy letter who seem to have his wife, or some other female relative, mentioned in (6), as are whose I shall be they men friendship proud to claim, been well known to the Kilmarnock folk, and to whose cave, it appears, the letters is but both in this world and that which is to come. for Burns from Kilmarnock were addressed. So much, however, conjecture.] LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS

TO MR. ROBERT MUIR. (5.) TO MR. EGBERT MUIR. (7.)

Edinburgh, Dec. 20th, 1786. Mossgiel, 1th March, 1788. MY DEAR FRIEND, I HAVE partly changed my ideas, my dear friend, since I I received saw I took old Glenconner with me to Mr. Miller's I HAVE just time for the carrier, to tell you that you. a lass and he was so with that I have wrote an your letter; of which I shall say no more but what farm, pleased it, her bastard wean she said she offer to Mr. if he I shall sit down a of my acquaintance said of ; Miller, which, accepts, "did na ken wha was the father exactly, but she suspected plain farmer the happiest of lives when a man can live by it. In this shall in a week. it was some o' the bonny blackguard smugglers, for it was case I not stay Edinburgh above I set out on like them." So I only say your obliging epistle was like you. Monday, and would have come by Kilmarnock, affair of but there are small for first edition I enclose you a parcel of subscription bills. Your several sums owing me my like about Galston and and I shall set off so as to sixty copies is also like you: but it would not be me Newmills, early business reach I to comply. dispatch my and Glasgow by night. When Your friend's notion of my life has put a crotchet in my return, I shall devote a forenoon or two to make some kind of for all I head of sketching it in some future epistle to you. My acknowledgment the kindness owe your friendship. and comfort at compliments to Charles and Mr. Parker. Now that I hope to settle with some credit E. B. home, there was not any friendship or friendly correspondence that promised me more pleasure than yours; I hope I will not be disappointed. I trust the spring will renew your shattered frame, and make your friends happy. You and I have often agreed that life is no great blessing on the whole. The close of life, indeed, to a reasoning eye, is

(G.) TO MR. ROBERT MUIR. " Dark as was chaos, ere the infant sun Was roll'd together, or had try'd his beams Athwart the Stirling, 2Gth August, 1787. gloom profound." MY DEAE SIR, But an honest man has nothing to fear. If we lie down I INTENDED to have written you from Edinburgh, and now in the grave, the whole man a piece of broke machinery, write you from Stirling to make an excuse. Hero am I, on to moulder with the clods of the valley, be it so; at least my way to Inverness, with a truly original, but very worthy there is an end of pain, care, woes, and wants : if that part man, a Mr. Nicol, one of the masters of the High School in of us called Mind does survive the apparent destruction of Edinburgh. I left Auld Reekie yesterday morning, and have the man away with old-wife prejudices and tales! Every besides passed, by-excursions, Linlithgow, Borrowstounness, has a different set of stories and as age and every nation had ; Falkirk, and here am I undoubtedly. This morning I knelt the many are always weak, of consequence, they have often, at the tomb of Sir John the Graham, the gallant friend of perhaps always, been deceived: a man conscious of having the immortal Wallace; and two hours ago I said a fervent acted an honest part among his fellow-creatures even grant- prayer for Old Caledonia, over the hole in a blue whinstone, ing that he may have been the sport at times of passions where Robert de Bruce fixed his royal standard on the banks and instincts he goes to a great unknown Being, who could I of Bannockburn ; and now, from Castle, have just Stirling have no other end in giving him existence but to make him seen the sun the of the by setting glorious prospect windings him those and instincts, and well happy ; who gave passions of Forth the rich carse of and the through Stirling, skirting knows their force. of Falkirk. are equally rich carse The crops very strong, but are ideas and I know These, my worthy friend, my ; they so late, that there is no harvest, except a ridge or two very are not far different from yours. It becomes a man of sense in ten miles, all the way I have travelled from perhaps to think for himself; particularly in a case where all men Edinburgh. are equally interested, and where indeed all men are equally I left Andrew Bruce and all well. I will be at family in the dark. least three weeks in making my tour, as I shall return by These copies of mine you have on hand : please send ten the and have to call for. coast, many people of them to Mr. John Ballantine, of the Bank in Ayr; for best to Charles, our dear kinsman and My compliments the remainder, I'll write you about them from Glasgow. fellow-saint; and Messrs. W. and H. Parkers. I hope Adieu, my dear Sir ! God send us a chearful meeting Hughoc is going on and prospering with God and Miss ROBT. BURNS. M'Causlin.

If I could think on I should let is us from any thing sprightly, you [This letter, important in many ways, printed by original copy now The hear every other post; but a dull, matter-of-fact business, in possession of Mr. John Reid, Kingston Place, Glasgow. external address is to Mr. Robert Muir, wine merchant, Kilmarnock, and it is probably the last like this scrawl, the less and seldomer one writes the better. letter now extant (as already explained) of those addressed by our Author to Among other matters-of-fact I shall add this, that I am that col-respondent. How long Mr. Muir survived after this date, we are not at able to determine. That his death, however, had taken and ever shall be, my dear Sir, present place sometime, perhaps shortly, before the month of December, 1789, appears from letter (24) to Your so that several now to be obliged, Mrs. Dunlop (p. 21) ; letters, supposed lost, may have R. B. been addressed to him during this interval.] GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.]

of it in (i.) disappointed my second edition, as not having my power to show my gratitude to Mr. Ballantine, by publishing [VERBATIM.] " my poem of The Brigs of Ayr." I would detest myself as DEAR SIR, a wretch, if I thought I were capable in a very long life of I RECEIVED jour kind letter with double pleasure, in* forgetting the honest, warm, and tender delicacy with which account of this second nattering instance of Mrs. G.'s notice he enters into my interests. I am sometimes pleased with and I assure I in sensations but I on the approbation. you myself my grateful ; believe, whole, I " have very little merit in it, as is not a virtue, Turn out the orunt side o' my shin," my gratitude the consequence of reflection, but sheeiiy the instinctive as the famous Kamsay of jingling memory says, at such a emotion of my heart, too inattentive to allow worldly maxims Patroness. Present her most my grateful acknowledgements, and views to settle into selfish habits. in your very best manner of telling Truth. I have inscribed I have been feeling all the various rotations and move- the stanza on blank following the leaf of Miss More's works : ments within, respecting the Excise. There are many things Thou flatt'ring mark of friendship kind, &c.f plead strongly against it; the uncertainty of getting soon into business the of ; consequence my follies, which may My proposals for publishing I am just going to send to the perhaps make it impracticable for me to stay at home; press. I expect to hear from you first opportunity. and besides, I have for some time been pining under secret I am ever, dear Sir, yours, wretchedness, from causes which you pretty well know EOBT. BURNESS. the pang of disappointment, the sting of pride, with some id, 3rd April, 1786. wandering stabs of remorse, which never fail to settle on vitals like when attention is not called * in my vultures, away [So, original, distinctly possibly hy mistake for on.] calls + [See Posthumous Poetical Works.] by the of society or the vagaries of the Muse. Even need our [We hardly remind readers that Mr. Aiken was the esteemed friend in the hour of social is an " mirth, my gaiety the madness of and patron to whom The Cotter's Saturday Night" was inscribed. He seems to intoxicated criminal under the hands of the executioner. All have been a man of most amiable disposition, of fine taste, and of the highest honour. To his review many of our Author's earliest productions were sub- these reasons urge me to go abroad, and to all these reasons mitted, and he ensured a sort of publicity for these by the admirable manner in I have only one answer the feelings of a father. This, in which he read or recited them to his own friends 'in private. He was in this " the mood I am overbalances that respect peculiarly entitled to be called the Patron of the Poet's Virgin Muse" present in, every thing for to our Author's own "Mr. * * * * according account, Aiken read me into fame." can be laid in the scale against it. Mr. Aiken died at Ayr, March 24, 1807. You may perhaps think it an extravagant fancy, but it The above letter, by kind permission, we print from the original, which is now in of Mr. Edward Broadfield of this is sentiment possession city, who received it from a Mr. a which strikes home to my very soul: though James M'Creadie, Ayr, about 14 years ago that about 1854. Its is, history sceptical in some points of our current belief, I think we to is not yet, beyond this, regret say, now known ; but the letter has been folded I have evidence for the of a life the and docketed in the usual business style every reality beyond stinted bourne of our existence if Mossgiel : present ; so, then how 3d April, 1786. should I, in the presence of that tremendous Being, the: R. Burns to Author of how should 1 meet the of Mr. Aiken. existence, reproaches those who stand to me in the dear relation of We are thus for reasons the children, whom particular which reader can now understand, in that some I deserted in the of ? hopes intelligence may possibly be obtained of letters still awanting smiling innocency helpless infancy Oh in this important series.] thou great unknown Power ! thou Almighty God ! who hast lighted up reason in my breast, and blessed me with immor- tality ! I have frequently wandered from that order and regularity necessary for the perfection of thy works, yet thou * * * * hast never left me nor forsaken me ! (2.) TO ME. EOBEET AIKEN. Since I wrote the foregoing sheet, I have seen something of the storm of mischief thickening over my folly-devoted little Oct. 6 ? [A after 1786.] head. Should you, my friends, my benefactors, be suc- SIR, cessful in your applications for me, perhaps it may not be I WAS with Wilson, printer, t'other and settled all in in my day, my power, that way, to reap the fruit of your friendly our by-gone matters between us. After I had him all paid efforts. What I have written in the preceding pages, is the demands, I made him the offer of the second on edition, the settled tenor of my present resolution; but should inimical hazard of being paid out of the first and readiest, which he circumstances forbid me closing with your kind offer, or declines. his the of a thousand * * * * By account, paper copies enjoying it only threaten to entail farther misery would cost about twenty-seven and the tell pounds, printing To the truth, I have little reason for complaint; as about fifteen or sixteen : he offers to agree to this for the the in has world, general, been kind to me fully up to my printing, if I will advance for the paper, but this, I you know, deserts. was, for some time past, fast getting into the is out of so farewell my power ; hopes of a second edition till pining, distrustful snarl of the misanthrope. I saw myself I grow richer! an epocha which I think will arrive at the unfit for alone, the struggle of life, shrinking at every rising payment of the British national debt. cloud in the chance-directed atmosphere of fortune, while There is scarcely any thing hurts me so much in beino- all defenceless I looked about in vain for a cover. It never

>JG ^^m i) g 146 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS

occurred to me, at least never with the force it deserved, that fame as a Poet to a height which I am absolutely certain for I have not merits to and I look down on the this world is a busy scene, and inan a creature destined support ; future I a progressive struggle; and that, however I might possess as would into the bottomless pit. I an a warm heart and inoffensive manners (which last, by the You shall have one or two more bills when have of bye, was rather more than I could well boast), still, more opportunity a Carrier. I than these passive qualities, there was something to be done. am ever, When all my school-fellows and youthful compeers (those with the sincerest gratitude, misguided few excepted who joined, to use a Gentoo phrase, Honored Sir, " " the hallachores of the human race) were striking off with Your most devoted humble servt., eager hope and earnest intent in some one or other of the EGBERT BURNS. Edinr., 16th Dec., 1786. many paths of busy life, I was "standing idle in the market- place," or only left the chase of the butterfly from flower to * * * [Addressed Mr. Robert Aiken, Writer, Ayr. This letter, which came to light flower, to hunt from whim to whim. the fancy in Glasgow at the centenary celebration of the Poet's birth, was acquired for in You see, Sir, that if to know one's errors were a proba- late James Crum, Esq., of Busby, a devout admirer of his genius. It appears this collection the courteous of Mr. Crum's widow with the I stand a fair chance by permission ; and, of them, ; but according bility mending letter exception of the following (4) is presumably the only remaining extant to the Westminster conviction must reverend divines, though of the series addressed to Mr. Aiken. There is certainly no appearance of any precede conversion, it is very far from always implying it. diminution of respect or gratitude towards Mr. Aiken on the writer's part in either.]

[In the conjectural date of this imperfect letter we adopt Mr. Chambers's suggestion. It was manifestly written at least after the settlement of accounts with Wilson and the proposal for a new edition made to him, to which it refers. In Cunningham's edition, although no date except the year is assigned to this letter, the letter itself is placed in order between June 12 and July 9, which is obviously incorrect, because the first edition of the Poems had not then been published; and on the contents of a letter assumed by him to have been written (40 TO EGBERT AIKEN, ESQ., Bums to Mr. Ballantine also but in order before by (1), without date, July 17, AYR. and certainly before publication of the Poems, he formed the supposition that some "coldness" had occurred between Burns and Mr. Aiken. The above letter to that gentleman, so full of gratitude and confidence, absolutely disproves [MaucUine, July, 1787.] the truth of such If did it must any supposition. "coldness" ever exist, have MY HONORED been short, and easily removed which, in Burns's mind at least, would have FRIEND, been a kind of moral impossibility. Compare note on above letter to Ballantine.] THE melancholy occasion of the foregoing poem affects not only individuals but a country. That I have lost a friend is but repeating after Caledonia. This copy, rather an incorrect one, I beg you will accept, till I have an oppor- tunity in person, which I expect to have on Tuesday first, of assuring you how sincerely I ever am, Honored and dear Sir,

(3.) TO ME. EOBEET AIKEN. Your oft oblidged, EOBT. BURNS.

DEAR PATRON OF MY VIRGIN MUSE, MR. H 's Office, I WROTE Mr. Ballantine at large all my operations and Saturday Evening. "eventful story," since I came to town. I have found in letter which we with from in Mr. P. F. Aiken's Mr. Creech, who is my agent forsooth, and Mr. Smellie [This print, thanks, original possession (Bristol), was written most probably in the beginning of July, who is to be that honor and of heart my printer, goodness from Mr. Hamilton's office, Mauchline. The poem it enclosed was the Elegy on which I always expect in Mr. Aiken's friends. Mr. Dal- Sir J. H. Blair, Bart., who died on the 1st of July, 1787. Burns, wherever else he might be in the interval, spent the month of July at Mauchline, from which he rymple of Orangefield I shall ever remember: Lord my returned again to Edinburgh in the beginning of August. The Elegy, therefore, Glencairn I shall ever pray for. The Maker of man has must have been written in the meantime. (Compare note on Elegy Posthumous Poetical Works.) Along with the above document we receive from Mr. Aiken great honor in the workmanship of his lordship's heart. the following interesting statement in reference to the lost correspondence be- he find that and in his May patronage protection guardian tween our Author and Robert Aiken, Esq. : that I " It was not as addressed to his I angel have found in him! His lordship has sent a pre-eminently valuable, only being early, and, believe, his constant friend and patron, but because, as his best poems were suc- parcel of subscription bills to the Marquiss of Graham, with cessively written, they were sent to my grandfather in whose friendship and orders to them filled downright get up with all the first literary taste Burns had confidence; and each letter was, in some degree, the on his own of the Scottish names about Court. He has likewise wrote to Poet's commentary composition, descriptive circumstances by which it was suggested, and the feelings which prompted or influenced it. One the Duke of and is about to write to the Montague Duke cannot but deplore the loss of such an accompaniment to The Cotter's Saturday of Portland for their Graces' interest in behalf of the Scotch Night, Tarn o' Shanter, The Mouse, &c." The Lost Correspondence, restored only to the extent of a we now commit to the affectionate solicitude and Bard's subscription. single letter, research of our readers everywhere, in Great Britain and America. If it any- You will honored very probably think, my friend, that where yet exists, let it be forthcoming. The above letter, we may add, comes to a hint about the hand after our editorial p. 139, are in mischievous nature of intoxicated vanity remarks, type.]

not be unseasonable alas ! may ; but, you are wide of the mark. Various concurring circumstances have raised my

- GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 147

TO ME. JAMES SMITH, Mr. j (2.) AT MILLER AND SMITH'S OFFICE,' LINLITHGOW. WRITER, AYR. Mauchline, llth June, 1787. nth 1786. Mossgiel, April, MY EVER DEAR SlR, IT is some those hearts that injuring hearts, elegantly I DATE this from Mauchline, where I arrived on Friday bear the impression of the good Creator, to say to them you for even last. I slept at John Dow's, and called my daughter ; I them the trouble of a friend ; for this reason, give obliging and and brother ; Mr. Hamilton family ; your mother, sister, only tell you that I gratify own feelings in requesting been my my quondam Eliza, &c., all, all well. If any thing had your friendly offices with respect to the enclosed, because I wanting to disgust me completely at Armour's family, their know it will gratify yours to assist me in it to the utmost of mean, servile compliance would have done it. your power. : Give me a spirit like my favorite hero, Milton's Satan I have sent you four copies, as I have no less than eight Hail, horrors! hail, dozen, which is a- -great deal more than I shall ever need. Infernal world ! and thou profoundest hell Be sure to remember a poor poet militant in your prayers. Receive thy new possessor ! one who brings A mind not to be changed by place or time ! He looks forward with fear and trembling to that, to him, important moment which stamps the die with with with, I cannot settle to my mind. Fanning, the only thing of but little perhaps the eternal disgrace of, my dear Sir, which I know any thing, and heaven above knows, Your humbled, afflicted, tormented, do I understand of that, I cannot, dare not risk on farms as I EOBT. BURNS. they are. If I do not fix, I will go for Jamaica. Should stay in an unsettled state at home, I would only dissipate my little fortune, and ruin what I intend shall compensate my little ones, for the stigma I have brought on their names. more at soon as this letter costs I shall write you length ; (1.) Jtt0njs. Janus Smith, you no postage, if it be worth reading you cannot complain of MATTCHLINE. your penny-worth. I am ever, my dear Sir, yours, Monday Morning, Mossgiel [1786], E. B. MY DEAR SIR, I WENT to Dr. Douglas yesterday, fully resolved to take P.S. The cloot has unfortunately broke, but I have pro- the opportunity of Captain Smith : but I found the Doctor vided a fine buffalo-horn, on which I am going to affix the with a Mr. and Mrs. White, both Jamaicans, and they have same cypher which you will remember was on the lid of deranged my plans altogether. They assure him that to the cloot.* send me from Savannah la Mar to Port Antonio will cost * [A calf's cloot, polished and ornamented, was a favourite snuff-box in those my master, Charles Douglas, upwards of fifty pounds; be- days.] Chambers's edition of this letter differs considerably from above, which is sides running the risk of throwing myself into a pleuritic [Mr. nearly Cunningham's.] fever, in consequence of hard travelling in the sun. On these accounts, he refuses sending me with Smith, but a vessel sails from Greenock the first of September, right for the place of my destination. The Captain of her is an inti- TO ME. JAMES mate friend of Mr. Gavin Hamilton's, and as good a fellow (3.) SMITH, could I to as heart wish ; with him am destined go. Where LINLITHGOW. I shall shelter, I know not, but I hope to weather the storm. June 30, 1787. of blood of fears I Perish the drop mine that them ; know [MY DEAR FRIEND,] their worst, and am prepared to meet it : our at a " ON return, Highland gentleman's hospitable I'll laugh, an' sing, an' shake my leg, mansion, we fell in with a merry party, and danced till As lang's I dow." the ladies left us, at three in the morning. Our dancing On Thursday morning, if can muster as much self- you was none of the French or English insipid formal move- denial as to be out of bed about seven o'clock, I shall see ments; the ladies sung Scotch songs like angels, at inter- you as I ride through to Cumnock. After all, Heaven bless vals; then we flew at Bab at the Bowster, Tullochgorum, ! is still the sex I feel there happiness for me them : among Loch Erroch Side, &c., like midges sporting in the mottie

' O woman ! Heaven woman, lovely designed you sun, or craws prognosticating a storm in a hairst day. To temper man! we had been brutes without you." When the dear lasses left us, we ranged round the bowl E. B. till the good-fellow hour of six; except a few minutes that our readers are doubtless was the friend to whom the [James Smith, aware, we went out to pay our devotions to the glorious lamp of celebrated Epistle by our Author is addressed : Compare note on which, Poetical over the of Benlomond. We all Works, p. 96.] day peering towering top kneeled; our worthy landlord's son held the bowl; each man some a full glass in his hand; and I, as priest, repeated LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

1 rhyming nonsense, like Thomas-a-Khymer's prophecies sayings, and why my mare was called Jenny Geddes, they shall be in a hence at in suppose. After a small refreshment of the gifts of Somnus, recorded few weeks Linlithgow, reach we proceeded to spend the day on Lochlomond, and the chronicles of your memory, by B. Dumbarton in the evening. We dined at another good E. fellow's house, and consequently pushed the bottle; when Chambers that Mr. resident at Dumfries we went out to mount our horses, we found ourselves "No [Mr. conjectures Kennedy, formerly House, but now probably removed to this neighbourhood, had introduced our vera fou but two friends and I rode gaylie yet." My Author to this hospitable society; and that Mr. M'Aulay of Dumbarton -was soberly down the Loch side, till by came a Highlandman certainly one of his entertainers.] had at the gallop, on a tolerably good horse, but which never known the ornaments of iron or leather. We scorned to be out-galloped by a Highlandman, so off we started, whip and spur. My companions, though seemingly gaily fell astern but old mounted, sadly ; my mare, Jenny Geddes, one of the Eosinante family, she strained past the High- in of all his efforts with the hair halter. landman spite (4.; TO ME. JAMES SMITH, Donald wheeled his as Just as I was passing him, horse, AVON PRINTFIELD, LINLITHGOW. if to cross before me to mar my progress, when down came his horse, and threw his rider's breekless a e in a clipt Mauchline, April 28, 1788. hedge; and down came Jenny Geddes over all, and my BEWARE of your Strasburgh, my good Sir ! Look on this hardship between her and the Highlandman' s horse. Jenny as the opening of a correspondence, like the opening of a Geddes trode over me with such cautious reverence, that twenty-four gun battery ! matters were not so bad as might well have been expected; There is no understanding a man properly, without know- so I came off with a few cuts and bruises, and a thorough ing something of his previous ideas (that is to say, if the man resolution to be a of for the future. pattern sobriety has ideas for I in the animal-muster any ; know many, who I have yet fixed on with to the serious nothing respect pass for men, that are the scanty masters of only one idea business of life. I am, just as usual, a rhyming, mason- on any given subject, and by far the greatest part of your making, raking, aimless, idle fellow. However, I shall some- acquaintances and mine can barely boast of ideas, 1'25 1'5 where have a farm soon. I was going to say, a wife too; 1'75 or some such fractional matter); so to let you a little but that must never be my blessed lot. I am but a younger into the secrets of my pericranium, there is, you must know, son of the house of Parnassus, and like other younger sons a certain clean-limbed, handsome, bewitching young hussy of great families, I may intrigue, if I choose to run all of your acquaintance, to whom I have lately and privately risks, but must not marry. given a matrimonial title to my corpus. I am afraid I have almost ruined one the source, principal " Bode a robe and -wear it,"* one, indeed, of my former happiness that eternal propensity

I had to fall in love. heart no more the wise old Scots ! I hate to ill-luck always My glows with says adage presage ; feverish rapture. I have no paradisaical evening interviews, and as my girl has been doubly kinder to me than even the stolen from the restless cares and prying inhabitants of this best of women usually are to their partners of our sex, in * weary world. I have only *. This last is one of your similar circumstances, I reckon on twelve times a brace of distant has a fine and children I celebrate twelfth these acquaintances, figure, elegant manners ; against my wedding-day: and, in the train of some great folks whom you know, has twenty-four will give me twenty-four gossipings, twenty-four seen the politest quarters in Europe. I do like her a good christenings (I mean one equal to two), and I hope, by the deal; but what piques me is her conduct at the commence- blessing of the God of my fathers, to make them twenty-four ment of our acquaintance. I frequently visited her when I dutiful children to their parents, twenty-four useful members was in and after the of and servants of their ! , passing regularly intermediate society, twenty-four approven God degrees between the distant formal bow and the familiar ***** round grasp the waist, I ventured, in my careless way, to "Light's heartsome," quo' the wife when she was stealing talk of in rather terms and after You see what a I have to friendship ambiguous ; her sheep. lamp hung up lighten your return to - I wrote to are , her in the same style. Miss, paths, when you idle enough to explore the combinations construing my words farther than even I intended, flew off and relations of my ideas. 'Tis now as plain as a pike-staff, in a of female tangent dignity and reserve, like a mounting why a twenty-four gun battery was a metaphor I could readily lark in an April morning; and wrote me an answer which employ. measured me out very completely what an immense way I Now for business. I intend to present Mrs. Burns with a had to I travel before could reach the climate of her favour. printed shawl, an article of which I dare say you have But I am an old hawk at the sport, and wrote her such a variety : 'tis my first present to her since I have irrevocably cool, deliberate, prudent reply, as brought my bird from called her mine, and I have a kind of whimsical wish to get her aerial towerings, pop, down at my foot, like Corporal her the said first present from an old and much-valued friend hat. Trim's of hers and mine, a trusty Trojan, on whose friendship I count As for the rest of * my acts, and my wars, and all my wise myself possessed of a life-rent lease.

' 'SLVA/ GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.]

" " Look on this letter as a beginning of sorrows; I'll write (2.) TO ME. DAVID BEICE, till ache with you your eyes reading nonsense. SHOEMAKER, GLASGOW. Mrs. Burns ('tis only her private designation) begs her best to compliments you. Mossgiel, llth July, 1786. B. E. I HAVE been so Poems, that I could * throng printing my [The entire proverbial couplet runs scarcely find as much time as to write to you. Poor Armour " Bode a robe and wear it, is come back again to Mauchline, and I went to call for her, Bode a poke and bear it :" and her mother forbade me the house, nor did she herself " 1" but as the writer did not wish to presage ill-luck, he only the pleasant quotes express much sorrow for what she has done. I have already first half of it at least so, according to Cromek, whose edition we take to in the be correct.] appeared publicly in church, and was indulged liberty of standing in my own seat. I do this to get a certificate as a bachelor, which Mr. Auld has promised me. I am now fixed to go for the West Indies in October. Jean and her friends insisted much that she should stand along with me

in the kirk, but the minister would not allow it, which bred (i.) Jftt. Batoib Urice. 10 a great trouble I assure you, and I am blamed as the cause of I sure I innocent but I am much it, though am am ; very June 1786. Mossgiel, 12, pleased, for all that, not to have had her company. I have DEAR BRICE, no news to tell you that I remember. 1 am really happy to I RECEIVED G. and as I your message by Paterson, am hear of your welfare, and that you are so well in Glasgow. I not at I write to let know very throng present, just you must certainly see you before I leave the country. I shall that there is such a as worthless, rhyming reprobate, your expect to hear from you soon, and am, humble servant, still in the land of the I can living, though Dear Brice, yours, scarcely say, in the place of hope. I have no news to tell E. B. you that will give me any pleasure to mention, or you to hear. Poor ill-advised ungrateful Armour came home on Friday last. You have heard all the particulars of that affair, and a black affair it is. What she thinks of her conduct now, I don't know; one I do know she has made me com- thing [FROM CUNNINGHAM'S EDITION.] pletely miserable. Never man loved, or rather adored, a to woman more than I did her ; and, confess a truth between I do still (I-) 10 J0hn you and me, love her to distraction after all, though I won't tell her so if I were to see her, which I don't want to OF AYR. do. My poor dear unfortunate Jean ! how happy have I been in thy arms ! It is not the losing her that makes me so un- HONOURED SIR, to last and that happy, but for her sake I feel most severely : I foresee she is MY proposals came hand night, knowing * in the road to, I am afraid, eternal ruin. you would wish to have it in your power to do me a service I enclose half a sheet of them. I May Almighty God forgive her ingratitude and perjury to as early as any body, you first on the of send- me, as I from my very soul forgive her : and may his grace must consult you, opportunity, propriety a If he is be with her and bless her in all her future life ! I can have ing my quondam friend, Mr. Aiken, copy. now no nearer idea of the place of eternal punishment than what reconciled to my character as an honest man, I would do it felt in all soul but I would not be beholden to the noblest I have my own breast on her account. I have tried with my ;

: if he to be a rascal. often to forget her I have run into all kinds of dissipation being ever God created, imagined me and riots, mason-meetings, drinking-matches, and other mis- Apropos, old Mr. Armour prevailed with him to mutilate it? chief, to drive her out of my head, but all in vain. And now that unlucky paper yesterday. Would you believe I not a nor a to for a grand cure : the ship is on her way home that is to take though had hope, even wish, make her mine after her when he told me the names me out to Jamaica ; and then, farewell dear old Scotland ! and conduct; yet, all of the heart died within and he farewell dear ungrateful Jean ! for never, never will I see you were out paper, my me, more. cut my veins with the news. Perdition seize her falsehood ! You will have heard that I am going to commence Poet in E. B. print; and to-morrow my works go to the press. I expect invite the reader's attention to the note. it will be a volume of about two hundred pages it is just the We special folloiving last foolish action I intend to do and then a ; turn wise man [This letter, which has neither date nor address, and is most probably a mere Allan as as scroll, seems to have been discovered by Cunningham, who, without hesita- fast possible. " tion, allocates it to Mr. Ballantine, and prefixes the following note : There is Believe me to dear be, Brice, a plain account in this letter of the destruction of the lines of marriage which Your friend and well-wisher, united, as far as civil contract in a matter civil can, the Poet and Jean Armour. Aiken was and in of his advice the certificate of E. B. consulted, consequence marriage was destroyed." With reference to which allegation, Miss Aiken, in the letter already quoted (p. 139) addressed to Mr. Cunningham, says LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

" mind the I was much distressed by the impression left on the public by patrons and patronesses are the Duchess of Gordon the and believed to have been addressed 18th letter in the 6th volume, without date Countess of Glencairn, with Lord, and the have written to you my Lady Betty to my relative Mr. Ballantine; and would immediately of work been published before Dean of Sir John Whitefoord. I have likewise on the subject, had not the last volume your Faculty that I learnt from cousins, the Misses I saw it. It was only yesterday my warm friends among the literati; Professors Stewart, Blair, is now in the and I hope to Stewart of Afton, that a second edition press, and Mr. Mackenzie the Man of An unknown hand of 6th volume that I am sure Feeling. anticipate the re-publication your by stating, and unless I saw left no such letter as the above was received by Mr. Ballantine, ten guineas for the Ayrshire bard with Mr. Sibbald, Poet. I cannot believe that it was ever written by the Because, the autograph which I got. I since have discovered my generous unknown his account for all his Mr. however grieved my father was on irregularities, if his friend to be Patrick Miller, brother to the Justice Aiken had no knowledge of or interest in the Armours, even principles Esq., which was could have allowed him to be a party in any such transaction, Clerk; and drank a glass of claret with him, by invitation, never was in their friendship impossible. Besides, as there any interruption at his own house I am with the to yesternight. nearly agreed or correspondence, Bums could not have applied phrase quondam friend the note* that were no correspondents Creech to book, and I I will on my father, and your idea in they longer print my suppose begin * The sacred motive which prompts this communi- is quite a mistake. Monday. I will send a subscription bill or two, next post; I sufficient will, with a man of your feeling, be hope apology for, Sir, cation, when I intend first kind Mr. Aiken. I Yours, &c. writing my patron, GRACE AIKEN." Ayr, 6th July, 1833. saw his son to-day, and he is very well. Dugald Stewart, and some of my learned friends, put me Allan Cunningham, we regret to say, neither acknowledged this communication, of in the called The a of which nor made any correction of his text in consequence. The only explanation periodical paper Lounger, copy the document in to this neglect we can imagine is, that believing question I here enclose you. I was, Sir, when I was first honored of his own its he be genuine, and having founded some theory upon contents, be and with your notice, too obscure; now I tremble lest I should did not feel disposed to withdraw it. But the document might genuine written in error been so written in error, was therefore never be ruined too into the of yet ; and, having by being dragged suddenly glare it intended in which nor even addressed, to the party for whom was ; case, sent, polite and learned observation. it ceased to be a document at all in the cause to which it referred, and should honored write never have been founded on for any conclusion whatever. Mr. Cunningham ought I shall certainly, my ever patron, you an at least to have added a mark of interrogation to the address of the letter, or to account of and better health and more my every step ; spirits have placed the address in brackets, to intimate its absence or uncertainty in enable me to make it something better than this stupid the original. Compare concluding note to this series. may We are thus particular, because Mr. Chambers, influenced apparently by the matter-of-fact epistle. boldness of Allan not adopts his view but speaks Cunningham's assumption, only I have the honor to be, Sir, n. and good of Mr. Aiken as having "presided on the occasion" (vol. 201) ; because, Your ever humble until present evidence came before us, we were ourselves (Biography p. xxv.) grateful servant, of the same opinion. The whole affair seems now to be an apocryphal myth, E. B. originating in the Poet's own misapprehension, or in some angry threat of Mr. Armour's in which Mr. Aiken' s name might be incautiously used to perplex and punish him. This we believe to be the simple truth regarding Burns's If any of my friends write me, my direction is, care of which never and never could be dissolved such marriage, was, by any irregular Mr. Creech, bookseller. proceeding, even if it had been adopted which it was not, although the Poet in believed it the thus his passionate frenzy had ; and conviction, originated, has been confirmed and circulated by mere reiteration to the present day. It should [The reader may compare this letter with letter (4) to Mr. Robert Muir, and also now cease, unless supported by other and much clearer evidence.] with letter (3) to Mr. Aiken. They contain many similar expressions, and have * succession. here [See note on letter (2) to Mr. Aiken.] been written all in immediate The Lady Betty alluded to was Lady Betty Cunningham : and the paper alluded to was the review of our ' Author's poems by Mackenzie the celebrated author of the Man of Feeling.']

[FROM CROMEK'S EDITION.] TO JOHN (20 BALLANTINE, ESQ., (3.) TO JOHN BALLANTINE, ESQ. BANKER, AYR. Edinburgh, Jan. 14, 1787. Edinburgh, l'3th Dec., 1786. MY HONORED FRIEND, MY HONORED FRIEND, IT gives me a secret comfort to observe in myself that I WOULD not write you till I could have it in my power to I am not yet so far gone as Willie Gaw's Skate, "past " some account of and for I have still this favorable of give you myself my matters, which, by redemption ; symptom the is often no lye, easy task. I arrived here on Tuesday was grace, that when my conscience, as in the case of this and suffered se'nnight, have ever since I came to town with a letter, tells me I am leaving something undone that I miserable head-ache and stomach complaint, but am now a ought to do, it teazes me eternally till I do it. deal better. I found a good have worthy warm friend in I am still "dark as was Chaos" in respect to futurity. Mr. of Dalrymple, Orangefield, who introduced me to Lord My generous friend, Mr. Patrick Miller, has been talking Glencairn, a man whose worth and brotherly kindness to with me about a lease of some farm or other in an estate I shall me remember, when time shall be no more. By his called Dalswinton, which he has lately bought, near Dum- interest it is in the " passed Caledonian Hunt," and entered fries. Some life-rented embittering recollections whisper me in their that books, they are to take each a copy of the second that I will be happier any where than in my old neigh- for which edition, they are to pay one guinea. I have been bourhood, but Mr. Miller is no judge of land; and though introduced to a of the good many Noblesse, but my avowed I dare say he means to favor me, yet he may give me, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

in His name is in most modern editions in the last but in the his opinion, an advantageous bargain that may ruin spelt with y syllable ; older editions, and by our Author himself, as well as by Miss Aiken his own me. I am to take a tour by Dumfries as I return, and have relative, the name is spelt otherwise, and we have retained it accordingly in promised to meet Mr. Miller on his lands some time in May. these letters as it was written Ballantine. This circumstance, although trivial, is strong enough that letter as where the I went to a Mason-lodge yesternight, where the most proof (1) published by Cunningham is name printed with a y, had either no address at all, or was not addressed by Grand Master and all the Grand Worshipful Charters, Lodge our Author. Compare Gilbert Burns's account of Mr. Ballantine, in Appendix. of Scotland visited. Mr. who lived a died at The meeting was numerous and elegant ; Ballantine, bachelor, Ayr, July 15, 1812.] all the different Lodges about town were present, in all their pomp. The Grand Master, who presided with great solemnity and honor to himself as a gentleman and mason, among " other general toasts, gave Caledonia, and Caledonia's Bard, Brother B ," which rung through the whole assembly with multiplied honors and repeated acclamations. As I (10 Hr. had no idea such a would thing happen, I was downright MAUCHLINE. thunderstruck, and, trembling in every nerve made the ENCLOSING THE VERSES ON DINING WITH best return in my power. Just as I had finished, some of LORD DAER. the grand officers said, so loud that I could hear, with a most comforting accent, "Very well indeed!" which set October ? me something to rights again. Wednesday Morning, [End of 1786.] DEAR SIR, I have to-day corrected my Io2d page. My best good I NEVER an afternoon folks with half wishes to Mr. Aiken. I am ever, Dear Sir, spent among great that as in with I had the Your much indebted humble Servant, pleasure when, company you, honor of R. B. paying my devoirs to that plain, honest, worthy man, the Professor.* I would be delighted to see him per- form acts of kindness and friendship, though I were not the object; he does it with such a grace. I think his character, divided into ten parts, stands thus four parts Socrates four parts Nathaniel and two parts TO JOHN ESQ. (4.) BALLANTINE, Shakspeare's Brutus. The foregoing verses were really extempore, but a little [January , 1787.] corrected since. They may entertain you a little with the WHILE here I sit, sad and solitary by the side of a fire help of that partiality with which you are so good as to in a little country inn, and diying my wet clothes, in pops a favor the performances of, poor fellow of a sodger, and tells me he is going to Ayr. By Dear Sir, your very humble Servant, heavens ! I to with a tide of which say myself, good spirits R. B. the magic of that sound, Auld Toon o' Ayr, conjured up, I will send last to Mr. Ballantine. Here it is * my song [Dugald Stewart, Esq., who resided then at his own villa of Catrine, in the * neighbourhood of Mauchline. Burns and Mr. M'Kenzie, surgeon in Mauchline Ye banks o' bonnie &c. flowery Doon, a man universally respected there, dined together at the Professor's on the * 23rd of October, 1786. "Lord Daer," the Professor informs us, "happened to [See Posthumous Poetical Works.] arrive at Catrine the same day, and by the kindness and frankness of his manner, left an impression on the mind of the Poet which was never effaced." This was the first occasion of our Author's meeting either with his Lordship or the Pro- fessor. Compare note on the Verses.]

(50 TO JOHN BALLANTINE, ESQ.

Feb. 1787. Edinburgh, 24, (2.) TO DR. MACKENZIE, MY HONORED ERIEND, MAUCHLINE.

I WILL soon be with you now, in guid black prent ; in a week or ten at farthest. I am. days obliged, against my Edinburgh, llth January, 1787. to subscribers' so if of own wish, print names; any my MY DEAR SIR, friends have must be sent in to Ayr subscription bills, they YOURS gave me something like the pleasure of an old Creech I am done an eminent directly. getting my phiz by friend's face. I saw your friend and my honored patron, if it can be in I ; and ready time, will in engraver appear my Sir John Whitefoord, just after I received your letter, and book, like other to looking fools my title-page. gave him your compliments. He was pleased to say many R. B. handsome things of you, which I heard with the more satis- faction as I knew them to be just. [John Ballantine, Esq., to whom "The Brigs of Ayr" was dedicated, was a His son John, who calls on is in a banker and for sometime provost in that town a gentleman held in the highest very frequently me, estimation for his many excellent qualities, both as a citizen and as a magistrate. fuss to-day like a coronation. This is the great day the LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

assembly and ball of the Caledonian Hunt; and John has I always remember Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Kennedy in had the good luck to pre-engage the hand of the beauty- my poetic prayers, but you both in prose and verse. famed, and wealth-celebrated Miss M'Adam, our country- May cauld ne'er catch you but a hap, woman. Between friends, John is desperately in for it there, Nor hunger but in plenty's lap ! and I am afraid will be desperate indeed. Amen! I am sorry to send you the last speech and dying words * " [These lands, the property of the Loudoun family, were disposed of by public of The Lounger." roup in Edinburgh, Dec. 5th, of this year. The Earl, as our readers are aware, had A gentleman waited on me yesterday, and gave mo, by perished some months before by an act of despair, in consequence of embarrass- " ment. note on Poetical Works, 260.] Lord Eglinton's orders, ten guineas by way of subscription Compare song Raving Winds," &c., p. [We need hardly direct our readers' attention to the strange truthful prophecy for a brace of of second edition. copies my of fame which occurs in this letter.] I met with Lord Maitland* and a brother of his to-day at breakfast. They are exceedingly easy, accessible, agreeable fellows, and seemingly pretty clever. I am ever, my dear Sir, Yours, TO GAVIN ESQ. ROBERT BURNS. (20 HAMILTON,

* [Afterwards eighth Earl of Lauderdale, at this time a conspicuous member of Edinburgh, Jan. 7, 1787. the House of Commons, on the side of Opposition.] To tell the truth among friends, I feel a miserable blank in my heart, with the want of her, and I don't think I shall ever meet with so delicious an armful again. She has her

faults so and I and so has : ; and have you ; every body

craft daft Their tricks and hae put me ; They've ta'en me in and a' that; (i.) But clear your decks, and here's the sex,

MAUCHLINE. I like the jads for a' that : For a' that and a' that,

Edinburgh, Dec. 1th, 1786. And twice as muckle's a' that. HONORED SIR, I HAVE paid every attention to your commands, but can I have met with a very pretty girl, a Lothian farmer's only say what perhaps you will have heard before this reach daughter, whom I have almost persuaded to accompany you, that Muirkirklands were a John Gordon, bought by me to the west country, should I ever return to settle W.S., but for whom I know not; Mauchlands, Haugh-Miln, there. By the bye, a Lothian farmer is about an Ayrshire &c.,* by a Frederick Fotheringham, supposed to be for Bal- squire of the lower kind; and I had a most delicious ride lochmyle Laird, and Adamhill and Shawood were for bought from Leith to her house yesternight, in a hackney-coach, Oswald's folks. This is so an and will be imperfect account, with her brother and two sisters, and brother's wife. We so late ere it reach you, that were it not to discharge my had dined all together at a common friend's house in Leith, conscience I would not trouble with but after all you it; and danced, drank, and sang till late enough. The night diligence I could make it no sooner nor better. my was dark, the claret had been good, and I thirsty. I For my own affairs, am in a fair way of becoming as E. B. eminent as Thomas a Kempis or John Bunyan; and you may expect henceforth to see my birth-day inserted among the wonderful events, in the Poor Robin's and Aberdeen Almanacks, along with the black Monday, and the battle of Bothwell bridge. My Lord Glencairn and the Dean of (3.) TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ. Faculty, Mr. H. Erskine, have taken me under their wing ; and all by probability I shall soon be the tenth worthy, Edinburgh, March 8, 1787. and the eighth wise man of the world. Through my lord's DEAR SIR, influence it is inserted in the records of the Caledonian Hunt, YOURS came safe, and I am, as usual, much indebted to that they universally, one and all, subscribe for the second your goodness. Poor Captain Montgomery is cast. Yester- edition. My subscription bills come out to-morrow, and you day it was tried whether the husband could proceed against shall have some of them next post. I have met, in Mr. the unfortunate lover without first divorcing his wife; and of Dalrymple, Orangefield, what Solomon emphatically calls their gravities on the bench were unanimously of opinion "A friend that sticketh closer than a brother." The warmth that M may prosecute for damages directly, and need

: with which he interests himself in my affairs is of the same not divorce his wife at all if he pleases. O all kind enthusiastic which you, Mr. Aiken, and the few patrons ye Powers of love unfortunate, and friendless wo, pour the that took notice of my earlier poetic days showed for the poor balm of sympathising pity on the grief-torn, tender heart of a unlucky devil poet. of the hapless fair one ! GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.") OF ROBERT BURNS.

two on Miss W. Alexander and Miss She is at first but as better My songs P[eggy] particularly. reserved ; we grew K[ennedy] were likewise tried yesterday by a jury of literati, acquainted, I was delighted with the native frankness of hex- and found libels the fastidious defamatoiy against powers manner, and the sterling sense of her observation. Of Char- of and Taste ; and the author forbidden to them lotte I cannot is Poesy print speak in common terms of admiration ; she under of forfeiture of I not pain character. cannot help almost only beautiful but lovely. Her form is elegant; her a tear to the cost shedding memory of two songs that had features not regular, but th'ey have the smile of sweetness me some I pains, and that valued a good deal; but I must and the settled complacency of good nature in the highest submit. degree; and her complexion, now that she has happily re- My most respectful compliments to Mrs. Hamilton and covered her wonted health, is equal to Miss Burnet's. After Miss Kennedy. the exercise of our riding to the Falls, Charlotte was exactly unfortunate Dr. My poor songs come again across my memory. Donne's mistress :

D[amn] the pedant, frigid soul of criticism for ever and ever ! -" Her pure and eloquent blood R. B. Spoke in her cheeks, and so distinctly wrought, That one would almost say her body thought." [The case of divorce, or no-divorce with penalties, above referred to, was one that seems to have occasioned a good deal of scandal at the time, not without Her are at once of eyes fascinating ; expressive good sense, for the A handsome estate would have been lost if sympathy lady. divorce had and a noble mind. been sued for that tenderness, ; plea, therefore, was abandoned, and penalties alone enforced. The ' I do not all songs mentioned as being considered unsuitable for publication, were The give you this account, my good Sir, to flatter Bonnie Lass of and 'Banks o' Doon.' notes on Ballochmyle," Compare Songs, you. I mean it to reproach you. Such relations the first Poetical Works, p. 294, andjp. 270.] peer in the realm might own with pride; then why do you not keep up more correspondence with these so amiable young folks ? I had a thousand questions to answer about you. I had to describe the little ones with the minuteness of anatomy. They were highly delighted when I told them that John was (40 TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ. so good a boy, and so fine a scholar, and that Willie was going on still I it tell very pretty ; but have in commission to her Stirling, 28th August, 1787. from them that beauty is a poor silly bauble, without she MY DEAR SIR, be good. Miss Chalmers I had left in Edinburgh, but I HERE am I on my way to Inverness. I have rambled had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Chalmers, only Lady over the rich, fertile carses of Falkirk and Stirling, and Mackenzie being rather a little alarmingly ill of a sore throat am delighted with their appearance : richly waving crops somewhat marred our enjoyment. I shall of wheat, barley, &c., but no harvest at all yet, except, in not be in Ayrshire for four weeks. My most re- one or two places, an old wife's ridge. Yesterday morning spectful compliments to Mrs. Hamilton, Miss Kennedy, and I rode from this town up the meandering Devon's banks, Doctor Mackenzie. I shall probably write him from some to pay my respects to some Ayrshire folks at Harvieston. stage or other. I am ever, Sir, After breakfast, we made a party to go and see the famous Yours most gratefully, Caudron-linn, a remarkable cascade in the Devon, about five E. B. miles above Harvieston and after one of the ; spending most [Mrs. Hamilton, the stepmother of Gavin Mrs. Chalmers and the deceased I Mrs. Tait of were sisters the children of Murdoch of Cumlodden in pleasant days ever had in my life, I returned to Stirling Harvieston, Galloway, the representative of a gallant peasant who had got lands for the help in the evening. They are a family, Sir, though I had not he gave to Bruce on a perilous occasion. Mr. Tait, being left a widower, invited tie had any prior though they had not been the brothers his sister-in-law, Mrs. Hamilton, with her children, to reside at Harvieston; Mrs. Chalmers also lived there in summer and sisters of a certain generous friend of mine I would occasionally with her daughters one of whom was Margaret, and the other the wife of Sir Hector Mackenzie. The never them. I am told have not seen forget you them these Charlotte alluded to in the letter was Mrs. Hamilton's daughter. We summarise several years, so you can have very little idea of what these the above information from Chambers.] young folks are now. Your brother is as tall as you are, but slender rather than otherwise ; and I have the satis- faction to inform you that he is getting the better of those consumptive symptons which I suppose you know were him. His and his threatening make, particularly manner, (5.) TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ. resemble you, but he will have a still finer face. (I put in the word to Mrs. Good still, please Hamilton.) sense, modesty, {Edinburgh, Dec., 1787.] and at the same time a just idea of that respect that man MY DEAR SIR, owes to and has a in his turn to man, right exact, are IT is indeed with the highest pleasure that I congratulate features in his what with is striking character; and, me the you on the return of days of ease, and nights of pleasure, and he has a heart that adorn the Alpha Omega, might after the horrid hours of misery in which I saw you suffering breast of a Grace has a and the look of existence when last in I seldom for poet! good figure, Ayrshire ; pray any body, health but else and cheerfulness, nothing remarkable in her "I'm baith dead-sweer and wretched ill o't;" but most fer- person. I scarcely ever saw so striking a likeness as is vently do I beseech the Power that directs the world, that her and little the between your Beenie; mouth and chin you may live long and be happy, but live no longer than *U 154 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

are It is needless for me to advise to have you happy. you (i.) John a reverend care of your health. I know you will make it a OF XNOCKSHINNOCH : point never at one time to drink more than a pint of wine (I mean an English pint), and that you will never be witness [OTHERWISE OF AFTON.] to more than one bowl of at a and that cold punch time, SIR, drams will never more above all I you taste; and, things, I GRATEFULLY thank you for your kind offices in pro- am that after convinced, drinking perhaps boiling punch, moting my subscription, and still more for your very you will never mount horse and gallop home in a chill your friendly letter. The first was doing me a Favour, but the late hour. Above all as I understand are in the things, you last was doing me an Honour. I am in such a bustle at habits of with that of intimacy Boanerges gospel powers, present, preparing for my West-India voyage, as I expect Father Auld, be earnest with him that he will wrestle in a letter every day from the Master of the vessel, to repair for that see the of vanities in prayer you, you may vanity directly to Greenock; that I am under a necessity to re- to, or even the carnal moral works of trusting practising turn you the subscription bills, and trouble you with the and of charity, .humanity, generosity, forgiveness things, quantum of Copies till called for, or otherwise transmitted which you practised so flagrantly that it was evident you de- to the Gentlemen wh have subscribed. Mr. Bruce Campbell in or lighted them, neglecting, perhaps profanely despising, is already supplied with two copies, and I here send you 20 the wholesome doctrine of faith without the works, only copies more. -If any of the Gentlemen are supplied from of salvation. of in [means] A hymn thanksgiving would, other 'tis no matter the can be returned. any quarter, ; copies be from at and my opinion, highly becoming you present, If orders from Greenock do not hinder, I intend doing my- in zeal for I on to my your well-being, earnestly press you self the honour of waiting on you, Wednesday the 16th Inst. be in over the two enclosed of diligent chaunting pieces I am much hurt, Sir, that I must trouble you with the sacred poesy. My best compliments to Mrs. Hamilton and circumstanced as I I know no other Copies ; but am, way Miss Yours in the L Kennedy. d, your friends can be supplied. E. B. I have the honour to be, SIR, Your much indebted humble Servt., EGBERT BURNS.

KILMARNOCK, 10th Aug : 1786.

(6.) TO [ME. GAVIN HAMILTON.] [By the above letter, which we print from original in possession of Miss Logan (Mr. John Logan's eldest daughter, residing at Bishopscleugh, Lockerbie), ob- tained for us by the obliging assistance of her cousin, G. Gemmell, Esq., banker, Mossgiel, Friday Morning. Ayr, it appears that our Author had been much earlier acquainted with Mr. THE of refusal is to me the most difficult language language Logan than is commonly supposed. The letter itself is written in a very close, of a on earth, and you are the man in the world, excepting one plain, formal hand, smaller than usual, and has all the appearance being in 'clean copy.' It has a few orthographical slips, as is very often the case 'clean of Honorable to it the Eight designation,* whom gives me till copies,' and it has had spaces originally left blank for a day or two, days, greatest pain to hold such language. My brother has already dates and numbers could be settled. In the interval, we may imagine the Author over and the or bundling them up got money, and shall want nothing in my power to enable young counting allotting 'copies,' for despatch, before leaving his native land. The blanks, filled up with different him to fulfil his with but to be engagement you ; security ink on the 10th of August, are as follows, 20 in large figures; Wedensday on so large a scale, even for a brother, is what I dare not crowded a little and so spelt in haste; 16th straight up and down; 10th without intervening comma and close to Kilmarnock. Subscription as our do, except I were in such circumstances of life as that the readers observe in one case, wants an s, and necessity, in original, has an worst that could not me. to his usual is spelt with a u in might happen greatly injure too many ; honour contrary custom, formally We to trace these curious of over-care I never wrote a letter which gave me so much pain in my last syllable throughout. delight proofs and over-sight, and dwell on them as records of the past with reverence and life, as I know the : I shall incur unhappy consequences love. The Bruce Campbell here referred to was of Sornbeg near Galston, but the displeasure of a gentleman for whom I have the highest no relative of the Thomas Campbell whose name occurs immediately below; from the letter to whom it should seem that the above engagement, in which respect, and to whom I am deeply obliged. I am ever, Sir, also Mr. at Dumfries House compare letter (4) to him was concerned, Your and humble Kennedy, obliged very Servant, was never fulfilled.] EGBERT BURNS.

* [The Earl of Gleneairn is no doubt here referred to.] tune after [Some the date of this letter, and before he settled in Dumfriesshire, our Author advanced from the proceeds of his poems the sum of 180 to Gilbert, to maintain him in the farm, and as some acknowledgment of the filial obligation on himself a which devolved as member of the family. The money was understood (2.) TO JOHN LOGAN, ESQ. to be a loan without interest. See Domestic Correspondence.] OF AFTON.

Ellisland, near Dumfries, 7th Aug., 1789. DEAR SIR, I INTENDED to have written you long ere now, and as [The follmoing series to Logan and Campbell should have been I told you, I had gotten three stanzas and a half on my earlier placed, had the necessary documents been to hand.] way in a poetic epistle to you; but that old enemy of GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

all the threw me into a good ivorJcs, Devil, prosaic mire, Jftr. SEilliam Chalmers, and for the soul of me I cannot get out of it. I dare not AYR. write you a long letter, as I am going to intrude on your WRITER, time with a long Ballad. I have, as you will shortly see, finished "The Kirk's Alarm;" but now that it is done, Edinburgh, Dec. 27, 1786. MY DEAR and that I have laughed once or twice at the conceits in FRIEND, I CONFESS I sinned the sin for some of the stanzas, I am determined not to let it get have which there is hardly to in not into the Public; so I send you this copy, the first I have any forgiveness ingratitude friendship writing but of all men I had to sent to Ayrshire, except some few of the stanzas, which you sooner; living, intended have sent an I wrote off in embryo for Gavin Hamilton, under the ex- you entertaining letter; and by all the plodding, that in conceited press provision and request that you will only read it to a stupid powers, nodding, majesty, preside over the dull routine of business a solemn oath few of us, and do not on any account give, or permit to heavily this ! I and have ever since I to be taken, any copy of the Ballad. If I could be of any am, been, came Edinburgh, as unfit to write a letter of humor, as to write a service to Dr. M'Gill, I would do it, though it should be commentary on the Revelation of St. John the who was banished at a much greater expence than irritating a few bigotted Divine, to the Isle of the cruel and Priests; but as I am afraid, serving him in his present Patmos, by bloody Domitian, son to brother embarras is a task too hard for me. I have enemies enow, Vespasian, and to Titus, both emperors of and was himself an God knows, tho' I do not wantonly add to the number. Borne, who emperor, and raised the second or third I the Still, as I think that there is some merit in two or three persecution, forget which, against and after the said brother of the thoughts, I send it you as a small but sincere testi- Christians, throwing Apostle John, to the called James the mony how much, and with what respectful esteem, I am, Apostle James, commonly Greater, to him from another dear Sir, distinguish James, who was, on some account or the of Tour oblidged humble servant, other, known by name James the Less EOBT. BURNS. after throwing him into a cauldron of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved, he banished the poor son of [This letter, as the preceding, we print from original in Miss Logan's possession.] Zebedee to a desert island in the Archipelago, where he was gifted with the second sight, and saw as many wild beasts as I since I have seen came to Edinburgh ; which, a circum- stance not very uncommon in story-telling, brings me back to where I set out. Monzv. Campbell, To make you some amends for what, before you reach this paragraph, you will have suffered, I enclose you two poems PENCLOE. I have carded and spun since I past Glenbuck. One blank in the address to Edinburgh "Fair B ," is [12th August? 1786.] heavenly Miss Burnet, daughter to Lord Monboddo, at whose MY DEAR SIR, house I have had the honor to be more than once. There has I HAVE met with few men in life whom I more wished my not been anything nearly like her in all the combinations of to see than you, and Chance seems industrious to dis- again beauty, grace, and goodness the great Creator has formed me of that I came here appoint pleasure. yesterday fully since Milton's Eve on the first day of her existence. resolved to see and Mr. at New Cumnock ; but a you Logan, My direction is Care of Andrew Bruce, Merchant, Bridge of circumstances me. conjuncture conspired against Having Street. a I it. an opportunity of sending you line, joyfully embraced E. B. It is perhaps the last mark of our friendship you can receive from me on this side of the Atlantic. to the of Farewel ! May you be happy up wishes parting

Friendship ! EOBT. BURNS. ^lr. James Canblijsh, MR. J. MERRY'S, Saturday Morn. STUDENT IN PHYSIC, COLLEGE, GLASGOW. in of New [This letter we print from original possession George Pagan, Esq., obtained for us by the same obliging hand as the above. It has been Cumnock, March 1787. in haste is on a small of but folded, Edinburgh, 21, manifestly written ; square scrap paper, duly and sealed with an old-fashioned cipher-seal on red wax, too much broken to be MY EVER DEAR OLD ACQUAINTANCE, It bears on the address to be forwarded Mr. Good : now perfectly legible. per and at letter I WAS equally surprised pleased your ; though and seems to refer very plainly to the agreement to meet Mr. Logan at New think so to to Cumnoek, on Wednesday, 16th August. It was therefore probably written on I dare say you will by my delaying long write that and at New Cumnock for Mr. the Saturday before day, itself; Merry's you, that I am. so drowned in the intoxication of good fortune public-house (Anne Rankine's husband, heroine of the 'Rigs o' Barley') was in as to be indifferent to old, and once dear connections. The that town. The Poet was most likely called away before the engagement could be sentence stood at first: "but fulfilled. A blot in the original proves all this the truth is, I was determined to write a good letter, full of argu- at New Cumnock, a conjuncture, &c." ment, amplification, erudition, and, as Bayes says, all that. Mr. Pagan, we may mention, in whose possession this letter now is, was a of and of but for I can nephew of Mr. Logan's of Afton, and a near kinsman to Mr. Campbell of Pencloe.] I thought it, thought it, my soul, WORKS. 156 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE

mistake the cause of silence, SK.S. not : and, lest you should my ^Tr. militant Bun bar, I sit down to tell you so. Don't give yourself credit, EDINBURGH. just (i.) scares me : the truth though, that the strength of your logic to on that at all. You is, I never mean meet you ground Lawnmarket, Monday Morning. me one which was to be demonstrated; have shown thing DEAR SIR, of that of reasoning, with a little affectation that there is strong pride IN justice to Spenser, I must acknowledge mislead the best of hearts. I, likewise, since could have been a more singularity, may scarcely a poet in the language old and I were first in the pride of despising to allow me you acquainted, agreeable present to me; and in justice you, women's stories, ventured in "the daring path Spinosa trod;" a man in to say, Sir, that I have not met with Edinburgh but of the weakness, not the strength, of human for the experience to whom I would so willingly have been indebted made me glad to grasp at revealed religion. I herewith and powers, gift. The tattered rhymes present you, but don't to a cause. I must stop, impute my brevity wrong the handsome volumes of Spenser for which I am so much I am in the Paul's "The old man with be not in still, Apostle phrase, indebted to your goodness, may perhaps pro- the his deeds," as when we were sporting about "Lady that as it portion to one another; but be may, my gift, Thorn." I shall be four weeks here at least; and so I of esteem yet though far less valuable, is as sincere a mark shall to hear from you welcome sense, welcome expect as yours. nonsense. shades The time is approaching when I shall return to my ; I with the warmest am, sincerity, and I am afraid my numerous Edinburgh friendships are of E. B. so tender a construction, that they will not bear carriage with Candlish married Miss celebrated for her wit as one of the Belles [Mr. Smith, me. Yours is one of the few that I could wish of a more of Mauchline. A son of this marriage is the Rev. Robert Smith Candlish, D.D., died in robust constitution. It is indeed that when Principal of the Free Church College, Edinburgh. Mr. Candlish 1806.] very probable to meet in this sub- I leave this city, we part never more that in some lunary sphere; but I have a strong fancy than future eccentric planet, the comet of happier systems and any with which astronomy is yet acquainted, you I, among the harum-scarum sons of imagination and whim, with a hearty shake of a hand, a metaphor, and a laugh, TO ME. JAMES CANDLISH. (2.) shall recognise old acquaintance :

Where "Wit sparkle all its rays, [Edinburgh, 1787.] may

Uncurst with Caution's fears ; MY DEAR FRIEND, And Pleasure, basking in the blaze, IF once I were gone from this scene of hurry and dissipa- Eejoice for endless years. tion, I promise myself the pleasure of that correspondence being renewed which has been so long broken. At present I have the honor to be, with the warmest sincerity, I have time for nothing. Dissipation and business engross Dear Sir, &c., every moment. I am engaged in assisting an honest Scotch E. B. enthusiast,* a friend of mine, who is an engraver, and has taken it into his head to publish a collection of all our songs was set to of which the words and music are done th music, by mirth- Author's well-known song. He seems to have been a man of a very genial, Scotsmen. This, will is an to the office of you easily guess, undertaking ful disposition. He was ultimately promoted Inspector-General exactly to my taste. I have collected, begged, borrowed, of Stamp-duties for Scotland.] and stolen all the songs I could meet with. Pompey's Ghost, words and music, I beg from you immediately, to go into his

second number : the first is already published. I shall show the first number when I see you in Glasgow, which will W.S. you (2.) TO ME. WILLIAM DUNBAE, be in a fortnight or less. Do be so kind as to send me the in a or two cannot it Mauchline, 1th April, 1788. song day ; you imagine how much will so to write much oblige me. I HAVE not delayed long you, my respected no farther of I have Direct to me at Mr. W. Cruikshank's, St. James's Square, friend, because I thought my promise. where New Town, Edinburgh. long since given up that kind of formal correspondence, E. B. one sits down irksomely to writa a letter, because we think we

* ' are in bound so to do. [Johnson, the publisher of the Scots Musical Museum.'] duty I have been roving over the country, as the farm I have and taken is forty miles from this place, hiring servants pre- matters but most of I am to paring ; all, earnestly busy bring about a revolution in my own mind. As, till within these master of ten eighteen months, I never was the wealthy is to add to guineas, my knowledge of business learn; this, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 157

my late scenes of idleness and dissipation have enervated Our friend Cunningham will perhaps have told you of my my mind to an alarming degree. Skill in the sober science going into the Excise. The truth is, I found it a very con- of life is my most serious and hourly study. I have dropt venient business to have 50 per annum, nor have I yet felt all conversation and all reading (prose reading) but what any of those mortifying circumstances in it that I was led tends in some way or other to my serious aim. Except one to fear. worthy young fellow, I have not one single correspondent Feb. 2. in Edinburgh. You have indeed kindly made me an offer I have not, for sheer hurry of business, been able to spare of that kind. The world of wits, and gens com/me il faut five minutes to finish my letter. Besides my farm-busi- which I lately left, and with whom I never again will inti- ness, I ride on my Excise matters at least two hundred miles mately mix from that port, Sir, I expect your Gazette : every week. I have not by any means given up the Muses. what les beaux esprits are saying, what they are doing, and You will see in the 3d vol. of Johnson's Scots Songs that I what they are singing. Any sober intelligence from my have contributed my mite there. walks of life droll dear little ones that look to for sequestered ; any original ; any passing But, my Sir, up you paternal remark, important forsooth, because it is mine; any little protection are an important charge. I have already two fine, poetic effort, however embryoth; these, my dear Sir, are all healthy, stout little fellows, and I wish to throw some light you have to expect from me. When I talk of poetic efforts, upon them. I have a thousand reveries and schemes about I must have it always understood, that I appeal from your them, and their future destiny Not that I am a Utopian wit and taste to your friendship and good nature. The first projector in these things. I am resolved never to breed up would be my favorite tribunal, where I defied censure; but a son of mine to any of the learned professions. I know the the where I declined value of and since I cannot sons an last, justice. independence ; give my I have scarcely made a single distich since I saw you. independent fortune, I shall give them an independent line When I meet with an old Scots air that has any facetious of life. What a chaos of hurry, chance, and changes is this idea in its name, I have a peculiar pleasure in following out world, when one sits soberly down to reflect on it ! To a that idea for a verse or two. father, who himself knows the world, the thought that he shall sons to usher into it must fill him with dread I trust that this will find you in better health than I did have ; last time I called for you. A few lines from you, directed but if he have daughters, the prospect in a thoughtful to me at Mauchline, were it but to let me know how you are, moment is -apt to shock him. I Mrs. and the ladies are well. will set my mind a good deal [at rest.] Now, never shun hope Fordyce two young the idea of writing me because perhaps you may be out of Do let me forget that they are nieces of yours, and let me say that I saw a more sweeter of sisters in humour or spirits. I could give you a hundred good conse- never interesting, pair quences attending a dull letter; one, for example, and the my life. I am the fool of my feelings and attachments. I remaining ninety-nine some other time it will always serve often take up a volume of my Spenser to realise you to my and think the social scenes had to keep in countenance, my much respected Sir, your obliged imagination, over we have friend and humble servant, together. God grant that there may be another world more

E. B. congenial to honest fellows beyond this : a world where these rubs and plagues of absence, distance, misfortunes, ill-health, &c., shall no more damp hilarity and divide friendship. This I know is your throng season, but half a page will much oblige, my dear Sir, yours sincerely, E. B. (3.) TO MB. WILLIAM DUNBAE, W.S.

Ellisland, 14ith January, 1790.

' ' SINCE we are here creatures of a day, since a few summer days, and a few winter nights, and the life of man is at an dear much-esteemed should and I let end," why, niy Sir, you (4-) TO COL. W. DUNBAE. negligent indolence, for I know it is nothing worse, step in be- bar tween us and the enjoyment of a mutual correspondence ? Ellisland, \ltli January, 1791. We are not shapen out of the common, heavy, methodical I AM not gone to Elysium, most noble Colonel, but am the elemental stuff of the clod, plodding selfish race, the sons still here in this sublunary world, serving my God by pro- of Arithmetic and Prudence our and hearts are ; feelings not pagating his image, and honoring my king by begetting him benumbed and the cursed poisoned by influence of riches, loyal subjects. Many happy returns of the season await my whatever be in other which, blessing they may respects, are friend ! May the thorns of Care never beset his path ! May no friends to the nobler qualities of the heart : in the name of Peace be an inmate of his bosom, and Eapture a frequent random let the Sensibility, then, never moon change on our visitor of his soul ! May the blood-hounds of Misfortune silence more. I a any have had tract of bad health most part never trace his steps, nor the screech-owl of Sorrow alarm of this winter, else you had heard from me long ere now. his dwelling! May Enjoyment tell thy hours, and Pleasure Thank Heaven, I am now got so much better as to be able to number thy days, thou friend of the Bard! Blessed be he a little in partake the enjoyments of life. that blesseth thee, and cursed be he that curseth thee ! ! !

33- WORKS 158 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE

I birnie as a vera deevil wi' me. It's true, she's as poor's a As a further proof that I am still in the land of existence, a and as hard's a and when send you a poem, the latest I have composed. I have par- sang-maker kirk, tipper-taipers she taks the like a in a ticular reason for wishing you only to show it to select friends, gate, just lady's gentlewoman or a hen on a het but she's a a friend's but if, at minuwae, girdle; yauld, should you think it worthy perusal ; your Girran for a' and has a stomack like Willie first leisure hour, you will favour me with your opinion of, poutherie that, additional Stalker's that wad hae tumbler-wheels, and strictures on, the performance, it will be an meere, disgeested at servant, for she'll me aif her five stimparts o' the best aits obligation on, dear Sir, your deeply indebted humble whip E. B. a down-sittin and ne'er fash her thumb. When ance her are ringbanes and spavies, her crucks and cramps, fairly hour soupl'd, she beets to, beets to, and ay the hindmost the tightest. I could wager her price to a thretty pennies, that for twa or three wooks' ridin at fifty miles a day, the Mv. t and Whithorn ?atti*0n deil-sticket [o'] five gallopers acqueesh Clyde BOOKSELLER, PAISLEY. could cast saut on her tail. I hae dander'd owre a' the kintra frae Dumbar to Selcraig, near 17, 1787. a Berry-well, Dunse, May and hae forgather'd wi' monie a guid fallow, and monie DEAR SIR, weelfar'd huzzie. I met wi' twa dink quines in particlar, I AM I was out of a sorry Edinburgh, making slight pil- ane o' them a sonsie, fine, fodgel lass, baith braw and to the classic scenes of this when I was grimage country, bonnie; the tither was a clean-shankit, straught, tight, favoured with of the llth an order yours instant, enclosing weelfar'd winch, as blythe's a lintwhite on a flowerie thorn, on the Bank for of the Paisley Banking Company Eoyal and as sweet and modest's a new-blawn plumrose in a hazle twenty-two pounds seven shillings sterling, payment in full, shaw. They were baith bred to mainers by the beuk, and for of book I sent after carriage deducted, ninety copies my onie ane o' them had as muckle smeddum and rumblegumtion to I see will have left you. According your motions, you as the half o' some presbytries that you and I baith ken. Scotland before this reaches otherwise I would send you, you They play'd me sik a deevil o' a shavie that I daur say if Willie" with all heart. I was so hurried that I "Holy my my harigals were turn'd out, ye wad see twa nicks i' the to absolutely forgot several things I ought have minded, heart o' me like the mark o' a kail-whittle in a castock. the books to Mr. Cowan but order among rest, sending ; any I was gaun to write you a lang pystle, but, Gude forgie of will be answered at Creech's You will yours shop. please me, I gat mysel sae notouriously bitchify'd the day after that non-subscribers six this is remember pay shillings kail-time, that I can hardly stoiter but and ben. Creech's but those who have their profit ; subscribed, though My best respecks to the guidwife and a' our common friens, names have been in the which is neglected printed list, very especiall Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank, and the honest guidman are at the I was not incorrect, supplied subscription price. o' Jock's Lodge. at nor do I intend for and I think Mrs. Glasgow, London; I'll be in Dumfries the morn gif the beast be to the fore, Fame is idle to tell so lies on a When very many poor poet. and the branks bide hale. Gude be wi' you, Willie ! Amen ! you or Mr. Cowan write for copies, if you should want any, E. B. direct to Mr. Hill, at Mr. Creech's shop, and I write to Mr. Hill by this post, to answer either of your orders. Hill is Mr. Creech's first clerk, and Creech himself is presently in London. I suppose I shall have the pleasure, against your (2.) TO ME. WILLIAM NICOL. return to Paisley, of assuring you how much I am, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant, Mauchline, June 18, 1787. E. B. MY DEAR FRIEND, I AM now arrived safe in my native countiy, after a very agreeable jaunt, and have the pleasure to find all my friends well. I breakfasted with your gray-headed, reverend friend,

(i.) Jftr. Mr. Smith; and was highly pleased both with the cordial iEiUiam fiuol t welcome he me, and his most excellent appearance and MASTER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, EDINBURGH. gave sterling good sense. Carlisle, June 1, 1787, I have been with Mr. Miller at Dalswinton, and am to

1 (or, I believe, the 30th d May rather.} meet him again in August. From my view of the lands, KIND, HONEST-HEARTED WlLLTE, and his reception of my hardship, my hopes in that business I'M sitten down here after seven and miles' still slender. forty ridin, are rather mended ; but they are but e'en as forjesket and forniaw'd as a forfoughten cock, to gie I am quite charmed with Dumfries folks Mr. Burnside, the you some notion o' my land-lowper-like stravaguin sin' the clergyman, in particular, is a man whom I shall ever grate-

sorrowfu' hour that I sheuk hands and wi' his ! I had almost parted auld Eeekie. fully remember ; and wife, Gude forgie me o' My auld, ga'd gleyde a meere has huchyaU'd up hill broke the tenth commandment on her account ! Simplicity, and down brae, in Scotland and England, as teugh and elegance, good sense, sweetness of disposition, good-humour, a5

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 159

kind hospitality, are the constituents of her manner and (40 TO ME. WILLIAM NICOL. heart; in short but if I say one word more about her, I shall be directly in love with her. Ellisland, Feb. 9, 1790. I never, my friend, thought mankind very capable of MY DEAR SIR, but the stateliness of the in THAT is dead. I have anything generous ; patricians d-mned mare of yours would freely and the of brethren her to have her she has vexed me Edinburgh, servility my plebeian (who given price saved ; beyond perhaps formerly eyed me askance) since I returned home, description. Indebted as I was to your goodness beyond have nearly put me out of conceit altogether with my species. what I can ever repay, I eagerly grasped at your offer to I have bought a pocket Milton, which I cany perpetually have the mare with me. That I might at least show my about with me, in order to study the sentiments the daunt- readiness in wishing to be grateful, I took every care of less magnanimity, the intrepid, unyielding independence, the her in my power. She was never crossed for riding above desperate daring, and noble defiance of hardship, in that half a score of times by me or in my keeping. I drew her great personage, SATAN. 'Tis true, I have just now a little in the plough, one of three, for one poor week. I refused I cash; but I am afraid the star that hitherto has shed its fifty-five shillings for her, which was the highest bode malignant, purpose-blasting rays full in my zenith; that could squeeze for her. I fed her up and had her in fine noxious planet so baneful in its influences to the rhyming order for Dumfries fair; when four or five days before the in the tribe, I much dread it is not yet beneath my horizon. Mis- fair, she was seized with an unaccountable disorder fortune the of life the mind or in the bones of the with a dodges path human ; poetic sinews, somewhere neck; finds itself miserably deranged in, and unfit for, the walks weakness or total want of power in her fillets; and in of business; add to all, that thoughtless follies and hare- short the whole vertebrae of her spine seemed to be dis- brained whims, like so many ignes fatui, eternally diverging eased and unhinged, and in eight-and-forty hours, in spite from the right line of sober discretion, sparkle with step- of the two best farriers in the country, she died, and be bewitching blaze in the idly-gazing eyes of the poor heedless d-mned to her! The farriers said that she had been quite bard, till pop, "he falls like Lucifer, never to hope again." strained in the fillets beyond cure before you had bought God grant this may be an unreal picture with respect to me ! her; and that the poor devil, though she might keep a but should it not, I have very little dependence on mankind. little flesh, had been jaded and quite worn out with fatigue I will close my letter with this tribute my heart bids me pay and oppression. While she was with me, she was under the ties of which I you many acquaintance and friendship my own eye, and I assure you, my much-valued friend, have, or think I have, in life, I have felt along the lines, and, every thing was done for her that could be done; and the damn them, they are almost all of them of such frail con- accident has vexed me to the heart. In fact I could not I the of texture, that am sure they would not stand breath pluck up spirits to write to you, on account of the un- the least adverse breeze of fortune but from ever ; you, my fortunate business. dear Sir, I look with confidence for the apostolic love that There is little new in this country. Our theatrical com- shall wait on me "through good report and bad report" pany, of which you must have heard, leave us this week. ' ' the love which Solomon emphatically says is strong as Their merit and character are indeed very great, both on death." My compliments to Mrs. Nicol, and all the circle the stage and in private life : not a worthless creature of our common friends. B. B. them and their has been among ; encouragement accordingly. Their usual run is from eighteen to twenty-five pounds a P.S. I shall be in Edinburgh about the latter end of July. night: seldom less than the one, and the house will hold no more than the other. There have been repeated in- stances of sending away six, eight, and ten pounds a night for want of room. A new theatre is to be built by sub- scription; the first stone is to be laid on Friday first to (3.) TO ME. WILLIAM NICOL. come. Three hundred guineas have been raised by thirty Aiichtertyre, Monday, [Oc#. 15, 1787.] subscribers, and thirty more might have been got if wanted. MY DEAR SIR, The manager, Mr. Sutherland, was introduced to me by I FIND myself very comfortable here, neither oppressed by a friend from Ayr; and a worthier or cleverer fellow I ceremony nor mortified by neglect. Lady Augusta is a most have rarely met with. Some of our clergy have slipt in engaging woman, and very happy in her family, which makes by stealth now and then; but they have got up a farce of one's outgoings and incomings very agreeable. I called at their own. You must have heard how the Eev. Mr. Lawson Mr. Eamsay's of Auchtertyre as I came up the country, and of Kirkmahoe, seconded by the Eev. Mr. Kirkpatrick of am so delighted with him that I shall certainly accept of his Dunscore, and the rest of that faction, have accused, in or I invitation to spend a day two with him as return. I formal process, the unfortunate and Eev. Mr. Heron of leave this place on Wednesday or Thursday. Kirkgunzeon, that in ordaining Mr. Nielson to the cure of Make my kind compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank, souls in Kirkbean, he, the said Heron, feloniously and trea- and Mrs. Nicol, if she is returned. I am ever, dear Sir, sonably bound the said Nielson to the Confession of Faith, Your deeply indebted, so far as it was agreeable to Reason and the Word of God ! E. B. Mrs. B. begs to be remembered most gratefully to you. 160 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

Little Bobby and Frank are charmingly well and healthy. bound desires: never did the vapours of impurity stain I am jaded to death with fatigue. For these two or three the unclouded serene of thy cerulean imagination. O that like months, on an average, I have not ridden less than two thine were the tenor of my life, like thine the tenor hundred miles per week. I have done little in the poetic of my conversation! then should no friend fear for my

way. I have given Mr. Sutherland two Prologues; one of strength, no enemy rejoice in my weakness ! Then should which was delivered last week. I have likewise strung four I lie down and rise up, and none to make me afraid. or five barbarous stanzas, to the tune of Chevy Chase, by May thy pity 'and thy prayer be exercised for, O thou

way of Elegy on your poor unfortunate mare, beginning lamp of Wisdom and mirror of Morality ! thy devoted slave, (the name she got here was Peg Nicholson) E. B. * Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare, &c. [In connection with the above series of Letters, the reader may compare note on ' Willie ' Brew'd a Peck o' Maut : also 'Highland Tour,' Appendix.] My best compliments to Mrs. Nicol, and little Neddy, and all the family; I hope Ned is a good scholar, and will come out to gather nuts and apples with me next harvest. E. B. * (i.) Jli [See Posthumous Poetical Works.] 10 Mv. Robert

Arrochar, by Loch Long, June 28,* 1787. MY DEAR SIR, I WRITE you this on my tour through a country where savage streams tumble over savage mountains, thinly over- (5.) TO ME. WILLIAM NICOL. spread with savage flocks, which starvingly support as inhabitants. last to-mor- 20th February, 1792. savage My stage was Inverary O THOU, wisest among the Wise, meridian blaze of Pru- row night's stage, Dumbarton. I ought sooner to have answered kind dence, full-moon of Discretion, and chief of many Counsel- your letter, but you know I am a man of lors! sins. How infinitely is thy puddle-headed, rattle-headed, many E. B. wrong-headed, round-headed slave indebted to thy super- eminent that from the luminous * goodness, path of thy own [Mr. Chambers corrects this date, by interrogation, to 27.] tour here referred to is the West right-lined rectitude, thou lookest benignly down on an [The Highland Tour, of the return from which we have an account in letter (3) to Mr. J. Smith at Linlithgow. On his erring wretch, of whom the all zig-zag wanderings defy way to Ayrshire, Burns seems to have passed through Paisley.] the of powers calculation, from the simple copulation of units, up to the hidden mysteries of fluxions! May one feeble of that ray light of wisdom which darts from thy as the sensorium, straight arrow of heaven, and bright as the meteor of inspiration, it be so may my portion, (2.) TO ME. EOBEET AINSLIE. that I may be less unworthy of the face and favour of that father of Proverbs and master of Maxims, that anti- Mauchline, 23rd July, 1787. of and MY DEAR pode Folly, magnet among the Sages, the wise and AINSLIE,

Willie ! THERE is one for I witty Nicol Amen ! ! which set store as Amen Yea, so be it ! thing great by you For me! I am a a a friend, and it is this that I have not a friend beast, reptile, and know nothing! upon earth, From the cave of besides to whom I can talk nonsense without for- my ignorance, amid the fogs of my yourself, dulness, and fumes some of his esteem. to one like pestilential of my political heresies, I feiting degree Now, me, look to who never cares for up thee, as doth a toad through the iron-barred speaking any thing else but nonsense, lucerne of a to such a friend as is an invaluable treasure. I was never pestiferous dungeon, the cloudless glory you of a summer sun ! in a but have been a fool all in of Sorely sighing bitterness of soul, I rogue, my life; and, spite say, When shall name be the all endeavours, I see now that I shall be my quotation of the wise, my plainly never and countenance be the wise. Now it heart to my delight of the godly, like the rejoices my have met with such a illustrious lord of fellow as Laggan's many hills ? As for him, his you, who, though you are not just such a hopeless works are fool as I perfect: never did the pen of Calumny blur the I, yet trust you will never listen so much to the fair page of his reputation, nor the bolt of temptations of the devil, as to so wise that Hatred fly at grow very you his dwelling. will in the least disrespect an honest fellow because he is a Thou mirror of when shall fool. In short, I have set down as the staff of old Purity, the elfin-lamp of my you my glimmerous from when the whole list of friends after a decent understanding, purged sensual appetites age, my will, and desires, shine like the share of have me. gross constellation of thy in- pity, forgot tellectual As for powers! thee, thy are ' thoughts pure, Though in the morn comes sturt and strife, and thy lips are Never did the holy. unhallowed breath Yet come at joy may noon ; of the of powers darkness, and the pleasures of darkness, And I hope to live a merry, merry life pollute the sacred flame of thy and sky-descended heaven- When a' thir days are done.' GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 101

Write it me soon, were bat a few lines just to tell me how (4.) TO ME. EOBEET AINSLIE, that good sagacious man your father is that kind dainty EDINBURGH. body your mother that strapping chiel your brother Douglas and friend Eachel, who is as far before Eachel of old, my Edinburgh, Sunday Morning, as she was before her blear-eyed sister Leah. Nov. 23, [25?] 1787. E. B. I BEG, my dear Sir, you would not make any appointment to take us to Mr. Ainslie's to-night. On looking over my engagements, constitution, present state of my health, some little vexatious soul concerns, &c., I find I can't sup abroad to-night. I shall be in to-day till one o'clock, if you have a (3.) TO ME. EOBEET AINSLIE, JUNIOR, leisure hour. BERRYWELL, DUNSE. You will think it romantic when I tell you, that I find the idea of your friendship almost necessary to my existence. You assume a face in Edinburgh, 23rd August, 1787. proper length of my bitter hours of " blue-devilism, and you laugh fully up to my highest As I gaed up to Dunse wishes at I don't the To warp a pickle yarn, my good things. know, upon whole, r Robin, silly body, if you are one of the first fellows in God's world, but j ou He gat me wi' bairn." are so to me. I tell you this just now, in the conviction FROM henceforth, my dear Sir, I am determined to set that some inequalities in my temper and manner may per- off with letters like the writers my periodical ; namely, pre- haps sometimes make you suspect that I am not so warmly fix a kind of text, quoted from some classic of undoubted as I ought to be your friend, authority, such as the author of the immortal piece, of E. B. which my text is a part. What I have to say on my text is exhausted in the chatter which I wrote you the other day, before I had the pleasure of receiving yours from Inver- leithing; and sure never was anything more lucky, as I have but the time to write this, that Mr. Nicol, on the (5.) TO ME. EOBEET AINSLIE. opposite side of the table, takes to correct a proof-sheet of a thesis. are gabbling Latin so loud that I cannot They \_Mauchline, 3rd March, 1788.]* hear what own soul is in own so must my saying my skull, MY DEAR FRIEND, a matter-of-fact sentence or two, and end, if just give you I AM just returned from Mr. Miller's farm. My old friend time with a verse de rci permit, generatione. whom I took with me was highly pleased with the bargain,

To-morrow I leave in a chaise ; Nicol thinks it Edinburgh and advised me to accept of it. He is the most intelligent more comfortable than horse-back, to which I say, Amen; sensible farmer in the county, and his advice has staggered so Geddes home to to use a Jenny goes Ayrshire, phrase me a good deal.f I have the two plans before me: I shall of "wi' her in her mouth." my mother's, finger endeavour to balance them to the best of my judgment, and Now for a modest verse of classical authority : fix on the most eligible. On the whole, if I find Mr. Miller in the same favourable as when I saw him The cats like kitchen ; disposition last, like broo I shall in all turn farmer. The dogs ; probability The lasses like the lads weel, I have been through sore tribulation and under much And th' auld wives too. buffetting of the Wicked One since I came to this country. And we're a' noddin, Jean I found banished like a martyr forlorn, destitute, and I re- Nid, nid, noddin, friendless : I have reconciled her to her fate, and have We're a' noddin fou at e'en. conciled her to her mother. I shall be in Edinburgh the middle of next week. My If this does not please you, let me hear from you : if farming ideas I shall keep private till I see. I got a letter you write any time before the 1st of September, direct to from Clarinda yesterday, and she tells me she has got no Inverness, to be left at the post-office till called for; the letter of mine but one. Tell her that I wrote to her from next week at Aberdeen, the next at Edinburgh. Glasgow, from Kilmarnock, from Mauchline, and yesterday The sheet is done, and I shall just conclude with assuring from Cumnock as I returned from Dumfries. Indeed, she you that I am, and ever with pride shall be, is the only person in Edinburgh I have written to till this My dear Sir, yours, &c., How are your soul and body putting up ? a little E. B. day. like man and wife, I suppose. Your faithful friend, Call what think Burns. your boy you proper, only interject E. B. What do you say to a Scripture name? Zimri Burns * is letter to Mr. [This date given by Mr. Ainslie. Compare , immediately Ainslie, or Architophel, &c. Look your Bible for these two following this series.] I will the heroes; if you do this, repay compliment. + [Mr. James Tennant of Glenconner is the person here referred to.] LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

(G.) TO MR. EGBERT AINSLIE. exactly remember what it was, as the letter is in Ayr- shire; but I thought it not only prettily said, but nobly Mauchline, May 26, 1788. thought. You will make a noble fellow if once you were well-married MY DEAR FRIEND, married. I make no reservation of your being ; I AM two kind letters in your debt, but I have been from you have so much sense, and knowledge of human nature, that ideas of home, and horridly busy, buying and preparing for my though you may not realize perhaps the farming business, over and above the plague of my Excise romance, yet you will never be ill-married. instructions, which this week will finish. Were it not for the terrors of my ticklish situation re- As I flatter my wishes that I foresee many future years' specting provision for a family of children, I am decidedly correspondence between us, 'tis foolish to talk of excusing of opinion that the step I have taken is vastly for my happi- of dull epistles; a dull letter may be a very kind one. I ness. As it is, I look to the Excise scheme as a certainty have the pleasure to tell you that I have been extremely maintenance. A maintenance ! luxury to what either Mrs. in all fortunate my buyings and bargainings hitherto Mrs. Burns or I were born to. Adieu ! Burns not title to B. excepted ; which I now avow the world. E.

I am truly pleased with this last affair : it has indeed added to my anxieties for futurity, but it has given a stability to and resolutions before and the my mind, unknown ; poor girl has the most sacred enthusiasm of attachment to me, (8.) TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE. and has not a wish but to gratify my every idea of her deportment. I am interrupted. Farewell! my dear Sir. Mauchline, 23rd June, 1788. R. B. THIS letter, my dear Sir, is only a business scrap. Mr. Miers, profile painter in your town, has executed a profile

of Dr. Blacklock for me : do me the favour to call for it, and sit to him yourself for me, which put in the same size as the Doctor's. The account of both profiles will be fifteen (70 TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE. shillings, which I have given to James Connell, our Mauch- line carrier, to pay you when you give him the parcel. You Ellisland, June 14, 1788. must not, my friend, refuse to sit. The time is short : when THIS is now the third dearest that I have so- day, my Sir, I sat to Mr. Miers, I am sure he did not exceed two minutes. journed in these regions; and during these three days you I propose hanging Lord Glencairn, the Doctor, and you in have occupied more of my thoughts than in three weeks trio, over my new chimney-piece that is to be. Adieu ! in I have several preceding: Ayrshire variations of friend- E. B. here it ship's compass, points invariably to the pole. My farm gives me a good many uncouth cares and anxieties, but I hate the language of complaint. Job, or some one of his friends, says well "Why should a living man complain?" I have been much mortified with lately contemplating an (9.) TO ME. EGBERT AINSLIE. unlucky imperfection in the very framing and construction of soul : a my namely, blundering inaccuracy of her olfactory Ellisland, 3Qth June, 1788. organs in hitting the scent of craft or design in my fellow- MY DEAR SIR, creatures. I do not mean to I brief to take ven- any compliment my ingenuous- JUST now received your epistle ; and, or to hint that the ness, defect is in consequence of the geance on your laziness, I have, you see, taken a long sheet of conscious unsuspicious simplicity truth and honor : I take of writing-paper, and have begun at the top of the page, it to in some or an be, way other, imperfection in the mental intending to scribble on to the very last corner. sight ; or, metaphor apart, some modification of dullness. In I am vexed at that affair of the *, but dare not two or three small instances I have been most lately, shame- enlarge on the subject until you send me your direction, out. fully as I suppose that will be altered on your late master and I have all along hitherto, in the warfare of life, been bred friend's death.* I am concerned for the old fellow's exit, to arms among the light-horse the of as I fear it be to in piquet-guards fancy ; only may your disadvantage any respect a kind of Hussars and of Highlanders the Brain ; but I am for an old man's dying, except he have been a very be- resolved to sell out of firmly these giddy battalions, who have nevolent character, or in some particular situation of life no ideas of a battle but fighting the foe, or of a siege but that the welfare of the poor or the helpless depended on the town. Cost what it I storming will, am determined to him, I think it an event of the most trifling moment to the in the buy among grave squadrons of heavy-armed Thought, world. Man is naturally a kind, benevolent animal, but he or the of artillery corps plodding Contrivance. is dropped into such a needy situation here in this vexatious What books are or you reading, what is the subject of world, and has such a whoreson hungry, growling, multi- your thoughts, besides the studies of great your profession ? plying pack of necessities, appetites, passions, and desires You said about in something religion your last. I don't about him, ready to devour him for want of other food; GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 163

that in fact he must lay aside his cares for others that ho (10.) TO MR. EOBEET AINSLIE. may look properly to himself. You have been imposed upon in paying Mr. Miers for the profile of a Mr. H. I did not Ellisland, January 6, 1789. mention it in my letter to you, nor did I ever give Mr. Miers MANY happy returns of the season to you, my dear Sir! any such order. I have no objection to lose the money, but May you be comparatively happy up to your comparative I such in worth the sons of I will not have any profile my possession. among men ; which wish would, am sure, I desired the carrier to pay you, but as I mentioned only make you one of the most blest of the human race. a fifteen shillings to him, I will rather enclose you guinea I do not know if passing a "Writer to the Signet" be a note. I have it not, indeed, to spare here, as I am only a trial of scientific merit, or a mere business of friends and in a land in this but in a or interest. it let sojourner strange place ; day However be, me quote you my two favourite two I return to Mauchline, and there I have the bank-notes passages, which, though I have repeated them ten thousand through the house like salt permits. times, still they rouse my manhood and steel my resolution in There is a great degree of folly talking unnecessarily like inspiration : of one's private affairs. I have just now been interrupted On reason build resolve, one of who has made himself abso- by my new neighbours, That column of true majesty in man. Youny. lutely contemptible in my eyes, by his silly, garrulous pruri- ' Hear, Alfred, hero of the state, I know it has been a fault of too but from ency. my own, ; will declare Thy genius Heaven's high ; this moment I abjure it as I would the service of hell ! Your The triumph of the truly great, and other fools of that Is never, never to despair '. poets, spendthrifts, kidney, pretend ' Is never to despair ! Masque of Alfred. their on but 'tis a forsooth to crack jokes prudence ; squalid enter the lists vagabond glorying in his rags. Still, imprudence respecting I grant you of life, to struggle for bread, money matters is much more pardonable than imprudence business, notice, and distinction, in common with hundreds. respecting character. I have no objection to prefer prodi- But who are they ? Men like yourself: and of that aggre- I of of gality to avarice, in some few instances; but appeal to gate body your compeers, seven-tenths them come short your observation, if you have not met, and often met, with your advantages natural and accidental; while two of those the same disingenuousness, the same hollow-hearted in- that remain either neglect their parts, as flowers blooming in a or their like sincerity, and disintegritive depravity of principle, in the desert, mis-spend strength, a bull goring hackneyed victims of profusion, as in the unfeeling children a bramble-bush. of parsimony. I have every possible reverence for the much- But to change the theme : I am still catering for Johnson's talked-of world beyond the grave, and I wish that which publication; and among others, I have brushed up the fol- all a with a piety believes, and virtue deserves, may be matter of lowing favourite song little, view to your worship. in this I altered a word here and there but if like fact. But in things belonging to, and terminating have only ; you the of shall of stanza present scene of existence, man has serious and interesting humour it, we think a or two to add business on hand. "Whether a man shall shake hands with to it. welcome in the distinguished elevation of respect, or shrink E. B. from contempt in the abject corner of insignificance; whether he shall wanton under the tropic of plenty, at least enjoy himself in the comfortable latitudes of easy convenience, or starve in the arctic circle of dreary poverty; whether he shall rise in the consciousness of a manly self-approving (11.) TO ME. EOBEET AINSLIE. mind, or sink beneath a galling load of regret and remorse are alternatives of the last moment. these Ellisland, 8th June, 1789. You see how I preach. You used occasionally to sermonize MY DEAB FRIEXD, too I wish would, in favor me with a sheet full ; you charity, I AM perfectly ashamed of myself when I look at the date in own I admire the close of a letter Lord your way. Boling- of your last. It is not that I forget the friend of my heart to Dean Swift: dear Swift! with all broke writes "Adieu, and the companion of my peregrinations; but I have been faults I love thee make an effort to love me thy entirely; condemned to drudgery beyond sufferance, though not, all mine!" Humble and all that with servant, trumpery, thank God, beyond redemption. I have had a collection is now such a business, that honest prostituted Friendship, of poems by a lady put into my hands to prepare them in her sincere must have recourse to her way, primitive, for the press; which horrid task, with sowing corn with

farewell ! simple, my own hand, a parcel of masons, wrights, plasterers, &c., E. B. to attend to, roaming on business through Ayrshire all this was against me, and the very first dreadful article was of * Samuel Mitchelson, W.S., had been Mr. Ainslie's master. lie died June [Mr. itself too much for me. 21, 1788. Cliambers.] IStJi. I have not had a moment to spare from incessant toil since the 8th. Life, my dear Sir, is a serious matter. You know by experience that a man's individual self is a deal but believe a wife and of good ; me, family children, LIFE ANT) WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

whenever you have the honour to be a husband and a father, I know not how the word exciseman, or still more op- I too have will show you that your present and most anxious hours of probrious, gauger, will sound in your ears. solitude are spent on trifles. The welfare of those who are seen the day when my auditory nerves would have felt and we are on this but a wife and children very dear to us, whose only support, hope, stay veiy delicately subject ; are in these this, to a generous mind, is another sort of more impor- things which have a wonderful power blunting kind for and a tant object of care than any concerns whatever which centre of sensations. Fifty pounds a year life, is no merely in the individual. On the other hand, let no young, provision for widows and orphans, you will allow, of the unmarried, rakehelly dog among you, make a song of his bad settlement for a poet. For the ignominy pro- I I once heard a pretended liberty and freedom from care. If the relations fession, have the encouragement which a we stand in to king, country, kindred, and friends, be any recruiting sergeant give to a numerous, if not respect- " fancies of able in the streets of Kilmarnock. Gentlemen, thing but the visionary dreaming metaphysicians ; audience, I can assure if religion, virtue, magnanimity, generosity, humanity, and for your further and better encouragement, be but sounds then the man who that our is the most under justice, aught empty ; may you regiment blackguard corps be said to live only for others, for the beloved, honourable the crown, and consequently with us an honest fellow has female, whose tender faithful embrace endears life, and for the surest chance for preferment." the helpless little innocents who are to be the men and You need not doubt that I find several very unpleasant women, the worshippers of his God, the subjects of his king, and disagreeable circumstances in my business; but I am and the support, nay the very vital existence of his COUNTRY, tired with and disgusted at the language of complaint in the ensuing age; compare such a man with any fellow against the evils of life. Human existence in the most whatever, who, whether he bustle and push in business favourable situations does not abound with pleasures, and statesmen or whether he roar and its ills foolish mis- among labourers, clerks, ; has inconveniences and ; capricious, man

rant, and drink and sing in taverns a fellow over whose takes these inconveniences and ills, as if they were the no one will breathe a from of his situation and hence grave single heigh-ho, except peculiar property particular ; the cobweb-tie of what is called good-fellowship -who has that eternal fickleness, that love of change, which has no view nor aim but what terminates in himself if there ruined, and daily does ruin, many a fine fellow, as well as be any grovelling earthborn wretch of our species, a rene- many a blockhead, and is almost without exception a con- gado to common sense, who would fain believe that the noble stant source of disappointment and misery. creature Man is no better than a sort of fungus, generated I long to hear from you how you go on not so much out of nothing, nobody knows how, and soon dissipated in in business as in life. Are you pretty well satisfied with nothing, nobody knows where; such a stupid beast, such a your own exertions, and tolerably at ease in your internal ? 'Tis as crawling reptile, might balance the forgoing unexaggerated reflections much to be a great character a lawyer, comparison, but no one else would have the patience. but beyond comparison more to be a great character as a Forgive me, my dear Sir, for this long silence. To make man. That you may be both the one and the other is the you amends, I shall send you soon, and more encouraging earnest wish, and that you ivill be both is the firm per- suasion still, without any postage, one or two rhymes of my later of, manufacture. My dear Sir, &c., B. B. E. B.

(12.) TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE. (13.) TO MR. ROBEET AINSLIE.

Ellisland, 1st Nov., 1789. {Dumfries, 1791.] MY DEAR FRIEND, MY DEAR AINSLIE, I HAD written ere you long now, could I have guessed CAN you minister to a mind diseased ? can you, amid the where to find for I sure you, am you have more good horrors of penitence, regret, remorse, head-ache, nausea, and sense than to waste the precious days of vacation-time in all the rest of the d d hounds of hell, that beset a poor the dirt of business and Edinburgh. Wherever you are, wretch who has been guilty of the sin of drunkenness can bless and lead God you, you not into temptation, but you speak peace to a troubled soul ?

deliver from evil I you Miserable perdu that I am ! I have tried every thing that I do not know if I have informed you that I am now used to amuse me, but in vain : here must I sit, a monu- to an Excise in appointed division, the middle of which ment of the vengeance laid up in store for the wicked, slowly house and farm lie. In this I my was extremely lucky. counting every click of the clock as it slowly, slowly numbers Without ever been an having expectant, as they call their over these lazy scoundrels of hours, who, d n them, are I was journeymen excisemen, directly planted down to all ranked up before me, every one at his neighbour's back- intents and an officer of purposes Excise; there to flourish side, and every one with a burthen of anguish on his back, and forth fruits of bring worthy repentance. to pour on my devoted head and there is none to pity me. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. OF ROBERT BURNS.

account for that dint of hand- My wife scolds me ! my business torments me, and my sins it, born blockheads, by mere come staring me in the face, every one telling a more bitter ling books, grow so wise that even they themselves are * * * tale than his fellow. I began Elibanks and Elibraes, equally convinced of and surprised at their own parts ? I but the stanzas fell unenjoyed and unfinished from my list- once carried this philosophy to that degree that in a knot of less tongue : at last I luckily thought of reading over an country folks who had a library amongst them, and who, old letter of yours, that lay by me in my book-case, and I to the honor of their good sense, made me factotum in the felt something for the first time since I opened my eyes, of business;* one of our members, a little, wise-looking, squat, pleasurable existence. Well I begin to breathe a little upright, jabbering body of a tailor, I advised him, instead since I began to write to you. How are you, and what of turning over the leaves, to bind the book on his back. are you doing ? How goes Law ? Apropos, for connexion's Johnnie took the hint; and as our meetings were every sake, do not address to me supervisor, for that is an honor fourth Saturday, and Pricklouse having a good Scots mile I to cannot pretend to. I am on the list, as we call it, for a walk in coming, and of course another in returning, and will be called out and to act as one Bodkin was sure to his hand on some or supervisor, by by ; lay heavy quarto but at present, I am a simple ganger, tho' t'other day I got ponderous folio, with, and under which, wrapt up in his an appointment to an excise division of 25 per annum better grey plaid, he grew wise as he grew weary, all the way than the rest. My present income, down money, is 70 per home. He carried this so far, that an old musty Hebrew annum. concordance, which we had in a present from a neighbouring I have one or two good fellows here whom you would be priest, by mere dint of applying it as doctors do a blistering glad to know. plaster, between his shoulders, Stitch, in a dozen pilgrimages, R. B. acquired as much rational theology as the said priest had done by foi-ty years' perusal of the pages, t Tell me, and tell me truly, what you think of this theory. Yours, (14.) TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE, SPUNKIE. * letter to Sir John Sinclair ST. JAMES'S STREET, EDINBURGH. [Compare p. 116.] t [The reader will observe in this, and in several other sentences in immediately preceding letters (11) and (12) particularly of this series, a sort of unconnected desultory style which seems to indicate the occasional irritability and haste the [April 26, 1793.] to at this of his life were not writer was exposed period ; which, although they I AM out of dear d-mnably humour, my Ainslie, and that allowed to appear before all correspondents, could hardly be concealed from a is the reason why I take up the pen to you : 'tis the nearest friend.] to way (probatum est) recover my spirits again. I received your last, and was much entertained with it; but I will not at this time, nor at any other time, answer it.

Answer a letter ! I never could answer a letter in my life ! I have written many a letter in return for letters I have

but then were ! received ; they original matter spurt-away March 3d 1788. there as if the devil Grannie old [Mauchline, 8th,] zig here, zag ; that, my (an MY DEAR SIR, woman indeed} often told me, rode on Will-o'-wisp, or in her MY life, since I saw last, has been one continued more classic phrase, SPUNKIE, were looking over my elbow. you that which knocks a man down A happy thought that idea has engendered in my head! hurry ; savage hospitality with is the devil. I have a sore warfare in SPUNKIE thou shalt henceforth be my Symbol, Signature, strong liquors, and the flesh are three for- this world ; the devil, the world, and Tutelary Genius ! Like thee, hap-step-and-lowp, here- midable foes. The first I to from; the awa-there-awa, higglety-pigglety, pell-mell, hither-and-yont, generally try fly

alas ! flies from me but the third is ram-stam, happy-go-lucky, up-tails-a'-by-the-light-o'-the- second, generally ; my worse than the ten plagues of moon has been, is, and shall be, my progress through the plague, Egypt. I have been over several farms in this mosses and moors of this vile, bleak, barren, wilderness of a looking country ; life of ours. one in particular, in Nithsdale, pleased me so well, that if offer to the is I shall commence far- Come then, my guardian spirit! Like thee may I skip away, my proprietor accepted, mer at If do not I amusing myself by and at my own light : and if any opaque- Whitsunday. farming appear eligible, shall have recourse to other shift: but this to a friend. souled lubber of mankind complain that my elfine, lambent, my

I set out for on ; how I glimmerous wanderings have misled his stupid steps over Edinburgh Monday morning long there is but will know so soon as I can precipices, or into bogs, let the thick-headed blunderbuss stay uncertain, you inform However I must be recollect that he is not SPUNKIE : that you myself. determine, poesy for some time mind has been vitiated with " laid aside ; my SPUNKIE'S wanderings could not copied be : it will take a deal of effort to habituate Amid these perils none durst walk but he." idleness, and good it to the routine of business. * * * * * * I feel vastly better. I give you joy I am, my dear Sir, I have no doubt but scholarcraft may be caught, as a Yours sincerely, Scotchman catches the friction. else can R. B. itch, by How you | 166 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

as addressed to Ainslie but the mo [This letter is published by Cunningham ; most intelligent farmer in the country, he has staggered it has no address of its and is most reasonably supposed by letter, appears, own, a life before me I shall good deal. I have the two plans of ; Chambers to have been addressed to some other correspondent, name unknown. in the same balance them to of and fix on the most Two letters at the same time, on the same subject, and almost words, the best my judgment, were not to be addressed our Author to the same person. Compare him likely by eligible. I have written Mr. Miller, and shall wait on letter to Ainslie, also (2) to Cruikshank.] (5) when I come to town, which shall be the beginning or middle of next I but knee is week ; would be in sooner, my unlucky rather worse, and I fear for some time will scarcely stand the fatigue of my Excise instructions. I only mention these ideas to whom I intend you ; and, indeed, except Mr. Ainslie, to I will not write at all to Edinburgh till JtTr. gaiUtam (Etui ks hank, writing to-morrow, I return to it. I would send my compliments to Mr. Nicol, ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, EDINBURGH. (I-) but he would be hurt if he knew I wrote to anybody and not

to him : so I shall only beg my best, kindest, kindest compli- Auclitertyre, Monday, [Oct. 15, 1787.] ments to my worthy hostess and the sweet little Eose-bud.* I HAVE nothing, my dear Sir, to write to you, but that So soon as I am settled in the routine of life, either as an I feel myself exceedingly comfortably situated in this good Excise-officer, or as a farmer, I propose myself great pleasure me but not to family : just notice enough to make easy from a regular correspondence with the only man almost I embarrass me. I was storm- staid two days at the foot of ever saw who joined the most attentive prudence with the the Ochil-hills, with Mr. Tait of Herveyston and Mr. John- warmest generosity. so well that I shall ston of Alva ; but was pleased, certainly I am much interested for that best of men, Mr. Wood; I a on the banks of the Devon, as I return. I leave spend day he is in better health and than when I saw him a hope spirits this place I suppose on Wednesday, and shall devote day last. I am ever, my dearest friend, to Mr. Eamsay at Auchtertyre, near Stirling a man to Your obliged, humble servant, whose worth I cannot do kind compli- justice. My respectful E. B. dear little Jeanie and if ments to Mrs. Cruikshank, and my ; * Cruikshank's note on Lines to Miss Poetical you see Mr. Masterton, please remember me to him. [Mr. daughter. Compare C., Works, p. 248.] I am ever, my dear Sir, &c., E. B.

[Mr. Cruikshank, our readers are aware, is the friend by whom our Author This letter was first was so kindly entertained after his accident in Edinburgh. TO MR. WILLIAM CEUIKSHANK. published in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1832, without an address, but manifestly (3.) belongs to Mr. Cruikshank. The reader may compare letter (3) to Nicol, of the same date, p. 159.] Ellisland, [December,'] 1788. I HAVE not room, my dear friend, to answer all the par- ticulars of your last kind letter. I shall be in Edinburgh on some business very soon; and as I shall be two days, or perhaps three, in town, we shall discuss matters viva voce. I will never be well and an (2.) TO ME. WILLIAM CEUIKSHANK. My knee, believe, entirely ; unlucky fall this winter has made it still worse. I well Maucliline, 3rd March, 1788. remember the circumstance you allude to respecting Creech's of Mr. Nicol as first MY DEAR SIR, opinion ; but, the gentleman owes me APOLOGIES for not writing are frequently like apologies still about fifty pounds, I dare not meddle in the affair. for not singing the apology better than the song. I have It gave me a very heavy heart to read such accounts of fought my way severely through the savage hospitality of the consequences of your quarrel with that puritanic, rotten- this country, [the object of all hosts being] to send every hearted, hell-commissioned scoundrel, A . If, notwith- guest drunk to bed if they can. standing your unprecedented industry in public, and your I executed your commission in Glasgow, and I hope the irreproachable conduct in private life, he still has you so cocoa came safe. 'Twas the same price and the very same much in his power, what ruin may he not bring on some kind as your former parcel, for the gentleman recollected others I could name ? your buying there perfectly well. Many and happy returns of seasons to you, with your I should return my thanks for your hospitality dearest and worthiest friend, and the lovely little pledge of (I leave a blank for the epittiet, as I know none can do it your happy union. May the great Author of life, and of justice) to a poor, wayfaring bard, who was spent and every enjoyment that can render life delightful, make her almost overpowered fighting with prosaic wickednesses in that comfortable blessing to you both, which you so ardently but I am afraid lest should high places ; you burn the letter wish for, and which, allow me to say, you so well deserve ! whenever you come to the passage, so I pass over it in Glance over the foregoing verses, and let me have your blots. silence. I am just returned from visiting Mr. Miller's farm. E. B. The friend whom I told you I would take with me was highly with the farm and as he without pleased ; is, exception, the GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

defaulters till I come home. The court is up, James Balrgmplt, (Esq., prosecuting and I will be home before it sits down. In the meantime, ORANGEFIELD. to take a note of who appear and who do not, of our in and faulty debtors, will be right my humble opinion ; EdinlurgJi, [December 10, 1786?] those who confess debt and crave days, I think we should DEAR SIR, spare them. Farewell ! I SUPPOSE the Devil is so elated with his success with you, Within dear mansion that he is determined by a coup de main to complete his pur- your may wayward Contention, And withered ne'er enter poses on you all at once, in making you a poet. I broke open Envy ; the letter sent the as I round be the bound, you me ; hummed over rhymes ; and, May Secrecy mystical And Love be the centre. saw they were extempore, said to myself, they were very Brotherly well; but when I saw at the bottom a name that I shall EOBT. BURNS.

' ' ever value with grateful respect, I gapit wide, but naething To the Free Masons of spak." I was nearly as much struck as the friends of Job, ST. JAMES'S LODGE, of affliction-bearing memory, when they sat down with him Care of H. Manson, seven days and seven nights, and spake not a word. TARBOLTON. I am of a cast, and as soon as naturally superstitious my [The insignia used by the Poet are still preserved with religious care in this wonder-scared imagination regained its consciousness, and Lodge.] resumed its functions, I cast about what this mania of yours might portend. My forboding ideas had the wide stretch of and several in their and possibility ; events, great magnitude, important in their consequences, occurred to my fancy. The of the Cork downfal of the conclave, or the rumps ; crushing (Ehaties 3ay, a ducal coronet to Lord George Gordon and the Protestant interest or St. Peter's to ADVOCATE. ; keys You want to know how I come on. I am just in statu quo, [ENCLOSING VERSES ON THE DEATH or THE LORD PRESIDENT.] or, not to insult a gentleman with my Latin, in "auld use and wont." The noble Earl of Glencairn took me by the SIR, hand to-day, and interested himself in my concerns, with THE enclosed poem was written in consequence of your he so a goodness like that benevolent Being whose image suggestion, last time I had the pleasure of seeing you. It bears. is a of the of richly He stronger proof immortality cost me an hour or two of next morning's sleep, but did the than that ever A mind so it an till the soul, any philosophy produced. not please me ; lay by, ill-digested effort, like his can never die. Let the worshipful squire H. L., other day that I gave it a critic brush. These kind of the reverend Mass J. into their are the of M., go primitive nothing. subjects much hackneyed ; and, besides, wailings At best, they are but ill-digested lumps of chaos only, one the rhyming tribe over the ashes of the great are cursedly bituminous and sul- of them strongly tinged with particles suspicious, and out of all character for sincerity. These effluvia. But noble eternal as the Muse's fire I have done the phureous my patron, ideas damped my ; however, heroic swell of magnanimity, and the generous throb of best I could, and, at all events, it gives me an opportunity at "the war benevolence, shall look on with princely eye of declaring that I have the honor to be, Sir, your obliged of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds." humble servant, E. B. E. B.

mother's cousin- [Mr. Dalrymple of Orangefteld, near Ayr, was, by the side, german to the Earl of Glencairn.]

Jftr. Jraiuis JEWELLER, PARLIAMENT SQUARE.

a small shade to set t. James's THE bearer of this will deliver you ; a TARBOLTON. which, my dear sir, if you would highly oblige poor I at will finish at furthest cripple devil as am present, you It a hundred miles into Edinburgh, 23rd August, 1787. against to-morrow evening. goes MEN AND BRETHREN, the country; and if it is at me by five o'clock to-morrow I have an of a hand to con- I AM truly sorry it is not in my power to be at your evening, opportunity private in believe if not, I don't know how to get it sent. Set it just quarterly meeting. If I must be absent body, vey it; those owe as did the others did for me "in the neatest and me, I shall be present in spirit. I suppose who you you both to answer as a and us monies, by bill or otherwise, will appear, -I mean those cheapest manner;" breast-pin, locket. as it > with a to answer as a Do despatch it; we summoned. If you please, I wish you would delay ring 108 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

the of the moon, I set in for the trade-wind of wisdom; is, I believe, the pledge of love, and perhaps prelude generally ob- but about the full and I am the luckless victim of to ma-tri-mo-ny. Everybody knows the auld wife's change, me into chaos. love servation when she saw a poor dog going to be hanged mad tornadoes, which blow Almighty I am at this moment still and revels in bosom ; and "God help us! it's the gate we ha'e a' to gang!" reigns my to for a widow, who has The parties, one of them at least, is a very particular ready hang myself young Edinburgh needs a wit and wisdom more fatal than the assassin- acquaintance of mine the honest lover. He only murderously stiletto of the Sicilian or the arrow little of an advice which my grandmother, rest her soul, ating bandit, poisoned of the African. that used to often gave me, and I as often neglected savage My Highland dirk, hang into a " beside my crutches, I have gravely removed neighbour- Leuk twice or ye loup ance." [ere] of ing closet, the key of which I cannot command in case Let me conjure friend, by the bended bow of you, my spring-tide paroxysms. You may guess of her wit by the the unloosed cestus of Vestus by the lighted Cupid by following verses, which she sent me the other day.* torch of that will have the locket finished by Hymen you My best compliments to our friend Allan. Adieu ! as the time mentioned ! And if your worship would have B. B. much Christian charity as call with it yourself, and comfort * to [" Talk not of love, it gives me pain," &c. Letter (3) Clarinda, p. 37.] a poor wretch, not wounded indeed by Cupid's arrow, but bruised by a good, serious, agonising, damned, hard knock on the knee, you will gain the earnest prayers, when he does pray, of, dear sir, your humble servant, EOBT. BURNS.

ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, ^Vo. 2, Attic Story. (20 TO ME. EICHAED BEOWN.

Edinburgh, February 15, 1788. MY DEAR FRIEND, I RECEIVED yours with the greatest pleasure, I shall arrive at Glasgow on Monday evening, and beg, if possible, you will Jttr. (i.) fitdtarb meet me on Tuesday. I shall wait you Tuesday all day. I IRVINE. shall be found at Davies s Black Bull Inn. I am hurried, as else I should to Greenock but if hunted by fifty devils, go ; Edinburgh, '30th Dec., 1787. if you cannot possibly come, write me, if possible, to Glasgow, ' MY DEAR to at Mauchline and SIR, or direct ; on Monday ; me Mossgiel by I HAVE met with few things in life which have given me name a day and place in Ayrshire, within a fortnight from more pleasure than Fortune's kindness to you since those this date, where I may meet you. I only stay a fortnight days in which we met in the vale of misery; as I can in Ayrshire, and return to Edinburgh. honestly say, that I never knew a man who more truly I am ever, my dearest friend, yours, deserved it, or to whom my heart more truly wished it. I E. B. have been much indebted since that time to your story and sentiments for steeling my mind against evils, of which I have had a pretty decent share. My will-o'-wisp fate you know : do you recollect a Sunday we spent together in Eglin- ? told BEOWN. toun woods You me, on my repeating some verses (3.) TO ME. EICHAED to you, that you wondered I could resist the temptation of sending verses of such merit to a magazine. It was from Mossgiel, 2-ith February, 178S. this remark I derived that idea of my own pieces, which MY DEAR SIR, in encouraged me to endeavour at the character of a poet. I I CANNOT get the proper direction for my friend Jamaica,

am happy to hear that you will be two or three months at but the following will do : To Mr. Jo. Hutchinson, at Jo. home. As soon as a bruised limb will permit me, I shall Brownrigg's, Esq., care of Mr. Benjamin Henriquez, mer- return to Ayrshire, and we shall meet; "and faith, I hope chant, Orange Street, Kingston. I arrived here, at my " we'll not sit nor dumb, yet cast out ! brother's, only yesterday, after fighting my way through

' ' I have much to tell you of men, their manners, and Paisley and Kilmarnock, against those old powerful foes of a little in the their ways," perhaps of the other sex. Apropos, I mine, the devil, the world, and the flesh so terrible to be to in beg remembered Mrs. Brown. There I doubt not, fields of dissipation. I have met with few incidents my dear but as in my friend, you have found substantial happiness. life which gave me so much pleasure meeting you I expect to find you something of an altered but not a Glasgow. There is a time of life beyond which we cannot different man; the wild, bold, generous young fellow com- form a tie worth the name of friendship. "O youth! en- into the is a posed steady affectionate husband, and the fond chanting stage, profusely blest." Life fairy scene; careful For I of or parent. me, am just the same will-o'-wisp almost all that deserves the name enjoyment pleasure used to be. in being I About the first and fourth quarters is only a charming delusion; and in comes repining age GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 169

too all the gravity of hoary wisdom, and wretchedly chases away gether with watching, fatigue, and a load of care almost the bewitching phantom. When I think of life, I resolve to heavy for my shoulders, have in some degree actually fevered keep a strict look-out in the course of economy, for the sake me.* I really forgot the Directory yesterday, which vexed of to culti- me but I of the of worldly convenience and independence mind: ; was convulsed with rage a great part day. vate intimacy with a few of the companions of youth, that I have to thank you for the ingenious, friendly, and elegant be the friends of to refuse from friend Crawford, I shall they may age ; never my liquorish epistle your Mr. f certainly humour a handful of the sweetmeats of life, when they come write to him, but not now. This is merely a card to you, not too dear for as I to ; and, futurity am posting Dumfries-shire, where many perplexing

" await me. I am vexed about the ; The present moment is our ain, arrangements Directory " The niest never ! we saw but, my dear Sir, forgive me : these eight days I have been crazed. to Mrs. B. I shall write How like you my philosophy ? Give my best compliments positively My compliments to at Grenada. to Mrs. B., and believe me to be, you 1 am ever, dearest friend, yours, My dear Sir, yours most truly, my E. B. E. B. * [Mr. Chambers computes that at this time, all accidental and other expenses taken into account as deductions from his capital, our Author could not have more than 380 in pocket. Mr. Creech's business relations to the Poet will be " found more fully stated in note to Willie's Awa" Posthumous Works.] t [Mr. Thomas Crawford of Cartsburn, Greenock, from whom the Poet a few days before had a friendly, jocular invitation to visit him much too highly spoken of in above terms.] (4.) TO ME. EICHAED BEOWN.

Mauchline, 1th March, 1788. I HAVE been out of the country, my dear friend, and have not had an opportunity of writing till now, when I am afraid you will be gone out of the country too. I have TO ME. EICHAED BEOWN. been looking at farms, and, after all, perhaps I may settle (6.) in the character of a farmer. I have got so vicious a bent 2lst 1789. to idleness, and have ever been so little a man of business, MauchUne, May, MY DEAR that it will take no ordinary effort to bring my mind properly FRIEND, I WAS in the and of safe into the routine: but you will say a "great effort is worthy country by accident, hearing your arrival, I could not resist the of wishing joy of you." I say so myself; and butter up my vanity with temptation you on return would write to me before all the stimulating compliments I can think of. Men of your wishing you you sail would set me down as your grave, geometrical minds, the sons of "which was to be again wishing you always bosom-friend life and and that demonstrated," may cry up reason as much as they please: wishing you long prosperity, attend Mrs. Brown and but I have always found an honest passion, or native instinct, every good thing may you wishing little ones as free of the evils of this world, as is con- the truest auxiliary in the warfare of this world. Eeason your sistent with and she were to make almost always comes to me like an unlucky wife to a poor humanity wishing you two at the with which Mrs. B. threatens devil of a husband just in sufficient time to add her re- ensuing lying-in, soon to favour me I had longer time to write proaches to his other grievances. very wishing to at and, that, if there is to [He speaks afterwards of Jean and her then unpleasant you present; finally, wishing be another state of Mr. Mrs. B., our little circumstances, and adds] existence, B., ones, and both families, and and I, in some snug retreat, I am gratified with your kind enquiries after her [Jean]; you may make a to all ! as, after all, I may say with Othello : jovial party eternity direction is at near Dumfries. " My Ellisland, Yours, Excellent wretch ! E. B. Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee."

I go for Edinburgh on Monday. Yours, E. B.

(7.) TO ME. EICHAED BEOWN.

4th 1789. (5.) TO ME. EICHAED BEOWN. Ellisland, November, I HAVE been so hurried, my ever-dear friend, that though Glasgow, 26th March, 1788. I got both your letters, I have not been able to command I AM monstrously to blame, my dear Sir, in not Writing an hour to answer them as I wished; and even now, you to you, and sending you the Directory. I have been getting are to look on this as merely confessing debt, and craving as I have taken a farm and I have been could have me so much my tack extended, ; days. Few things given pleasure Mr. Creech both of to- as that once safe and on racking shop accounts with ; which, the news you were more sound * y 170 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

" terra firma, and happy in that place where happiness is hymns, and spiritual songs; and your favorite air, Captain alone to be found in the fireside circle. May the benevolent O'Kcan," coming at length into my head, I tried these words it. be Director of all things peculiarly bless you in all those en- to You will see that the first part of the tune must dearing connexions consequent on the tender and venerable repeated. names of husband and father ! I have indeed been extremely lucky in getting an additional income of 50 a year, while, The small birds rejoice in the green leaves returning, at The the the same time, the appointment will not cost me above murmuring streamlet winds clear through vale ; 10 or 12 per annum of expenses more than I must have The hawthorn-trees blow in the dew of the morning, inevitably incurred. The worst circumstance is, that the And wild scatter'd cowslips bedeck the green dale : Excise division which I have got is so extensive no less But what can give pleasure, or what can seem fair, than ten parishes to ride over; and it abounds besides with While the lingering moments are number'd by care ? so much business, that I can scarcely steal a spare moment. No flowers gaily springing, nor birds sweetly singing, However, labour endears rest, and both together are abso- Can soothe the sad bosom of joyless despair. lutely necessary for the proper enjoyment of human exist- ence. I cannot meet you any where. No less than an I am tolerably pleased with these verses, but as I have order from the Board of Excise, at Edinburgh, is necessary only a sketch of the tune, I leave it with you to try if they before I can have so much time as to meet you in Ayrshire. suit the measure of the music. But do you come, and see me. We must have a social day, I am so harassed with care and anxiety about this farming and perhaps lengthen it out half the night, before you go project of mine, that my Muse has degenerated into the again to sea. You are the earliest friend I now have on veriest prose-wench that ever picked cinders, or followed a earth, my brothers excepted: and is not that an endearing tinker. When I am fairly got into the routine of business, circumstance ? and I first I shall trouble with a with some When you met, we were at the you longer epistle ; perhaps sits such green period of human life. The twig would easily take a queries respecting farming; at present, the world bent, but would as easily return to its former state. You a load on my mind, that it has effaced almost every trace * and I not only took a mutual bent, but, by the melancholy, of the [poet] in me. though strong influence of being both of the family of the My very best compliments and good wishes to Mrs. Cleghorn. unfortunate, we were entwined with one another in our E. B.

towards advanced and blasted be the sacri- * growth age; [This word was left purposely by our Author, in the original, a . So at ' legious hand that shall to undo the union! You leasicast it stands in Carrie's edition, significantly and well.] attempt " Cleghorn, who, in reply to the above, addresses our Author as My dear and I must have one to favorite [Mr. bumper my toast, "May Brother was a man and also a musical. At his " Farmer," jovial special request, the of our be the friends of 7 companions youth our old age ! the above lines were modified, and by the addition of as man} more were con- " Come and see me one I shall see verted into the beautiful Jacobite song entitled The Chevalier's Lament." The year ; you at Port- Glasgow air, as we learn from other sources, from the testimony of his widow in particular, if the next ; and we can contrive to have a gossiping between was a great favourite of our Author's. The reader may compare note on the our two it " Poetical 294. Mr. some bed-fellows, will be so much additional pleasure. Chevalier's Lament," Works, p. Cleghorn promised advice on which, however, was of slight ayail.] Mrs. Burns joins me in kind compliments to you and Mrs. practical farming, Brown. Adieu ! I am ever, my dear Sir, yours, E. B. " [On the above correspondence Professor Walker remarks The letters to Richard Brown, written at a period when the Poet was in the full blaze of showed that he at no reputation, was time so dazzled with success as to forget the friends who had anticipated the public by discovering his merit." are " TO MR. EOBEET CLEGHOEN, Brown himself, we informed by Cunningham, retrieved his fortunes, and (2.) lived mueh in Greenock to a respected good old age. lie said Burns had little to SAUGHTON. learn in matters of when he levity, became acquainted with him." To judge by all the letters now before our own conviction us, certainly is, that our Author, in his celebrated letter to Dr. has Moore, exaggerated both his own failings in this [Dumfries, list August, 1795.] respect and those of his young friend Brown. He could never have written such letters as the above to who had done MY DEAR CLEGHORN, any man him so grievous a moral injury as there implied. to Clarke's Gaffer I have not time Compare Autobiographical Letter Dr. Moore p. 72.] INCLOSED you have Gray. for [to take a] copy of it, so, when you have taken a copy yourself, please return me the original. I need not caution you against giving copies to any other person. Peggy Earn- say I shall expect to find in Gaffer Gray's company, when he returns to Dumfries. (I-) Mv. Robert John Syme beg leave of melancholy, joyless muirs, between Galloway and Ayr- to be remembered to you all. They both speak in high terms it I turned being Sunday, my thoughts to psalms, and of the acquisition they have made to their acquaintance. Did

FAG-SIMILE OF EXCISE PERMIT.

7*9&*w

KIND PERMISSION OF DR. T. B. CRIERSON, THORNHILL, DUMFRIESSHIRE. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 171

Thomson meet you on Sunday? If so, you would have a My compliments to Mr. Purden. I am in truth, but at world of conversation. Mrs. Burns joins in thanks for your present in haste, yours sincerely, obliging, very obliging visit. E. B. Yours ever, E. BURNS. [Burns had never felt the full measure of the beauty of his poems till he heard Mr. Aiken read them. Mr. Lockhart of Glasgow did him a similar service re- garding his songs. On hearing him for the first time sing some of these pieces, " P.S. Did ever meet with the following "Todlin he exclaimed with great naivete I'll be hanged if I ever knew half their merit you " till now ! Ilame," by the late Mr. M'Culloch of Airdwell, Galloway ? Chambers.]

interest is connected with this short for [A good deal of conjectural epistle ; if the Mr. Allan referred to was David Allan the painter, commonly known as the "Scottish Hogarth" which seems possible, from the occurrence of his name and Cleghorn's again in a letter (55) to Thomson, p. 103 then he must have been on a visit to the Poet at Dumfries along with Cleghorn in 1795, which would be the first and only time in their lives these two men of genius met. Before that date our Author had not the pleasure of Allan's acquaintance, although Allan had his been illustrating his works, and had even hit an imaginary likeness of him in (I-) 10 picture of the "Cotter's Saturday Night" compare letters (43) and (50) to fUbert (iraham, after that date there was no This there- Thomson ; and opportunity. interview, " " of OF FINTRY.* fore, between Mr. Allan and Mr. Burns," the only genuine and real painters Scottish costume in the world," as our Poet honours Allan by saying, would be

to us like the interview with Neil Gow : and it would be a source of interesting SIR, great gratification to themselves, more especially as they were both indebted for I had the honour of introduced to at early patronage and friendship to the same liberal hand. David Allan, although WHEN being you born at Alloa, was educated as an artist first in Glasgow and then at Home, Athole-house, I did not think so soon of asking a favour of the interest or at the of Gavin Hamilton. On the chiefly by personal expense When in asked Old Kent other hand we find a Mr. John Allan associated with Robert and you. Lear, Shakspeare, why Cleghorn " Robert as a subscriber behalf of the Poet's which looks like he wished to be in his he Because Wight on family ; service, answers, you the above presumptive evidence equally strong against pleasant theory. Having have that in your face which I would fain call master." nothing more to guide us to a conclusion in the matter, we must leave it thus undetermined with our readers. For some such reason, Sir, do I now solicit your patronage. final with himself seems to have been social and This interview Cleghorn You know, I dare say, of an application I lately made to in the truest sense, and one in which not only Maxwell and Syme, but friendly your Board to be admitted an officer of Excise. I have, Mrs. Burns herself could join, and which doubtless she enlivened with her voice, to a agreeably. The letter itself, which we print from original in possession of according form, been examined by supervisor, and to- has no date of its own but is George Manners, Esq., F.S.A., Croydon, inside, day I gave in his certificate, with a request for an order dated at full outside, and franked by P. Miller that is, younger of Dalswinton, for instructions. In this affair, if I succeed, I am afraid I who was then Member for the Dumfries Burghs. Compare letter (6) to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintry.] shall but too much need a patronizing friend. Propriety of conduct as a man, and fidelity and attention as an officer, 1 dare engage for; but with any thing like business, except manual labour, I am totally unacquainted. I had intended to have closed my late appearance on the of in the character of a farmer but after stage life, country ; discharging some filial and fraternal claims, I find I could only fight for existence in that miserable manner, which I 10 JtTr. c0rgc have lived to see throw a venerable parent into the jaws of a whence the man's last and often best MERCHANT, GLASGOW. jail; death, poor friend, rescued him. I know, Sir, that to need is to have a Mauchline, 18th July, 1788. your goodness, claim on I, therefore, to for- MY DEAR SIR, it; may beg your patronage ward me in this affair, till I be appointed to a division; I AM just going for Nithsdale, else I would certainly have where, the of rigid economy, I will to transcribed some of my rhyming things for you. The Miss by help try support that independence so dear to my soul, but which has been Baillies I have seen in Edinburgh. "Fair and lovely are too often so distant from situation. thy works, Lord God Almighty ! Who would not praise Thee my E. B. for these Thy gifts in Thy goodness to the sons of men !" It needed not fine taste to admire them. I declare, one your * [Mr. Graham, of Fintry, Fintra, or Fintray (for his designation is thus vari- I had the honor of at Mr. I was almost day dining Baillic's, was cousin to Sir William of ously spelt), Murray Auchtertyre ; and seems to in the predicament of the children of Israel, when they could have been introduced to our Author at supper, in the Duke of Athole's at Blair also letter compare Highland Tour, Appendix ; to Mr. Walker. The not look on Moses' face for the glory that shone in it when he important series of letters addressed to him appeared for the first tune complete in Appendix Sinai. descended from Mount to Mr. Chambers's edition, from which we now quote them, with some explana- notes of our own. Mr. as our readers are was I did once write a poetic address from the Falls of Bruar to tory Graham, aware, a Commis- sioner at the Board of Excise, and one of our Author's warmest friends there in his Grace of Athole, when I was in the Highlands. When his professional capacity.] you return to Scotland, let me know, and I will send such of my pieces as please myself best. I return to Mauchline in about ten days. 172 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

and (2-) TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. most striking beauty in that species of composition, my wanderings in the way of my business would be vastly nature. Ettisland, 10th Sept., 1788. favourable to my picking up original traits of human SIR, I again, Sir, earnestly beg your forgiveness for this letter. THE scrapes and premunires into which our indiscretions I have done violence to my own feelings in writing it. and in the constitution of often ' follies, ordinary things, bring If I in au^ht have done amiss, ' us, are bad enough; but it is peculiarly hard that a man's Impute it not ! virtues should involve him in disquiet, and the very goodness My thoughts on this business, as usual with me when my of his heart cause the of his You, Sir, persecution peace. mind is burdened, vented themselves in the enclosed verses, have patronized and befriended me not by barren compli- which I have taken the liberty to inscribe to you. ments, which merely fed vanity, or little marks of notice, I my You, Sir, have the power to bless; but the only claim which perhaps only encumbered me more in the awkward- have to your friendly offices is my having already been the ness of native but by persevering my rusticity, being my object of your goodness, which [indeed looks like] producing friend in real life and as if ; now, your continued benevolence my debt instead of my discharge. had given me a prescriptive right, I am going again to trouble I am sure I go on Scripture grounds in this affair, for I you with importunities. " my "ask in faith, nothing doubting; and for the true Scripture Your Honourable Board sometime ago gave me Excise my reason too, because I have the fullest conviction that "my commission, which I as sheet-anchor in life. regard my My benefactor is good." farm, now that I have tried it a little, I think it though I have the honour to be, Sir, your deeply indebted humble will in time be a does no means saving bargain, yet by servant, promise to be such a pennyworth as I was taught to expect. EOBT. BURNS. It is in the last stage of worn-out poverty, and it will take some time before it pay the rent. I might have had cash to supply the deficiencies of these hungry years; but I have a younger brother and three sisters on a farm in Ayrshire, and it took all my surplus over what I thought for necessary my farming capital, to save not only the (3.) TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. comfort, but the very existence of that fireside family circle from impending destruction. This was done before I took Ellisland, 23rd Sept. 1788. the farm; and rather than abstract my money from my SIR, brother a circumstance which would ruin him I will re- THOUGH I am scarce able to hold up my head with this sign the farm, and enter immediately into the service of fashionable influenza, which is just now the rage hereabouts, your Honours. But I am embarked now in the farm; I yet, with half a spark of life, I would thank you for your have commenced married man and I of the to in- ; am determined to most generous favour 14th, which, owing my stand by my lease till resistless necessity compel me to frequent calls at the post-office in the hurry of harvest, came quit my ground. only to hand yesternight. I assure you, my ever-honobred There is one way by which I might be enabled to extricate Sir, I read it with eyes brimful of other drops than those of myself from this embarrassment a scheme which I hope and anguish. Oh, what means of happiness the Author of good- am certain is in your power to effectuate. I live here, Sir, in ness has put in their hands to whom he has given the power the very centre of a country Excise division; the present to bless ! and what real happiness has he given to those on officer lately lived on a farm which he rented, in my nearest whom he has likewise bestowed kind, generous, benevolent

and as the to ! Did from fears neighbourhood ; gentleman, owing some legacies, dispositions you know, Sir, how many and is a removal could do him no manner of the assurance of and quite opulent, injury ; forebodings friendly your patronage and on a month's warning to give me a little time to look protection has freed me, it would be some reward for your again over my instructions, I would not be afraid to enter goodness. on business. I do not know the name of his division, as I I am cursed with a melancholy prescience, which makes me have not yet got acquainted with any of the Dumfries Excise the veriest coward in life. There is not any exertion which I but his name is Leonard Smith. It not rather than be in that horrid situation to people ; own would suit would attempt, to enter on it of next to call the to fall me beginning summer ; but I shall be be ready on mountains on me, and the hills in Edinburgh to wait upon you about the affair, sometime in to cover me from the presence of a haughty landlord, or his the ensuing winter. still more haughty iinderling, to whom I owed what I could I think how and on I the When what have written to you, Sir, not pay. My muse, too, circumstance that, after my I shudder at my own kardiesse. Forgive me, Sir, I have told domestic comfort, is by far the dearest to my soul, to have If you my situation. -asking anything less could possibly it in my power to cultivate her acquaintance to advantage I not asked so have done, would have much. in short, Sir, you have, like the great Being whose image I in the it If were service, would likewise favour my poeti- you so richly bear, made a creature happy, who had no other cal schemes. I am thinking of something in the rural way, claim to your goodness than his necessity, and who can make of of the drama kind. Originality character is, I think, the you no other return than his grateful acknowledgment. GEXERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 173

My farm, I think I am certain, will in the long-run be an scenes of considerable revolutions since his book was written. for me and as I rent it the first three I take the of and object ; years something Though advantage your goodness, presume a to not under [its value], I will be able to weather by twelvemonth, send you any new poetic thing of mine, I must or more it would make me set fortune more tax with answers to each of idle letters. I remem- perhaps ; though you my at defiance, if it can be in your power to grant my request, as ber you talked of being this way with my honoured friend, I mentioned, in the beginning of next summer. I was think- Sir William Murray, in the course of this summer. You ing that, as I am only a little more than five miles from cannot imagine, Sir, how happy it would make me, should Dumfries, I might perhaps officiate there, if any of these you, too, illuminate my humble domicile. You will cer- officers could be removed with more propriety than Mr. tainly do me the honour to partake of a farmer's dinner Smith; but besides the monstrous inconvenience of it to with me. I shall promise you a piece of good old beef, me, I could not bear to injure a poor fellow by outing him a chicken, or perhaps a Nith salmon, fresh from the wear, to make way for myself; to a wealthy son of good-fortune and a glass of good punch, on the shortest notice; and like Smith, the injury is imaginary where the propriety of allow me to say that Cincinnatus or Fabricius, who pre- your rules admits. sided in the august Roman senate, and led their invincible Had I been well, I intended to have troubled you further armies, would have jumped at such a dinner. I expect a of soil and of but honours with a kind of enthusiasm. I shall mark with description my plan farming ; your business will call me to town about February next. I the year, and mark the day, and hand it down to my hope then to have the honour of assuring you in proprid children's children, as one of the most distinguished honours of persona, how much and how truly I am, Sir, your deeply their ancestor. indebted and ever-grateful, humble servant, I have the honour to be, with sincerest gratitude, your EOBT. BURNS. obliged and very humble servant, ROBT. BURNS.

TO EGBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. Ellisland, 13th May, 1789.

Sm, Ellisland, 31st July, 1789. THOUGH I intend a little manuscript-book of my making SIR, poems for Mrs. Graham, yet I cannot forbear unpublished THE language of gratitude has been so prostituted by in the meantime sending her the enclosed, which was the servile adulation and designing flattery, that I know not of the other day. In the plea of humanity, the production how to express myself when I would acknowledge the ladies, to their honour be it spoken, are ever warmly inter- receipt of your last letter. I beg and hope, ever-honoured this ested. That is one reason of with ; my troubling you " Friend of my life ! true patron of my rhymes," another motive I have is a hackneyed subject in my letters will me credit for the chastest to you God help a poor devil who carries about with him that you always give sincerest,

to ease ! The callous be louder than I in a load of gratitude, of which he can never hope gratitude hypocrite may he never or his shoulders but at the expense of his heart! I waited his grateful professions professions which felt; the bounties on Collector Mitchell with your letter. It happened to be the selfish heart of the covetous may pocket

of beneficence with more exultation ; but for the collection-day, so he was very busy; but he received me rejoicing to call from the ardent of an with the utmost politeness, and made me promise brimful eye, springing throbbings a bene- on him soon. As I don't wish to degrade myself to a honest bosom, at the goodness of kindly active and I dare call the Searcher hungry rook, gaping for a morsel, I shall just give him factor politely generous friend, and Author of all to witness how a hint of my wishes. I am going on with a bold hand in of hearts goodness truly are mine to my farm, and am certain of holding it with safety for three these you. sent or and I if some cursed malevolent star Mr. Mitchell did not wait my calling on him, but four years ; think, me a hint of the and have not taken irremovable possession of my zenith, that me a kind letter, giving business, as an on on him he entered with the your patronage and my own priority then expectant, my waiting yesterday, into and interests. He should run a fair chance for the division I want. By the most friendly ardour my views mentioned were not in seems to think, and from own private knowledge I am bye, the Excise instructions you my certain he is that the officer who now does, the bundle; but 'tis no matter; Marshall in his Yorkshire, right, removing in his and for these years has done, duty in the division and particularly that extraordinaiy man, Smith, many in the middle of which I live, will be productive of at Wealth of Nations, find my leisure employment enough. half least no to the revenue, and likewise I could not have given any mere man credit for the disadvantage may in his book. I would be done without any detriment to him. Should the Hon- intelligence Mr. Smith discovers ourable Board think so, and should deem it eligible covet much to have his ideas respecting the present state they or have the to me to officiate in his present place, I am then of some quarters of the world that are, been, appoint M ir

174 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

at the top of rny wishes. The emoluments of my office with all my soul; nay, I believe I sometimes catch myself will enable me to carry on and enjoy those improvements praying for it. I am not impatient of my own impotence in my farm, which, but for this additional assistance, I under that immense debt which I owe to your goodness, might in a year or two have abandoned. Should it be but I wish and beseech that BEING- who has all good things judged improper to place me in this division, I am de- in His hands, to bless and- reward you with all those com- liberating whether I had not better give up my farming forts and pleasures which He knows I would bestow on you, altogether, and go into the Excise wherever I can find were they mine to give. employment. Now that the salary is 50 per annum, the I shall return your books very soon. I only wish to Excise is surely a much superior object to a farm, which, give Dr. Smith one other perusal, which I will do in two without some foreign assistance, must for half a lease be a or three days. I do not think that I must trouble you for losing bargain. The worst of it is, I know there are some another cargo, at least for some time, as I am going to respectable characters who do me the honour to interest apply to Leadbetter and Symons on Gauging, and to study themselves in my welfare and behaviour, and as leaving my Sliding Eule, Brannan's Eule, &c., with all possible the farm so soon may have an unsteady, giddy-headed attention. appearance, I had perhaps better lose a little money than An apology for the impertinent length of this epistle would hazard such people's esteem. only add to the evil. You see, Sir, with what freedom I lay before you all I have the honour to be, Sir, little matters little indeed to the but of the Your indebted humble Servt. my world, deeply , most important magnitude to me. You are so good, that ROBT. BURNS. I trust I am not troublesome. I have heard and read a good deal of philanthropy, generosity, and greatness of soul, and when rounded with the nourish of declamatory periods, or poured in the mellifluence of Parnassian measure, they have a tolerable effect on a musical ear; but when these TO EOBEET GRAHAM, ESQ. high-sounding professions are compared with the very act and deed as they are usually performed, I do not think 9th December, 1789. there is anything in or belonging to human nature so SIR, baldly disproportionate. In fact, were it not for a very few I HAVE a good while had a wish to trouble you with a of our kind, among whom an honoured friend of mine, letter, and had certainly done it long ere now but for a hu- that to you, Sir, I will not name, is a distinguished in- miliating something that throws cold water on the resolution, " dividual, the very existence of magnanimity, generosity, as if one should say, You have found Mr. Graham a very and all their kindred virtues, would be as much a question powerful and kind friend indeed, and that interest he is so among metaphysicians, as the existence of witchcraft. Per- kindly taking in your concerns, you ought by every thing in haps the nature of man is not so much to blame for all your power to keep alive and cherish." Now, though, since this, as the situation in which, by some miscarriage or God has thought proper to make one powerful and another other, he is in this world. The the connection of and is all fair placed poor, naked, help- helpless, obliger obliged ; less wretch, with such voracious appetites and such a famine and though my being under your patronage is to me highly of provision for them, is under a kind of cursed necessity honourable, yet, Sir, allow me to flatter myself, that, as a of turning selfish in his own defence. Except here and poet, and an honest man you first interested yourself in my there a scelerat, who seems to be a scoundrel from the welfare, and principally as such still you permit me to womb by original sin, thorough-paced selfishness is always approach you. a of work time. Indeed, in a little time, we generally I have found the Excise business go on a great deal grow .so attentive to ourselves, and so regardless of others, smoother with me than I expected; owing a good deal to that I have often in poetic frenzy looked on this world as the generous friendship of Mr. Mitchell, my collector, and one vast ocean, occupied and commoved by innumerable the kind assistance of Mr. Findlater, my supervisor. I dare vortices, each whirling round its centre, which vortices are to be honest, and I fear no labour. Nor do I find my hurried the children of men; and that the great design and merit, life greatly inimical to my correspondence with the Muses. if I of may say so, every particular vortex consists, in how Their visits to me, indeed, and I believe, to most of their

wide it can extend the ' ' influence of its circle, and how much acquaintance, like the visits of good angels, are short and " * floating trash it can suck in and absorb. far between but I meet them now and then ; as I jog I know not I why have got into this preaching vein, through the hills of Nithsdale, just as I used to do on the it be to shew that it is except you, Sir, not my ignorance banks of Ayr. I take the liberty to enclose you a few but of mankind which my knowledge makes me so much bagatelles, all of them the productions of my leisure thoughts admire your goodness to your humble servant. in my Excise rides. I this will find hope my amiable young acquaintance, If you know or have ever seen Captain Grose, the anti- recovered from his John, indisposition, and all the members quary, you will enter into any humour that is in the of fireside circle well your charming and happy. I am sure verses on him. Perhaps you have seen them before, as I I am anxiously interested in all their I to a London welfares; wish it sent them newspaper. Though I dare say GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 175

have none of the you Solemn-League-and-Covenant fire, but his Grace thinks he has a majority of the council, though which shone so in conspicuous Lord George Gordon, and I, who have the honour to bo a burgess of the town, and know the Kilmarnock I think weavers, yet you must have heard somewhat behind the curtain, could tell him a different story. of Dr. one of the of and his hereti- M'Gill, Clergymen Ayr, The worst of it for the buff and blue folks is, that their cal book. God man! he is one help him, poor Though candidate, Captain M[iller], my landlord's son, is, entre nous, of the as well as one of the of a worthiest, ablest the whole youth by no means above mediocrity in his abilities, and of the Kirk of in is priesthood Scotland, every sense of that said to have a huckster-lust for shillings, pence, and ambiguous term, yet the poor Doctor and his numerous farthings. This is the more remarkable, as his father's are in family imminent danger of being thrown out to the abilities and benevolence are so justly celebrated. J of the mercy winter-winds. The enclosed ballad on that The song beginning "Thou lingering star," &c., is the business is, I confess, too local, but I laughed myself at last, and, in my own opinion, by much the best of the some conceits in it, though I am convinced in my con- enclosed compositions. I beg leave to present it with my science that there are 'a good many heavy stanzas in it too.f most respectful compliments .to Mrs. Graham. The Election Ballad, as you will see, alludes to the present I return you by the carrier, the bearer of this, Smith's canvass in our string of burghs. I do not believe there will Wealth of Nations, Marshall's Yorkshire, and Angola. Les be a harder-run match in the whole general election. The Contes de Fontaine is in the way of my trade, and I must great man here, like all renegadoes, is a flaming zealot kicked give it another reading or two. Chansons Joyeuses, and out before the astonished indignation of his deserted master, another little French book, I keep for the same reason. I and despised, I suppose, by the party who took him in to be a think you will not be reading them, and I will not keep mustering faggot at the mvsterious orgies of their midnight them long. iniquities, and a useful drudge in the dirty work of their Forgive me, Sir, for the stupid length of this epistle. I country elections; he would fain persuade this part of the pray Heaven it may find you in a humour to read The world that he is turned patriot, and, where he knows his Belfast New Almanac, or The Bachelor's Garland, containing men, has the impudence to aim away at the unmistrusting five excellent new songs, or the Paisley poet's version of manner of a man of conscience and principle. Nay, to such the Psalms of David, and then my impertinence may disgust an intemperate height has his zeal carried him that in con- the less. vulsive violence to every feeling in his bosom, he has made I have the honour to be, Sir, your ever-grateful, humble some desperate attempts at the hopeless business of getting servant, for EOBT. BURNS. himself a character benevolence ; and, in one or two late terrible strides in pursuit of party-interest, has actually * [Marsh, of America, in his Lectures on the English Language, thus traces the stumbled on something like the welfare of his meaning origin of this celebrated idea : John Norris, about close of the seventeenth cen- fellow-creatures. tury, has " " Like angels' visits, short and bright : I beg your pardon, Sir, if I differ from you in my idea of Dr. Blair, fifty years later, improves into this but were to know his as well of " great man; you sins, Visits, like those of angels, short and far between :" omission as to this land, would Thomas Campbell perfects, by help of mere alliteration, in the well-known line commission, outraged you " Like visits, few and far between." club curse with the voice of the angels' your execrating country. Our Author, whom Marsh seems not to have observed, manifestly quotes from and renders I am too little a man to have any political attachments; I Blair, but with an alteration most characteristic of himself, which the idea not only more significant in every way, but entirely new : Not all angels am deeply indebted to, and have the warmest veneration " " to seldom visit this world but alas ! (he seems say) ; only good angels ] individuals of both but a man who has it in for, parties; f [Kirk's Alarm is here no doubt referred to. Compare letter (2) to Logan of his power to be the father of a country, and who is only Afton, to whom a few months before, with the very same expressions regarding it, the original copy was sent.] known to that country by the mischiefs he does in it, is a t [This gentleman was the successful candidate, notwithstanding. His sup- character of which one cannot speak with patience. porter, "the great man" referred to above, was the Duke of Queensberry. Com- Election Sir James Johnston does "what man can do," but yet I pare Ballads.] of is secure Kirk- doubt his fate. Of the burgh Annan he ; cudbright is dubious. He has the provost; but Lord Daer, who does the honours of great man to the place, makes every effort in his power for the opposite interest. Luckily for Sir James, his lordship, though a very good lord, is a very poor (7-) TO EGBERT GEAHAM, ESQ. politician. Dumfries and Sanquhar are decidedly the duke's " " Globe, 4th to let or sell; so Lochmaben, a city containing upwards of Dumfries, Inn, Sept., 1790. fourscore living souls that cannot discern between their right SIR, hand and their left for drunkenness has at present the THE very kind letter you did me the honour to write me balance of power in her hands. The honourable council of that reached me just as I was setting in to the whirlpool of an of I fifteen in number but alas ! their fifteen Excise from the vortex which am ancient burgh are ; fraud-court, just in a unfit situation to do names indorsing a bill of fifteen pounds, would not discount emerged, Heaven knows very of bosom when I sit down to the said bill in any banking-office. My lord provost, who is justice to the workings my one of the soundest-headed, best-hearted, whisky-drinking write to the " fellows in the south of Scotland, is devoted to Sir James; Friend of my life true patron of my rhymes." 176 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

I As my division consists of ten large parishes, and, am they also produce their sacred fruits, more especially for sorry to say, hitherto very carelessly surveyed, I had a good another world; but when the haggard beldam throws her deal of business for the I believe decreet justices; and my invidious veil over wit, spirit, &c. but I trust another world will to I amount between fifty and sixty pounds. I took, will cast light on the subject. fancy, rather a new way with my frauds. I recorded every I have the honour to be, Sir, your deeply obliged and very de/aulter; but at the court I myself begged off every poor humble servant, EOBT. BURNS.

body that was unable to which candour * pay, seeming gave [Compare letter to Collector Mitchell, and Answers to Petition of T. J. im- me so much implicit credit with the honourable bench, that, mediately following. These decreets were, of course, additions to salary.] with high compliments, they gave me such ample vengeance on the rest, that my decreet is double the amount of any division in the district.*

I am going either to give up or subset my farm directly. I not have liberty to subset; but if my master will grant (8.) TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. it I me, propose giving it, just as I have it to myself, to an industrious fellow of a near relation of mine. Farming this [Post-mark, Oct. 6.] in which I live would be a livelihood to a I OUGHT to written but a mere letter place just man who have you long ago ; would be the greatest drudge in his own family; so is no of thanks must be to you an insipid business. I wish to object; and living here hinders me from that knowledge in send you something that will give you at least as much the business of Excise which it is absolutely necessary for amusement as The Aberdeen New Prognostication, or Six me to attain. Excellent New Songs. Along with two other pieces, I en- I did not like to be an incessant beggar from you. A close you a sheetful of groans, wrung from me in my elbow- port-division I wish, if possible, to get; my kind, funny chair, with one unlucky leg on a stool before me. I will friend, Captain Grose, offered to interest Mr. Brown, and make no apology for addressing it to you: I have no longer

perhaps Mr. Wharton, for me : a very handsome opportunity a choice of patrons : the truly noble Glencairn is no more ! I offered of getting Mr. Corbet, supervisor-general, to pledge intend soon to do myself the honour of writing Mrs. Graham, service in his and I and her some other lesser of late date. every power ; then was just going to sending pieces My with idle so I her acquaint you what I had done, or rather what was done Muse will sooner be in mischief than be ; keep for me, that as everybody have their particular friends to at work. serve, you might find the less obstacle in what, I assure I thought to have mentioned some Excise ideas that your you, Sir, I constantly count on your wishes and endeavours late goodness has put in my head; but it is so like the to be of service to me. As I had an eye to getting on the sorning impudence of a sturdy beggar, that I cannot do it. examiner's list, if attainable by me, I was going to ask you if It was something in the way of an officiating job. With the it of would be any service to try the interest of some great, most ardent wish that you may be rewarded by Him who and some very great folks, to whom I have the honour to be can do it, for your generous patronage to a man who, though I known mean in the way of a Treasury warrant. But feeling sensible of it, is quite unable to repay it, I have much as early impressions have given me of the horrors of the honour, &c. spectres, &c., still I would face the arch-fiend, in Miltonic " [Here follows Note to Mrs. Graham, with Prologue, Rights of Woman." See pomp, at the head of all his legions, and hear that infernal note on.] shout which blind John says "tore hell's concave," rather than crawl in, a dust-licking petitioner, before the lofty presence of a mighty man, and bear, amid all the mortifying of pangs self-annihilation, the swelling consequence of his (9.) TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. d the state, and cold monosyllables of his hollow heart ! It was in the view of trying for a port, that I asked December, 1792. Collector Mitchell to get me appointed, which he has done, SIR, to a vacant foot-walk in Dumfries. If ever I am so fortu- I HAVE been surprised, confounded, and distracted by Mr. nate as to be called out to do business as a supervisor, I Mitchell, the collector, telling me that he has received an would then choose the north of Scotland; but until that order from your Board to enquire into my political' conduct, Utopian period, I own I have some wayward feelings of and blaming me as a person disaffected to government. appearing as a simple ganger in a country where I am only Sir, you are a husband and a father. You know what of known by fame. Port-Glasgow, Greenock, or Dumfries ports you would feel, to see the much-loved wife your bosom, would, in the meantime, be my ultimatum. and your helpless, prattling little ones, turned adrift into the I enclose you a tribute I have just been -paying to the world, degraded and disgraced from a situation in which they memory of my friend. Matthew Henderson, whom I daresay had been respectable and respected, and left almost without you must have known. I had acknowledged your goodness the necessary support of a miserable existence. Alas. Sir ! sooner, but for want of time to transcribe the poem. Poor must I think that such, soon, will be my lot ! and from the

! I can ! Matthew forgive poverty for hiding virtue and piety. d-mned, dark insinuations of hellish, groundless envy too not of They are only plants that flourish best in the shade, but I believe, Sir, I may aver it, and in the sight Omniscience, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 177

that I would not tell a deliberate falsehood, not no, though private worth it is altogether impossible that such a man even worse horrors, if worse can be, than those I have men- as I can appreciate; and in his public capacity I always tioned, over head; and I that the hung my say, allegation, revered, and always will, with the soundest loyalty, revere whatever villain has made it, is a lie ! To the British con- the monarch of Great Britain, as, to speak in masonic, the stitution on Eevolution principles, next after my God, I sacred KEYSTONE OF OUR EOYAL ARCH CONSTITUTION. am most attached. You, Sir, have been much and devoutly As to EEFORM PRINCIPLES, I look upon the British consti- friend. Heaven knows how I have generously my warmly tution, as settled at the Eevolution, to be the most glorious felt the and how I have thanked obligation, gratefully you. constitution on earth, or that perhaps the wit of man can Sir, has made and me Fortune, you powerful, impotent; frame; at the same time, I think, and you know what high has and me I would given you patronage, dependence. not, and distinguished characters have for some time thought so, for single self, call on were such that my your humanity; my we have a good deal deviated from the original principles insular, unconnected situation, I would despise the tear that of that constitution of ; particularly, that an alarming system now swells in I could my eye brave misfortune, I could corruption has pervaded the connection between the executive face for at the ruin; worst, "Death's thousand doors stand power and the House of Commons. This is the and " truth, ! ; Good God the tender concerns that I have open but, the whole truth, of my reform opinions, which, before I was mentioned, the claims and ties that I see at this moment, aware of the complexion of these innovating times, I too and feel around me, how unnerve and wither they courage unguardedly (now I see it) sported with; but henceforth I resolution ! To as a man of some your patronage, genius, seal up my lips. However, I never dictated to, corresponded have allowed me a claim and as an honest you ; your esteem, with, or had the least connection with, any political association I know is due. To these, me to man, my Sir, permit appeal ; whatever except, that when the magistrates and principal by these may I adjure you to save me from that misery which inhabitants of this town met to declare their attachment to threatens to and overwhelm me, which, with my latest breath the constitution, and their abhorrence of riot, which declar- I will I have not deserved. say it, ation you would see in the papers, I, as I thought my duty E. B. as a subject at large, and a citizen in particular, called upon me, subscribed the same declaratory creed. Of Johnston, the publisher of the Edinburgh Gazetteer, I know nothing. One evening, in company with four or five friends, we met with his prospectus, which we thought manly and indepen-

(10.) TO EOBEET GEAHAM, ESQ. dent : and I wrote to him, ordering his paper for us. If you think that I act improperly in allowing his paper to come Dumfries, 5th Jan., 1793. addressed to me, I shall immediately countermand it. I SIR, never, so judge me God ! wrote a line of prose for the Gazet- I AM this moment honoured with your letter; with what teer in my life. An occasional address, spoken by Miss feelings I received this other instance of your goodness, I Fontenelle on her benefit-night here, which I called the shall not pretend to describe. Bights of Woman, I sent to the Gazetteer, as also some ex- Now to the charges which malice and misrepresentation tempore stanzas on the commemoration of Thomson; both have brought against me. It has been said, it seems, that these I will subjoin for your perusal. You will see that I not only belong to, but head a disaffected party in this they have nothing whatever to do with politics. At the place. I know of no party in this place, either republican time when I sent Johnston one of these poems, but which or reform, except an old party of borough-reform, with which one I do not remember, I enclosed, at the request of my I never had anything to do. Individuals, both republican warm and worthy friend, Eobert Eiddel, Esq., of Glenriddel, and reform, we have, though not many of either : but if they a prose essay, signed Cato, written by him, and addressed to have associated, it is more than I have the least knowledge the delegates for the County Eeform, of which he was one for of, and if there exists such an association, it must consist of this country. With the merits or demerits of that essay I such obscure nameless beings, as precludes any possibility have nothing to do, further than transmitting it in the same of my being known to them, or they to me. I was in the frank, which frank he had procured me. playhouse one night when Ca ira was called for. I was in As to France, I was her enthusiastic votary in the begin- the middle of the pit, and from the pit the clamour arose. ning of the business. When she came to shew her old avidity One or two individuals with whom I occasionally associate for conquest, in annexing Savoy, &c., to her dominions, and were of the party, but I neither knew of the plot nor joined invading the rights of Holland, I altered my sentiments. A in the plot, nor ever opened my lips either to hiss or huzza tippling ballad, which I made on the Prince of Brunswick's that or any other political tune whatever. I looked on my- breaking up his camp, and sung one convivial evening, I self as far too obscure a man to have any weight in quelling shall likewise send you, sealed up, as it is not everybody's as a character of This last is not worth but lost Mrs. a riot; at the same time, higher respect- reading. your perusal ; ability than to yell in the howlings of a rabble. This was FAME should, as she has already done, use, and even abuse all first characters in the and these old of shall be master of the conduct of the place ; her privilege lying, you everything, * characters know, and will avow, that such was my conduct. le pour et le contre, of my political writings and conduct. I never uttered any invectives against the king. His This, my honoured patron, is all. To this statement I *Z LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

third or division challenge disquisition. Mistaken prejudice, or unguarded two chandlers I would give to the tobacco ; and often misled me but when it is the idlest of us all. That I seem I shall passion, may mislead, have ; may impartial, called on to answer for my mistakes, though I will say it willingly take under my charge the common brewer and the the no man can feel keener compunction for his errors, yet, I victuallers. The tea and spirit stocks divide between trust, no man can be more superior to evasion or disguise. Bridgend and Dumfries second divisions. They have at I shall do myself the honour to thank Mrs. Graham for her present but very little, comparatively, to do, and are quite goodness in a separate letter. adequate to the task, be If, Sir, I have been so fortunate as to do away these mis- I assure you, Sir, that by my plan the duties will apprehensions of my conduct and character, I shall, with the equally well charged, and thus an officer's appointment saved confidence which you were wont to allow me, apply to your to the public. You must remark one thing -that our com- goodness on every opening in the way of business where I mon brewers are, every man of them in Dumfries, completely think I, with propriety, may offer myself. An instance that and unexceptionally, fair traders. One or two rascally crea-

occurs now : Mr. of the tures are in the division but besides just M'Farlane, supervisor Galloway Bridgend ; being nearly district, is and has been for some time very ill. I spoke to ruined, as all smugglers deserve, by fine and forfeiture, their Mr. Mitchell as to his wishes to forward my application for business is on the most trifling scale you can fancy. the but he and does I must of should that job ; though expressed, ever express, beg you, Sir, my plan please you, for it as every kindness me, he hesitates, in hopes that the disease you will conceal my hand in it, and give your own may be of short continuance. However, as it seems to be a thought. My warm and worthy friend, Mr. Corbet, may paralytic affection, I fear that it may be some time ere he can think me an impertinent intermeddler in his department; take charge of so extended a district. There is a great deal and Mr. Findlater, my supervisor, who is not only one of of fatigue and very little business in the district two things the first, if not the very first, excisemen in your service, suitable enough to my hardy constitution, and inexperience but is also one of the worthiest fellows in the universe he, in that line of life. I feel hurt at it and as he is one of most know, would ; my I have the honour to be, Sir, your ever-grateful, as highly intimate friends, you can easily figure how it would place obliged, humble servant, me to have my plan known to be mine.* EGBERT BURNS. For further information on the subject, permit me to refer

* to a whom sent us [We have somewhere seen a letter giving a different and very disadvantageous you young beginner you lately among account of Bums's conduct on this occasion. The writer, according to our recol- Mr. Andrew Pearson, a gentleman that, I am happy to say, seemed to with but the from its lection, speak political prejudice; above, very to be ' from manner, -abilities, and attention, promises, indeed, minuteness as well as from its earnestness, is manifestly a truthful statement of board. what occurred if the occasion referred to be the same.] a great acquisition to the service of your honourable is of in a future I This a letter business ; opportunity may, and most certainly will, trouble you with one in my own way a la Parnasse. I have the honour to be, Sir, your much indebted, and ever- grateful servant, (11.) TO EOBEET GEAHAM, ESQ. EOBT. BURNS.

[Jan., 1794.] P.S. I forgot to mention that, if my plan takes, let me SIR, recommend to your humanity and justice the present officer is I AM going to venture on a subject which, I am afraid, of the second division. He is a very good officer, and as I it a of small with some may appear, from me, improper ; but do from the best burdened with family children, which, of motives, if you should not approve of my ideas, you will debts of early days, crush him much to the ground. forgive them. E. B.

of the monies I the wish * Economy public is, know, highly [The reader will find the whole of this and a kindred subject more fully of your honourable board; and any hint conducive thereto treated in letter to Provost Staig infra.} which may occur to any, though the meanest, individual in your service, it is surely his duty to communicate it. I have been myself accustomed to labour, and have no notion that a servant of the public should eat the bread of J:Tr. Morison, idleness; so, what I have long digested, and am going to propose, is the reduction of one of our Dumfries divisions. MAUCITLINE. Not only in these unlucky times, but even in the highest 1788. flush of business, my division, though by far the heaviest, Ellisland, September 22, was mere trifling the others, still less. I would plan the MY DEAR SIR, before reduction as thus: Let the second division be annihilated, NECESSITY obliges me to go into my new house even one end until the other is and be divided among the others. The duties in it are, two it be plaistered. I will inhabit the a common and I will at farthest chandlers, brewer, some victuallers : these, finished. About three weeks more, think, tea and in this house. with some spirit stocks, are the whole division. The be my time, beyond which I cannot stay present

Has: mk

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

If ever you wished to deserve the blessing of him that was JEr. Cunningham. to if ever were in a situation that a little ready perish ; you rescued from if ever kindness would have you many evils; Ellisland, 4th May, 1789. of you hope to find rest in future states untried being get MY DEAR SIR, servant will be out in the these matters of mine ready.* My YOUR duty-free favour of the 26th April I received two days of for the clock. to beginning next week My compliments ago : I will not say I perused it with pleasure that is the cold Mrs. Morison. I after all tribulation, am, my compliment of ceremony I perused it, Sir, with delicious satis- Dear Sir, faction in it is such a that yours, ; short, letter, not you, nor your E. B. friend, but the legislature, by express proviso in their postage * " should frank. letter informed with the soul of friend- [The matters" here referred to were chiefly articles of household furniture, laws, A are the if we mistake which chairs and tables of hardwood. These same, not, ship is such an honour to human nature, that they should were given by Mrs. Burns as a marriage plenishing to a faithful domestic Mary order it free ingress and egress to and from their bags and M'Lachlan, for fourteen years housekeeper to Mrs. Burns and are now in pos- session of her husband, Andrew Nicolson, who survives her a humble arti/an in mails, as an encouragement and mark of distinction to super- and who would not with Dumfries, but a devout worshipper of the Poet's, part eminent virtue. are told those reliques of his study for a ransom. The eight-day clock, we by " I have the last hand to a little which I think Cunningham, was sold at Mrs. Burns's death for thirty-eight pounds, to one just put poem, sooner than wanted who would have paid one hundred it."] will be something to your taste. One morning lately, as I was out pretty early in the fields, sowing some grass seeds,* I heard the burst of a shot from a neighbouring plantation, and presently a poor little wounded hare came crippling by me. You will guess my indignation at the inhuman fellow who could shoot a hare at this season, when all of them have young ones. Indeed, there is something in that business of destroy- Sflhtt ing for our sport individuals in the animal creation that do not injure us materially, which I could never reconcile to my December 22, 1788. ideas of virtue. I YESTERDAY tried my cask of whiskey for the first time, and I assure you it does you great credit. It will bear five or The of this waters, strong ; six, ordinary toddy. whiskey ON SEEING A FELLOW WOUND A HARE WITH A SHOT,

is a most ; and, consequence, only country rascally liquor by April, 1789. I am drunk by the most rascally part of the inhabitants. if once a footing here, you might do a persuaded, you get Inhuman man ! curse on thy barb'rous art,

deal of in the of ; and should great business, way consumpt And blasted be thy murder-aiming eye ! commence distiller this is the native barley vou again, May never pity soothe thee with a sigh, of I in ! country. am ignorant if, your present way dealing, Nor never pleasure glad thy cruel heart you would think it worth your while to extend your business this on the account of so far as this side. I write ! country you Go live, poor wanderer of the wood and field I must take the merit of an accident, which having partly The bitter little that of life remains : a John miller in designed to. A neighbour of mine, Currie, No more the thickening brakes or verdant plains in a a Carse-mill a man who is, word, "very" good man, To thee a home, or food, or pastime yield. even for a 500 bargain, he and his wife were in my house the time I broke the cask. keep a country public- some wonted form open They Seek, mangled innocent, ; deal of but all house and sell a great foreign spirits, along That wonted form, alas ! thy dying bed ! have their house. thought that whiskey would degraded They The sheltering rushes whistling o'er thy head, both for its taste were perfectly astonished at my whiskey, The cold earth with thy blood-stained bosom warm. I write to know if and strength; and, by their desire, you them with of an equal quality, and adds its wo you could supply liquor Perhaps a mother's anguish ;

write me first and direct to me : what price. Please by post, The playful pair crowd fondly by thy side near Dumfries. If could take a this who will now at Ellisland, you jaunt Ah ! helpless nurslings, provide a and fork much ? way yourself, I have spare spoon, knife, very That life a mother only can bestow Mrs. and all at your service. My compliments to Tennant, and the good folks in Glenconner Barquharrie. Oft as by winding Nith, I, musing, wait E. B. The sober eve, or hail the chearful dawn ;

find the note attached to this letter : I'll miss thee o'er the lawn, [In Mr. Chambers's edition we following sporting dewy " refer to a different from the Tennant If this is rightly addressed, it might person And curse the ruthless wretch and mourn thy hapless fate-.t as the latter is called of Glenconner, to whom Burns wrote a rhymed epistle, was a engaged in business as a distiller." James 'Jamie.' Perhaps John brother, I doubtful and the most probably addressed Let me know how you like my poem. am had several brothers, or half-brothers ; person who is described a correspondent out the last in this letter was Mr. Tennant of Auchenbay, by whether it would not be an improvement to keep " : he No. 1." in Notes and as a sagacious, decisive business man minded Queries stanza but one altogether. For further information, compare note on the Epistle to James Tennant.] 180 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

to en- Cniiksliank is a glorious production of the Author of man. economy, and fertility of expedients be not applicable in You, he, and the noble Colonel of the Crochallan Fencibles joyment, and whether there be not a want of dexterity are to me pleasure, which renders our little scantling of happiness still " Dear as the which warm heart." less a intoxication in which leads ruddy drops my ; and profuseness, an bliss, to and self-abhorrence. There is not a doubt I have got a good mind to make verses on you all, to the tune satiety, disgust, but that talents, character, decent competency, re- of Three gude fellows ayont the glen. health, and do E. B. spectable friends, are real substantial blessings ; yet we not daily see those who enjoy many or all of these good [On this subject, compare Memoranda by Mrs. Burns, of the Poet's life as a to be as as others farmer Appendix.] things, contrive notwithstanding unhappy + [The version here quoted is the original draft of the poem, which the Author to whose lot few of them have fallen ? I believe one great submitted to Dr. Gregory for revision. Compare the poem as published after source of this mistake or misconduct is owing to a certain revision Poetical Works, p. 122. The person referred to in the poem was a young man of the name of Thomson, who rehearsed the incident to Allan Cun- stimulus, with us called ambition, which goads us up the hill and stated that Burns not cursed him for his but ningham, only thoughtlessness, of life not as we ascend other eminences, for the laudable threatened to throw him into the Nith. Thomson, when he told Cunningham of an extended but rather for this, had not seen the poem.] curiosity viewing landscape, the dishonest pride of looking down on others of our fellow- creatures, seemingly diminutive in humbler stations, &c., &c.

Sunday, 14th February, 1790. (2.) TO MR. CUNNINGHAM. GOD help me ! I am now obliged to

to week." Ellisland, 13th February, 1790. "Join night to day, and Sunday the I BEG dear and much valued for your pardon, my friend, If there be any truth in the orthodox faith of these churches, to on this unfashionable, sheet is writing you very unsightly I am d-mned past redemption, and what worse, d-mned " Four-fold My poverty but not my will consents." to all eternity. I am deeply read in Boston's State, Marshall on Sanctification, Guthrie's Trial of a Saving But to make amends, since of modish post I have none, &c. "there is no balm in there is no Interest, ; but Gilead, except one poor widowed half-sheet of gilt, which lies in my and physician there," for me; so I shall e'en turn Arminian, drawer among my plebeian fool's-cap pages, like the widow of trust to "sincere though imperfect obedience." a man of fashion, whom that unpolite scoundrel, Necessity, has driven from Burgundy and Pine-apple, to a dish of Bohea with the of a or a 16th. scandal-bearing help-mate village-priest ; Tuesday, glass of whisky-toddy with a ruby-nosed yoke-fellow of a Luckily for me, I was prevented from the discussion of the foot-padding exciseman I make a vow to enclose this sheet- knotty point at which I had just made a full stop. All my ful of epistolary fragments in that my only scrap of gilt paper. fears and cares are of this world : if there is another, an honest I am indeed your unworthy debtor for three friendly letters. man has nothing to fear from it. I hate a man that wishes to to must I ought have written to you long ere now, but it is a literal be a Deist : but I fear, every fair, unprejudiced enquirer fact, I have scarcely a spare moment. It is not that I will not in some degree be a sceptic. It is not that there are any very write to Miss Burnet is not to the of man but ; more dear her you guardian staggering arguments against immortality ; nor his the of is in angel, grace Duke Queensberry to the powers like electricity, phlogiston, &c., the subject so involved of darkness, than my friend Cunningham to me. It is not darkness, that we want data to go upon. One thing frightens that I cannot write to should to for seems too news to you; you doubt it, take the me much : that we are live ever, good following fragment, which was intended for you some time be true. That we are to enter into a new scene of existence, ago, and be convinced that I can antithesize sentiment, and where, exempt from want and pain, we shall enjoy ourselves circumvolute periods, as well as any coiner of phrase in the and our friends without satiety or separation how much regions of philology. should I be indebted to any one who could fully assure me

that this was certain ! December, 1789. My time is once more expired. I will write to Mr. Cleg- MY DEAR CUNNINGHAM, horn soon. God bless him and all his concerns ! And may are ? WHERE you And what are you doing ? Can you be all the powers that preside over conviviality and friendship that son of who takes a the bearer levity up friendship as he takes up a be present with all their kindest influence, when fashion ; or are like some other of the ! I could also make you, worthiest fellows of this, Mr. Syme, and you meet I wish in the world, the victim of indolence, laden with fetters of one. I think we should be ? ever-increasing weight Finally, brethren, farewell ! Whatsoever things are lovely, What strange beings we are ! Since we have a portion of whatsoever things are gentle, whatsoever things are chari- conscious existence, equally capable of enjoying pleasure, table, whatsoever things are kind, think on these things, and happiness, and rapture, or of suffering pain, wretchedness, think on and misery, it is surely worthy of an inquiry, whether there EGBERT BURNS. be not such a thing as a science of life; whether method. ISi

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

(3.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. position, I set great store by your opinion; but in sentimental verses, in the poetry of the heart, no Eoman Catholic ever set Ellisland, 8th August, 1790. more value on the infallibility of the Holy Father than I do FORGIVE me, my once dear, and ever dear friend, my seem- on yours. ing negligence. You cannot sit down and fancy the busy life I mean the introductory couplets as text verses. I lead. I laid down my goose-feather to beat my brains for an apt ELEGY ON THE LATE MISS BURNET OF MONBODDO. simile, and had some thoughts of a country grannum at a Life ne'er exulted in so rich a prize, a bride on the before her family christening; market-day As Burnet lovely from her native skies ; an orthodox at a sacrament marriage ; clergyman Paisley Nor envious death so in * * triumph' d a blow, or a tavern-keeper at an election-dinner; &c., &c. : As that which laid th' accomplish'd Burnet low. but the resemblance that hits best is that black- my fancy &c. &c. guard miscreant, Satan, who roams about like a roaring lion, Lot me hear from soon. Adieu ! seeking, searching whom he may devour. However, tossed you E. B. about as I am, if I chuse (and who would not chuse?) to bind down with the crampets of attention the brazen founda- tion of integrity, I may rear up the superstructure of Inde- pendence, and from its daring turrets, bid defiance to the " storms of fate. And is not this a consummation devoutly to (5.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. be wished?" " Thy spirit, Independence, let me share; Ellisland, 12th March, 1791. Lord of the lion-heart, and eagle-eye ! Thy steps I follow with my bosom hare, IF the foregoing piece be worth your strictures, let me have ' " Nor heed the storm that howls along the sky them. For my own part, a thing that I have just composed Are not these noble verses ? They are the introduction of always appears through a double portion of that partial " Smollet's Ode to Independence:" if you have not seen the medium in which an author will ever view his own works. poem, I will send it to you. How wretched is the man that I believe in general, novelty has something in it that in- fumes hangs on by the favours of the great ! To shrink from every ebriates the fancy, and not unfrequently dissipates and as dignity of man, at the approach of a lordly piece of self-con- away like other intoxication, and leaves the poor patient, instance of this sequence, who amid all his tinsel glitter, and stately hauteur, usual, with an aching heart. A striking is but a creature formed as thou art and perhaps not so well might be adduced, in the revolution of many a hymeneal formed as thou art came into the world a puling infant as honeymoon. But lest I sink into stupid prose, and so sacri- intrude on the office of I shall fill thou didst, and must go out of it, as all men must, a naked legiously my parish-priest, * * * corse. up the page in my own way, and give you another song of my late composition, which will appear perhaps in Johnson's [Compare letter (27) to Mrs. Dunlop p. 23. With respect to which Dr. Currie " observes The preceding letter explains the feelings under which this was work, as well as the former. written. The strain of invective on some time longer in the style " indignant goes You must know a beautiful Jacobite air, There'll never which our bard was too apt to indulge, and of which the reader has already seen be till Jamie comes hame." When combustion so much." Mr. Chambers explains the circumstance of these two letters (the one peace political to Mrs. Dunlop, and the other to Cunningham) having been written on the same ceases to be the object of princes and patriots, it then, you day, when the writer's time was so much occupied, by stating "that the 8th know, becomes the lawful prey of historians and poets. of August, 1790, was a Sunday." Certainly not a day of rest to him, as the letter to Mrs. Dunlop painfully shows.] By yon castle wa' at the close of the day, it I heard a man sing, tho' his head was grey ; And as he was singing, the tears fast down came There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame.*

If you like the air, and if the stanzas hit your fancy, you ME. CUNNINGHAM. (4.) TO cannot imagine, my dear friend, how much you would oblige me, if, by the charms of your delightful voice, you would give 23rd 1791. " Ellisland, January, my honest effusion to the memory of joys that are past," to of season to dear friend ! MANY happy returns the you, my the few friends whom you indulge in that pleasure. But I as is consistent with As many of the good things of this life, have scribbled on till I hear the clock has intimated the near and evil in the of ! the usual mixture of good cup Being approach of o' which I have just finished a poem Tarn Shanter you will receive enclosed. It is my first essay in the way of tales. That hour, o' night's black arch the key-stane. I have these several months been hammering at an elegy

! be and delectable on the amiable and accomplished Miss Burnet. I have got, So good night to you Sound your sleep in a on which dreams ! how do like this thought and can get, no farther than the following fragment, your Apropos, you In all kinds of com- I have now on the tapis ? please give me your strictures. poetic ballad, just 182 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

I look to the west when I gae to rest, apportioning them their share in procuring my present dis- slumbers be tress. for such the world calls and such That happy my dreams and my may ; My friends, ye, ye f Far, far in the west is he I lo'e best, think yourselves to be, pass by my virtues if you please, but

do also follies : first The lad that is dear to my babie and me ! spare my the will witness in my breast for themselves, and the last will give pain enough to the in-

Good night, once more, and God bless you ! genuous mind without you. And since deviating more or less E. B. from the paths of propriety and rectitude must be incident to human nature, do thou, Fortune, it in [Compare perfect edition "There'll never be peace" Poetical Works, p. 175.] put my power, always " " + [Compare correct edition Out over the Forth Poetical Works, p. 181.] from myself, and of myself, to bear the consequence of those

errors ! I do not want to be independent that I may sin, but I want to be independent in my sinning. To return in this rambling letter to the subject I set out with, let me recommend my friend, Mr. Clarke, to your and offices his entitles him to the acquaintance good ; worth his will the other. I much to (6.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. one, and gratitude merit long

hear from you. Adieu ! llth June, 1791. E. B. interest in behalf of * LET me you, my dear Cunningham, [Mr. Cunningham was nephew to Dr. Robertson, the historian.] the gentleman who waits on you with this. He is a Mr. Clarke, of Moffat, principal schoolmaster there, and is at pre- sent suffering severely under the persecution of one or two powerful individuals of his employers. He is accused of harshness to boys that were placed under his care. God help if is the teacher, a man of sensibility and genius and such (7.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. my friend Clarke when a booby father presents him with his booby son, and insists on lighting up the rays of science in a Dumfries, 10th September, 1792. fellow's head whose skull is impervious and inaccessible by No ! I will not attempt an apology. Amid all my hurry of any other way than a positive fracture with a cudgel : a fel- business, grinding the faces of the publican and the sinner on it to a the merciless wheels of the Excise and then low whom in fact savours of impiety attempt making ; making ballads, in the of and and the scholar of, as he has been marked a blockhead book drinking, singing them ; and, over above all, fiat of his Creator. the of two different fate, at the almighty correcting press-work publications ; still, The patrons of Moffat-school are, the ministers, magis- still I might have stolen five minutes to dedicate to one of the trates, and town-council of Edinburgh, and as the business first of rny friends and fellow-creatures. I might have done, " comes now before them, let me beg my dearest friend to do as I do at present, snatched an hour near witching time of every thing in his power to serve the interests of a man of night," and scrawled a page or two. I might have congratu- a I friend on his or I have thanked genius and worth, and man whom particularly respect lated my marriage ; might and esteem. You know some good fellows among the magis- the Caledonian archers for the honour they have done me tracy and council, but particularly you have much to say (though to do myself justice, I intended to have done both in with a reverend gentleman to whom you have the honour of rhyme, else I had done both long ere now). Well then, here is being very nearly related, and whom this country and age to your good health ! for you must know, I have set a nip- have had the honour to produce. I need not name the his- perkin of toddy by me, just by way of spell, to keep away the torian of Charles V.* I tell him through the medium of his meikle horned deil, or any of his subaltern imps who may be nephew's influence, that Mr. Clarke is a gentleman who will on their nightly rounds. " not disgrace even his patronage. I know the merits of the But what shall I write to you ? The voice said cry," and " cause thoroughly, and say it, that my friend is falling a sacri- I said, what shall I cry ?" 0, thou spirit! whatever thou * * * fice to prejudiced ignorance, and art, or wherever thou makest thyself visible ! be thou a bogle auld in God help the children of dependence ! Hated and perse- by the eerie side of an thorn, the dreary glen through their bicker in cuted by enemies, and too often, alas ! almost unexcep- which the herd-callan maun his gloamin route frae tionally, received by their friends with disrespect and re- the faulde ! Be thou a brownie, set, at dead of night, to thy under the thin of or in the the proach, disguise cold civility and humiliating task by the blazing ingle, solitary barn, where advice. O ! to be a sturdy savage, stalking in the pride of repercussions of thy iron flail half affright thyself, as thou his independence, amid the solitary wilds of his deserts; rather performest the work of twenty of the sons of men, ere the than in civilized life, helplessly to tremble for a subsistence, cock-crowing summon thee to thy ample cog of substantial as the precarious caprice of a fellow-creature ! Every man brose Be thou a kelpie, haunting the ford or ferry in the has his and no man is without his with the of virtues, failings ; and curse starless night, mixing thy laughing yell howling on that privileged plain-dealing of friendship, which, in the the storm and the roaring of the flood, as thou viewest the of hour my calamity, cannot reach forth the helping hand perils and miseries of man on the foundering horse, or in the without at the same time pointing out those failings, and tumbling boat ! Or, lastly, be thou a ghost, paying thy GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 183

nocturnal visits to the ruins of or hoary decayed grandeur ; Apropos, how do you like I mean really like the married rites in the shadow of the time-worn life ? performing thy mystic Ah, my friend ! matrimony is quite a different thing church, while the moon without a on the silent, from looks, cloud, what 'your love-sick youths and sighing girls take it to

of the dead around thee : or be! ghastly dwellings taking thy But marriage, we are told, is appointed by God, and I stand by the bedside of the villain, or the murderer, pourtray- shall never quarrel with any of his institutions. I am a on his dreadful as the horrors ing dreaming fancy, pictures, husband of older standing than you, and shall give you my

of unveiled and terrible as the wrath of incensed ! ideas of hell, Deity the conjugal state (en passant you know I am no

thou but not in these horrid forms ; come with Latinist is not Come, spirit, conjugal derived from jugum, a yoke ?). Well the which thou breathest the milder, gentle, easy inspirations, then, scale of good wifeship I divide into ten parts : round the of a or the tete-d-tete of a tea- four wig prating advocate, Good-nature, ; Good Sense, two ; Wit, one ; Personal while their run at the sipping gossip, tongues light-horse gallop Charms, viz. a sweet face, eloquent eyes, fine limbs, graceful of clish-maclaver for ever and ever come and assist a poor carriage (I would add a fine waist too, but that is so soon is in to share half an idea devil who quite jaded the attempt spoilt, you know), all these, one; as for the other qualities among half a hundred words; to fill up four quarto pages, belonging to, or attending on, a wife, such as Fortune, Con- of infor- while he has not got one single sentence recollection, nexions, Education (I mean education extraordinary), Family mation, or remark worth putting pen to paper for. Blood, &c., divide the two remaining degrees among them as I feel, I feel the presence of supernatural assistance ! circled you please; only, remember that all these minor properties in the embrace of my elbow-chair, my breast labours, like the must be expressed by fractions, for there is not any one of bloated Sybil on her three -footed stool, and like her, too, them, in the aforesaid scale, entitled to the dignity of an

labours with Nonsense. Nonsense, auspicious name ! Tutor, integer. and in the mazes of the As for the rest of fancies and I Friend, Finger-post mystic law ; my reveries how lately of and in the met with Miss the cadaverous paths physic ; particularly sightless Lesley Baillie, most beautiful, elegant soarings of SCHOOL DIVINITY, who, leaving Common Sense, woman in the world how I accompanied her and her father's confounded at his of delirious with fifteen miles on their out of to strength pinion ; Eeason, family journey, pure devotion, his and Truth back into the admire the loveliness of the works of in an eyeing giddy flight ; creeping God, such un- bottom of her well, cursing the hour that ever she offered her equalled display of them -how, in galloping home at night, scorned alliance to the wizard power of Theologic Vision I made a ballad on her, of which these two stanzas make a " raves abroad on all the winds. On earth Discord ! a gloomy part Heaven above, opening her jealous gates to the nineteen- Thou, bonie Lesley, art a queen,

tithe of I before thee thousandth part of the mankind and below, an ines- Thy subjects we ; capable and inexorable hell, expanding its leviathan jaws for Thou, bonie Lesley, art divine, the vast residue of mortals ! ! !" doctrine ! comfortable and The hearts o' men adore thee. healing to the weary, wounded soul of man ! Ye sons and daughters of affliction, ye pauvres miseralles, to whom day The very deil he could na scaith

thee ! brings no pleasure, and night yields no rest, be comforted ! Whatever wad belang " Tis but one to nineteen hundred thousand that your situation He'd look into thy bonie face " will mend in this world;" so, alas, the experience of the poor And say, I canna wrang thee."f too often affirms and 'tis nineteen hundred and the needy ; * * in of thousand to one, by the dogmas of that you behold all these things are written the chronicles my * dear and I be read will be damned eternally in the world to come imaginations, and shall by thee, my friend, other dear at a more con- But of all Nonsense, Eeligious Nonsense is the most nonsen- by thy beloved spouse, my friend, sical so and more than of it. the venient season. ; enough, enough Only, by and to bye, will you, or can you tell me, my dear Cunningham, why a Now, to thee, thy before-designed frosom-compaiiion, sectarian turn of mind has always a tendency to narrow and be given the precious things brought forth by the sun, and illiberalize ? are be the forth the moon, and the be- the heart They orderly ; they may just ; precious things brought by merciful but still children of influences of the stars, and the streams which nay, I have known them ; your nignest living fountains of and the tree of for ever sanctity move among their fellow-creatures with a nostril flow from the life, by life,

and a foot filth in and ever ! Amen ! snuffing putrescence, spurning ; short, * * that titled or E. B. with a conceited dignity your , any other of your Scottish lordlings of seven centuries standing " * " Willie's Address to the and similar when accidentally mix the many apron'd [Compare Holy Prayer," Deil," display, they among also letter of this on poetico-religious effusions. Compare (9) series, genuine sons of mechanical life. I remember, in my plough-boy days, religion.] I could not conceive it possible that a noble lord could be a + [Rough draft apparently : compare song as finished for Thomson's, Collection Poetical Works, p. 205.] fool, or a godly man could be a knave. How ignorant are

! I have since discovered that a plough-boys Nay,***** godly woman may be a ! But hold -Here's t'ye again this rum is generous Antigua, so a very unfit menstruum for scandal. LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS

(8.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. such riches as a nabob or government contractor possesses, and why they do not form a mutual league. Let wealth 3rd March, 1793. shelter and cherish unprotected merit, and the gratitude and SINCE I wrote to you the last lugubrious sheet, I have not celebrity of that merit will richly repay it. had time to write you further. When I say that I had not ******* time, that, as usual, means that the three demons, indolence, E. B. business, and ennui, have so completely shared my hours among them, as not to leave me a five minutes' fragment to take up a pen in. Thank heaven, I feel my spirits buoying upwards with the renovating year. Now I shall in good earnest take up Thom- (9.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. son's songs. I dare say he thinks I have used him unkindly, and I must own with too much appearance of truth. Apropos, 25th February, 1794. do you know the much admired old Highland air called "The CANST thou minister to a mind diseased ? Canst thou speak Sutor's Dochter ?" It is a first-rate favourite of mine, and I peace and rest to a soul tost on a sea of troubles, without one have written what I reckon one of my best songs to it. I will friendly star to guide her course, and dreading that the next send it to you as it was sung with great applause in some surge may overwhelm her ? Canst thou give to a frame, fashionable circles by Major Eobertson, of Lude, who was tremblingly alive as the tortures of suspense, the stability and here with his corps. hardihood of the rock that braves the blast? If thou canst ******* not do the least of these, wouldst thou disturb me in my why There is one commission that I must trouble you with. I miseries, with thy inquiries after me ? lately lost a valuable seal, a present from a departed friend, *#***** which vexes me much. For these two months I have not been able to lift a pen. I have gotten one of your Highland pebbles which I fancy My constitution and frame were, ab origine, blasted with a would make a very decent one; and I want to cut my deep incurable taint of hypochondria, which poisons my ex- armorial bearing on it; will you be so obliging as enquire istence. Of late a number of domestic vexations, and some what will be the expense of such a business ? I do not know pecuniaiy share in the ruin of these cursed times; losses that my name is matriculated, as the heralds call it, at all; which, though trifling, were yet what I could ill bear, have so but I have invented arms for myself, so you know I shall irritated me, that my feelings at times could only be envied be chief of the name of will to the sentence that dooms it to ; and, by courtesy Scotland, by a reprobate spirit listening likewise be entitled to supporters. These, however, I do not perdition. intend having on my seal. I am a bit of a herald, and shall Are you deep in the language of consolation ? I have ex- give you, secundum artem, my arms. On a field, azure, a hausted in reflection every topic of comfort. A heart at ease in base a and reason- holly-bush, seeded, proper, ; shepherd's pipe and would have been charmed with my sentiments crook, saltier-wise, also proper, in chief. On a wreath of the ings; but as to myself, I was like Judas Iscariot preaching colours, a wood-lark perching on a sprig of bay-tree, proper, the gospel; he might melt and mould the hearts of those for crest. mottoes its Two ; round the top of the crest, Wood around him, but his own kept native incorrigibility. Notes Wild ; at the bottom of the shield, in the usual place, Still there are two great pillars that bear us up amid the Better a wee bush than nae bield. By the shepherd's pipe and wreck of misfortune and misery. The ONE is composed of the crook I do not mean the nonsense of painters of Arcadia, but different modifications of a certain noble stubborn something a Stock and Horn and a Club, such as you see at the head of in man, known by the names of courage, fortitude, magna- Allan in and senti- Eamsay, Allan's quarto edition of the Gentle Shepherd. nimity. The OTHER is made up of those feelings By the bye, do you know Allan ? He must be a man of very ments, which, however the sceptic may deny them, or the great genius Why is he not more known ? Has he no pa- enthusiast disfigure them, are yet, I am convinced, original trons? or do cold of the soul those senses the "Poverty's wind and crushing rain beat and component parts human ; of keen and ? heavy" on him I once, and but once, got a glance mind, if I may be allowed the expression, which connect us of that noble edition of the noblest in us those awful obscure realities an all- pastoral the world ; and with, and link to, dear as it I dear as to beneficent and a world to was, mean, my pocket, I would have powerful, and equally God ; come, it but I was told that it The first the nerve of bought ; was printed and engraved beyond death and the grave. gives for subscribers only. He is the only artist who has hit genuine combat, while a ray of hope beams on the field: the last costume. can pastoral What, my dear Cunningham, is there in pours the balm of comfort into the wounds which time riches, that they narrow and harden the heart so ? I think, never cure. that were I as rich as the sun, I should be as generous as the I do not remember, my dear Cunningham, that you and but as I have no reason to of at all. I some day ; imagine my soul a nobler I ever talked on the subject religion know one than other any man's, I must conclude that wealth im- who laugh at it, as the trick of the crafty PEW, to lead the a bird-lime to the at which MANY or at most as an uncertain parts quality possessor, the man, undiscerning ; obscurity, in his native poverty, would have revolted. What has led me which mankind can never know any thing of, and with which * is of to this, the idea such merit as Mr. Allan possesses, and they are fools if they give themselves much to do. Nor would GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 185

I with, a for his ir more than 1 ! ! on quarrel man religion, any from my chair my spirits fled fled but I can no more would for his want of a musical ear. I would regret that the subject only the medical folks tell me that my last and he was shut out from what, to me and to others, were such only chance is bathing and country -quarters, and riding. of It is in this of is off superlative sources enjoyment. point view, The deuce of the matter is this : when an exciseman and for this reason, that I will deeply imbue the mind of duty, his salary is reduced to 35 instead of 50. "What way, a every child of mine with religion. If my son should happen in the name of thrift, shall I maintain myself, and keep to be a man of feeling, sentiment, and taste, I shall thus add horse in country-quarters with a wife and five children at largely to his enjoyments. Let me flatter myself that this home, on 35 ? I mention this, because I had intended to beg sweet little fellow, who is just now running about my desk, your utmost interest, and that of all the friends you can will be a man of a melting, ardent, glowing heart; and an im- muster, to move our Commissioners of Excise to grant me the agination, delighted with the painter, and rapt with the poet. full salary; I dare say you know them all personally. If Let me figure him wandering out in a sweet evening, to inhale they do not grant it me, I must lay my account with an exit the balmy gales, and enjoy the growing luxuriance of the truly en poete if I die not of disease, I must perish with spring; himself the while in the blooming youth of life.f He hunger. looks abroad on all nature, and through nature up to nature's I have sent you one of the songs; the other my memory God. swift is above this does not but I shall His soul, by delighting degrees, rapt serve me with, and I have no copy here ; sublunary sphere, until he can be silent no longer, and bursts be at home soon, when I will send it you. Apropos to being

out into the glorious enthusiasm of Thomson at home : Mrs. Burns threatens, in a week or two, to add one " more to if of the I These, as they change, Almighty Father, these my paternal charge, which, right gender, Are but the varied God. The rolling year intend shall be introduced to the world by the respectable Is full of thee." designation of Alexander Cunningham Burns. My last was And so on in all the spirit and ardour of that charming hymn. James Glencairn, so you can have no objection to the company

are real I of ! These are no ideal pleasures, they delights ; and nobility. Farewell ask what of the delights among the sons of men are superior, E. B. not to to them ? And have this vast say equal, they precious, [Alexander Cunningham, Esq., to whom this beautiful and important series of for her letters is was a Writer to the in of most respectable addition, that conscious virtue stamps them own ; and addressed, Signet Edinburgh, and connection. He was also one of a convivial set with whom Burns hold on them to herself into the of a wit- position, lays bring presence associated in of the Crochallan and similar much when that city ; members corps, nessing, judging, and approving God.J spirits, among whom a certain freedom of social intercourse was the bond of E. B. union. Whatever their failings or excesses, in this respect, may have been, they seem all to have been most affectionate friends of the Poet, and by their kindness * [Compare Memoranda by Mrs. Burns Burns's Habit of Reading the Bible- to him to have merited the honour of his gratitude and the distinction of his cor- Dunbar was one of these and in after the Appendix.] respondence. ; Cunningham particular, the most t [Compare Miniature of Poet's son Boy with flowers in his hand in which Poet's death, manifested the sincerity of his attachment by generous of this idea seems to have been carried out.] efforts on behalf his widow and family.] t [The reader may advantageously compare the whole of this letter with letter (7), in which so strong a contrast of religious dogmatism is made. It is worthy of notice, however, that there is a slight inconsistency between the theory here admitted of religion being like a musical ear which is certainly most true, and " " the practice inculcated of imbuing the mind of every child with it unless by that only is meant the affectionate and prayerful cultivation of the religious sense which is indeed all that can possibly be done in that way and which, on multi- we know the Poet as a father tried to do. Compare Memoranda plied evidence, Jnltit by Mrs. Burns Poet's Bearing to his Childi-en Appendix.] (i.) J^itttirbtf, [DRUMLANRIG.]

Ell'island, 9th Jan., 1789. SIR, A POET and a beggar are, in so many points of view, alike, that one take them for the same individual character (10.) TO ME. CUNNINGHAM. might it not with a under different designations ; were that, though license most be Brow, Sea-bathing quarters, "tth July, 1796. trifling poetic poets may styled beggars, yet MY DEAR CUNNINGHAM:, the converse of the proposition does not hold, that every In one remark- I RECEIVED yours here this moment, and am. indeed highly beggar is a poet. particular, however, they

: either the one or the other to a flattered with the approbation of the literary circle you men- ably agree if you help mug or the of a will tion; a literary circle inferior to none in the two kingdoms. of ale, picking bone, they very willingly a This occurs to me at as I Alas! my friend, I fear the voice of the bard will soon be repay you with song. present, a well-lined rib of John heard among you no more ! For these eight or ten months I have just dispatched Kirkpatrick's bedfast and sometimes not but a for which I am indebted to you, in have been ailing, sometimes ; Highlander;* bargain these last three months I have been tortured with an excru- the stylo of our ballad printers, "Five excellent new songs." The enclosed is newest and one that has cost ciating rheumatism, which has reduced me to nearly the last nearly my song, if some that is but an mark of its stage. You actually would not know me you saw me. me pains, though equivocal or three which I have shall Pale, emaciated, and so feeble, as occasionally to need help excellence. Two others, by me, * m 2 A ^,w

186 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

do themselves the honour to wait on your after leisure: (4.) TO JOHN M'MURDO, ESQ., petitioners for admittance into favour must not harass the WITH A PARCEL. condescension of their benefactors.

You see, Sir, what it is to a 'Tis like patronise poet. [Z>wra/rj'es,] December, 1793.

a in : do them the favour being magistrate Petty-borough you SIR, to in their council for one and name bears preside year, your IT is said that we take the greatest liberties with our great- the of Bailie for life. prefatory stigma est friends, and I pay myself a very high compliment in not the but the best the sin- With, compliments, wishes, the manner in which I am going to apply the remark. I cerest of the season for that prayers you, you may see many have owed you money longer than ever I owed it to any years with Mrs. M'Murdo and two and happy your family man. Here is Ker's account, and here are six guineas ; the to which rank does blessings by bye, your not, by any now I don't owe a shilling to man or woman either. But entitle a wife and fine means, you; loving family being for these damned dirty dog's-ear'd little pages, I had done almost the of only good things this life to which the farm- myself the honour to have waited on you long ago. Inde- house and have an exclusive of the has laid me under cottage right. pendent obligations your hospitality ; I the honor to have be, Sir, the consciousness of your superiority in the rank of man and indebted and Your much very humble servant, gentleman, of itself was fully as much as I could ever make E. B. head against; but to owe you money too, was more than * face. [Mr. Chambers explains this allusion with reference to some present of a piece I could of Highland mutton, conveyed to the Author at Mr. M'Murdo's instance, by I think I once mentioned something of a collection of Scots Kirkpatrick; whose name in Chambers's edition is given as Kilpatrick a neigh- I have for some been : I send a bouring blacksmith.] songs years making you perusal of what I have got together. I could not conveni- ently spare them above five or six days, and five or six glances of them will probably more than suffice you. A very (2.) TO JOHN M'MURDO, ESQ. few of them are my own. When you are tired of them, please leave them with Mr. Clint, of the King's Arms. There is not Ellisland, 2nd 1790. August, another of the collection in the world and I should SIR, copy ; be sorry that any unfortunate negligence should deprive Now that you are over with the sirens of Flattery, the me of what has cost me a good deal of pains. harpies of Corruption, and the furies of Ambition these in- R. B. fernal deities, that on all sides, and in all parties, preside over as our readers are was chamberlain to the Duke of the villainous business of politics permit a rustic Muse of [Mr. M'Murdo, aware, and resided at his Grace's mansion of Drumlanrig in the neighbour- to do her best to soothe with a Quecnsberry, your acquaintance you song. hood of Thornhill. He was one of our Author's most hospitable friends and dis- You knew Henderson* I have not flattered his memory. tinguished patrons in that district. His family circle afforded most attractive and his daughter, Miss Philadelphia, was one of the most celebrated and I have the honor to be, Sir, society, beautiful of the Poet's heroines. Your humble obliged servant, We think it right to state that in this series of letters to Mr. M'Murdo, there R. B. are a few slight variations as between the editions of Cunningham and Chambers. The explanation in such cases generally is, that there have been rough drafts as * of the well-known Mr. of the several letters that have been ac- [Matthew Henderson, subject Elegy. Chambers, it well as finished copies ; and they printed appears, had searched the obituaries in vain for some notice of his death as the draft or finished was before ; and the cordingly by the respective editors, rough copy fact itself not was known to us except from its commemoration in the Elegy. We them. In the present instance, we incline rather to Mr. Chambers's reading, have been favoured, however, by Mr. Curruthers of the Inverness Courier with the without invalidating Cunningham's at all, except in the date of letter (1), where extract following from the Scots Magazine. he is manifestly wrong in reading June for Jan.] 1788, "November 21, at Edinburgh, Matthew Henderson, Esq." Which deter- mines the matter. note on Compare Elegy Poetical Works, p. 2-12.]

(3.) TO JOHN M'MURDO, ESQ. Jftr. Janus 3S)amrIt0it,

Dumfries, 1793. GROCER, GLASGOW. WILL Mr. M'Murdo do me the favour to accept of these volumes ? a but 1789. trifling sincere mark of the very high respect Ellisland, May 26, I bear for his worth as a man, his manners as a gentleman, DEAR SIR, and his kindness as a friend. However inferior now, or after- I SEND you by John Glover, carrier, the above account wards, I may rank as a poet, one honest virtue to which few for Mr. Turnbull, as I suppose you know his address. poets can pretend I trust I shall ever claim as mine to no I would fain offer, my dear Sir, a word of sympathy with whatever his station in or his misfortunes but it is a tender and I know not man, life, power to serve me, your ; string, I ever a it. is to a set of have paid compliment at the expense of TRUTH. . how to touch It easy flourish high-flown THE AUTHOR. sentiments on the subject that would give great satisfaction

as to a breast at ease ; but as ONE observes, who was [These words appear Prefatory Note on blank leaf of his Poems Two vols. quite octavo, 1793.] very seldom mistaken in the theory of life, "The heart IL GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

knoweth its own sorrows, and a stranger intermeddleth not God's heritage," &c., in which last Mrs. Burns, who by the therewith." bye has a glorious "wood-note wild" at either old song or Among some distressful that I have emergencies experi- psalmody, joins me with the pathos of Handel's Messiah. enced in life, I ever laid this down as my foundation of ******* comfort That he who has lived the an honest man life of R. B. has by no means lived in vain ! [Mr. M'Auley, who was a With every wish for your welfare and future success, legal practitioner of respectability in Dumbarton, seems to have been remarkable I also for handsome personal exterior. The follow- am, my dear Sir, sincerely yours, ing anecdote corroborative, and highly characteristic so far as Lord Affleck is concerned, which Mr. Chambers E. B. quotes from Glasgow Reformers'' Gazette, Dec. 4, we here " 1852, transcribe. He was at one time examined as a witness before Lord at the " Affleck, Circuit Court here, who asked M'Auley where he came [This letter which we print from Cromek, in Chanibers's edition wants the frae ?" " From " Dumbarton, my Lord." The deevil, ye do 1 I did not think introductory sentence. In this, as in other cases, one editor may have printed there had been sae weel-faured a fallow in a' Dumbarton." This must have from a rough draft, and the other from a finished copy. The Mr. Hamilton been some time before Burns's day as a poet, for Lord Affleck died in 1782. are told a friend in " addressed, we by Cunningham, was Glasgow, who had must therefore M'Auley have been cither a mere youth at the time, or was con- interested himself early in the fortunes of the Poet."] older than siderably Burns at the date of their acquaintance. From the mention made of Mr. in Kennedy this letter, it seems very probable, as Mr. Chambers con- jectures, that it was through the medium of that gentleman our Author was introduced to the hospitable gentry of Dumbartonshire and Lochlomondside. letter to Compare (3) Smith Prose Works, p. 147.]

[DUMBARTON.] Captain fiibbel, Ellisland, -ith June, 1789. a-: CAUSE. DEAK SIK, I not THOUGH am without my fears respecting my fate at El/island, 16th Oct., 1789. that grand, universal inquest of right and wrong, commonly Silt, called The Last Day, yet I trust there is one sin which that BIG with the idea of this important day at Friars-Carse,* I arch-vagabond, Satan, wh'o I understand is to be king's evi- have watched the elements and skies in the full persuasion dence, cannot throw in my teeth I mean ingratitude. There that they would announce it to the astonished world by some is a certain pretty large quantum of kindness for which I phenomena of terrific portent. Yesternight until a very late remain, and from inability, I fear, must still remain, your hour did I wait with anxious horror, for the appearance of but to the I some Comet half the or aerial of debtor; though unable repay debt, assure you, firing sky ; armies sanguin- Sir, I shall ever warmly remember the obligation. It gives ary Scandinavians, darting athwart the startled heavens, rapid me the sincerest pleasure to hear by my old acquaintance, as the ragged lightning, and horrid as those convulsions of Mr. Kennedy, that you are, in immortal Allan's language, nature that bury nations. "Hale, and weel, and living;" and that your charming The elements, however, seem to take the matter very

to : did not in this family are well, and promising be an amiable and re- quietly they even usher morning with triple spectable addition to the company of performers, whom the suns and a shower of blood, symbolical of the three potent Great Manager of the Drama of Man is bringing into action heroes, and the mighty claret-shed of the day. For me, as for the succeeding age. Thomson in his Winter says of the storm I shall "Hear With respect to my welfare, a subject in which you once astonished, and astonished sing" warmly and effectively interested yourself, I am here in my old the of The whistle and the man I way, holding my plough, marking growth my sing ; or the health of and at times The man that won the corn, my dairy ; sauntering whistle, &c. by the delightful windings of the Nith, on the margin of " which I have built my humble domicile, praying for season- Here are we met, three merry boys, able or an the Three I are weather, holding intrigue with Muses; the merry boys trow we ; only gypseys with whom I have now any intercourse. As I And mony a night we've merry been, am entered into the holy state of matrimony, I trust my And mony mae we hope to be. and as it is a rule face is turned completely Zion-ward ; with " all honest fellows to repeat no grievances, I hope that the Wha first shall rise to gang awa, little of former of fall A cuckold coward loon is he poetic licences days will, course, ; under the oblivious influence of some good-natured statute Wha last beside his chair shall fa' of celestial proscription. In my family devotion, which, like He is the king amang us three."! a good Presbyterian, I occasionally give to my household of folks, I am extremely fond of the psalm, "Let not the To leave the heights Parnassus and come to the humble " of I have some that I take too errors of my youth," c., and that other, Lo children are vale prose. misgivings much >3fc

188 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

upon me, when I request you to get your guest, Sir Eobert If Mr. Wliigham will either of himself, or through the Lowrie, to frank the two enclosed covers for me, the one of medium of that [hardy?] hearty Veteran of original wit, them to Sir William Cunningham, of Eobertland, Bart., at and social iniquity Clackleith procure these airs, it will Auchenskeith, Kilmarnock the other to Mr. Allan Masterton, be extremely obliging to Writing-Master, Edinburgh. The first has a kindred claim on E. B. Sir Eobert, as being a brother Baronet, and likewise a keen was at that time Provost of The original Foxite ; the other is one of the worthiest men in the world, [Edward Whigham, Esq., Sanquhar. document is now in of Miss a daughter of Mr. real has a possession Johnston, Sanquhar, and a man of ; so, allow me to he genius say, Johnston's, Clackleith. We are under obligation to G. Gemmell, Esq., Ayr, for fraternal claim on you. I want them franked for to-morrow, the privilege of introducing this as well as several other documents in the present edition. The MS. at the we have some in as I cannot get them to the I shall send a being slightly decayed place, difficulty post to-night. or we incline to deciding whether the word in brackets should be hardy hearty ; servant again for them in the evening. Wishing that your the latter readme.! head may be crowned with laurels to-night, and free from aches to-morrow, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your deeply indebted humble servant, E. B.

* " " [The day on which the Whistle was to be contended tor. The Poet's own Jftaxtoell, date of this contest, as in 1/90, was an error of the pen undoubtedly.] t note " [Compare on Willie Brew'd a Peck o' Maut" Poetical Works, p. 267.] OF LOCHMABEN.

Ellis!ami, 20th December, 1789. DEAR PROVOST, As my friend Mr. Graham goes for your good town to- morrow, I cannot resist the temptation to send you a few (2.) TO CAPTAIN EIDDEL. lines, and as I have nothing to say I have chosen this sheet of foolscap, and begun as you see at the top of the first page, [Ellisland, 1789.] because I have ever observed, that when once people have SIR, fairly set out they know not where to stop. Now that my I to do but to I WISH from my inmost soul it were in my power to give first sentence is concluded, have nothing pray you a more substantial gratification and return for all your heaven to help me on to another* Shall I write you on goodness to the poet, than transcribing a few of his idle Politics or Eeligion, two master subjects for your sayers of rhymes. -However, "an old song," though to a proverb an nothing. Of the first I dare say by this time you are nearly

instance of insignificance, is generally the only coin a poet surfeited : and for the last, whatever they may talk of it, who has to pay with. make it a kind of company concern, I never could endure it If my poems which I have transcribed, and mean still to beyond a soliloquy. I might write you on farming, on transcribe, into your book, were equal to the grateful respect building, on marketing, but my poor distracted mind is so and high esteem I bear for the gentleman to whom I present torn, so jaded, so racked and bedeviled with the task of the them, they would be the finest poems in the language. superlatively damned to make one guinea do the business of three, As they are, they will at least be a testimony with what that I detest, abhor, and swoon at the very word business, sincerity I have the honor to be, Sir, though no less than four letters of my very short surname Your devoted humble servant, are in it. E. B. Well, to make the matter short, I shall betake myself to a subject ever fruitful of themes; a subject the turtle-feast of [The reader may compare with this the letter to Captain Riddel at commence- the sons of Satan, and the delicious secret sugar-plum of the ment of Literary Correspondence, containing a collection of fragments from our all Author's earliest writings.] babes of grace a subject sparkling with the jewels that of wit can find in the mines genius ; and pregnant with all the stores of learning from Moses and Confucius to Franklin and Priestley in short, may it please your Lordship, I intend to write MEMOEANDUM If at any time you expect a field-day in your town, a day and their coui't to FOR when Dukes, Earls, Knights pay weavers, tailors, and cobblers, I should like to know of it two or three days beforehand. It is not that I care three skips of a cur dog for the politics, but I should like to see such an exhi- from John To get French his sets of the following old bition of human nature. If you meet with that worthy Scots airs old veteran in religion and good-fellowship, Mr. Jeffrey, or 1st. The auld yowe jumpt o'er the tether any of his amiable family, I beg you will give them my 2d. Nine nights awa, welcome hame my dearie best compliments. 3d. A' the nights o' the year, the chapman drinks nae water. E. B.

-& GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.! OF ROBERT BURNS.

that . Stttlurhtnb, by express act of parliament no malt, however small the can be PLAYER, quantity, legally manufactured until previous entry be made in of all the so ENCLOSING A PROLOGUE. writing ponds, barns, floors, &c., as to be used before the grain can be put to steep. In the Excise for entry-books the division, there is not a syllable of T. J.'s Monday Morning. name for a number of years bygone. I WAS much disappointed, dear Sir, in my wanting your 2. True it is that Mr. Burns, on his first ride, in answer to most agreeable I company yesterday. However, heartily Mr. J.'s question anent the of the notices, for weather next and whatever aerial conveying among pray good Sunday; other ways pointed out the sending it by post as the most Being has the guidance of the elements, may take any other eligible method, but at the same time added this express half-dozen of Sundays he pleases, and clothe them with clause, and to which Mr. Burns is to make faith: "At " willing Vapours, and clouds, and storms, the same time, remember, Mr. J., that the notice is at your Until he terrify himself risk until it reach me !" At combustion of his own raising." Further, when Mr. Burns came to the Petitioner's kiln, there was a servant belonging to Mr. J. I shall see you on Wednesday forenoon. In the greatest ploughing at a very considerable distance from the kiln, who hurry, left his plough and three horses without a driver, and came E. B. into the kiln, which Mr. B. thought was rather a suspicious circumstance, as there was nothing extraordinary in an Excise-officer going into a legal malt-floor so as to [induce a man to] leave three horses yoked to a plough in the distant middle of a moor. This servant, on being repeatedly ques- Collector Mitchell. tioned by Mr. Burns, could not tell when the malt was put to steep, when it was taken out, &c. -in short, was determined to be of the affair. and Mr. J.'s son Elttsland, [Oct. 13, 1790.] entirely ignorant By by, came in and on SIR, ; being questioned as to the steeping, taking out of the &c., Mr. J., referred me to this said I SHALL not fail to wait on Captain Eiddel to-night I wish grain, junior, servant, this he must remember it and pray that the goddess of Justice herself would appear to- ploughman, who, said, best, as been the actor in the business. The morrow among our hon. gentlemen, merely to give them a having principal lad then, his cue, recollected word in their ear that mercy to the thief is injustice to the having gotten circumstantially all about it. honest man. For my part, I have galloped over my ten All this time, I was the son and servant the parishes these four days, until this moment that I am just though telling nature of the had incurred, alighted, or rather, that my poor jackass- skeleton of a horse premunire they though they for the affair of been has let me down; for the miserable devil has been on his pleaded mercy keenly, the notice having sent never once occurred to them, not even the who is knees half a score of times within the last twenty miles, tell- son, " said to have been the bearer. This was a stroke reserved ing me in his own way, Behold, am not I thy faithful jade for, " and worthy of the gentleman himself. As to Mrs. Kelloch's of a horse, on which thou hast ridden these many years ! oath, it proves She did, indeed, to a line In short, Sir, I have broke my horse's wind, and almost nothing. depone being left for me at her house, which said line miscarried. It broke my own neck, besides some injuries in a part that was a sealed letter she could not tell whether it was a malt- shall bo nameless, owing to a hard-hearted stone of a saddle. ;

notice or not ; she could not even condescend on the month, I find that every offender has so many great men to espouse * nor so much as the season of the The truth T. J. his cause, that I shall not be surprised if I am not com- year. is, and his family being Seceders, and every mitted to the strong hold of the law to-morrow for insolence consequently coming Sunday to Thornhill Meeting-house, they were a good con- to the dear friends of the gentlemen of the country. for the several maltsters and traders in their neigh- I have the honor to be, Sir, veyance bourhood to transmit to post their notices, permits, &c. Your obliged and obedient humble But all this ? It was to the Peti- E. B. why tergiversation put

* tioner in after a full of the cause : [Negative too many, in haste.] open court, investigation ' ' Was he willing to swear that he meant no fraud in the matter?" And the Justices told him, that if he swore he assoilzied would be [absolved], otherwise he should be fined ; still the Petitioner, after ten minutes' consideration, found his conscience unequal to the task, and declined the oath. at he he is to swear he has been to the petition %. J. Now, indeed, says willing ; exercising his conscience in private, and will perhaps stretch a But the fact to which he is to swear was 1 . Whether the Petitioner has been in use formerly to malt point. equally all to all his grain at one operation, is foreign to the purpose : this and in parts known to him on that day when he refused

as : last season he certainly malted his crop at four or five opera- swear to-day nothing can give him further light as to the tions that as it Mr. J. to have known intention of his his or not meanin ; but be may, ought mind, respecting meaning 190 [PROSE WORKS.

to in an a fraud in the affair. No time can cast further light on the pre- man the law, which department he comes up adven- turer to town. I shall friend's char- sent resolves of the mind ; but time will reconcile, and has recon- your good give you my

acter in : as his he has talents ciled many a man to that iniquity which he at first abhorred. two words to head, enough, and more than for life as to his enough, common ; heart, when above document forms Burns's official share of the business to which the [The Nature had kneaded the kindly clay that composes it, she said letter to Collector Mitchell refers and is an illustration of the system previous ; "I can no more." adopted by him, and explained in letter (7) to Robert Graham, Esq., in prosecut- first in born under kinder stars but ing the defaulters of his district. The document appeared for the time You, my good Sir, were ; your Chambers's 1856. It is of notice how the Poet's Edition, worthy peculiar style fraternal sympathy, I well know, can enter into the feelings of observation characterises the document " the distant middle of a moor" being of the who into life with the laudable ambi- an expression, descriptive and truthful, that nobody almost but himself, in such young man, goes a case, would have used. The rest of the document, in moral and other respects, tion to do something, and to be something among his fellow- is equally characteristic. The Petitioner, it appears, was a farmer at Mirecleugh, creatures ; but whom the consciousness of friendless obscurity and had been fined 5 for which he had contravention ; against reclaimed.] presses to the earth, and wounds to the soul ! Even the fairest of his virtues are against him. That inde- pendent spirit, and that ingenuous modesty, qualities in- separable from a noble mind, are, with the million, circum- stances not a little disqualifying. What pleasure is in the power of the fortunate and the happy, by their notice and 1. Jtr0,tts00n, (Esq., patronage, to brighten the countenance and glad the heart

[OF CRAIGDARROCH.] of such depressed youth ! I am not so angry with mankind

for their deaf economy of the purse : the goods of this world Globe Inn, Noon, Wednesday. cannot be divided without being lessened but why be a {Oct. 9 1789.] niggard of that which bestows bliss on a fellow-creature, yet

" takes from our own means of ! "We Blessed be he that kindly doth nothing enjoyment wrap The poor man's case consider." ourselves up in the cloak of our own better fortune, and turn our lest the wants and woes of our brother-mortals I HAVE sought you all over the town, good Sir, to learn away eyes, should disturb the selfish of our souls ! what you have done, or what can be done, for poor Eobie apathy I the hand in the at a Gordon. The hour is at hand when I must assume the am worst world asking favor. That indirect that without execrable office of whipper-in to the blood-hounds of Justice, address, insinuating implication, which, * * is a talent and must let loose the carrion sons on poor Eobie. I any positive request, plainly expresses your wish, not to be at a Tell me for think you can do something to save the unfortunate man, and acquired plough-tail. then, you in what of in what circumvolution am sure, if you can, you will. I know that Benevolence is can, periphrasis language, of I shall not conceal this supreme in your bosom, and has the first voice in, and last phrase, envelope, yet plain story. ' ' check all do but that insidious * My dear Mr. Tait, my friend Mr. Duncan, whom I have the on, you ; *, Politics, may of to is a lad of own [word wanting] the honest cully Attention, until the practic- pleasure introducing you, young your and a of much and able moment of doing good is no more. I have the honor to profession, gentleman modesty, great worth. it be in to assist him in be, Sir, your obliged humble servant, Perhaps may your power EOBT. BTJRXS. the, to him, important consideration of getting a place; but at all events, your notice and acquaintance will be a very to him and I dare that he great acquisition ; pledge myself will never disgrace your favor." he be in You be Sir, at such a letter from might bringing regular transgressors to punishment. This note, Mr. may possibly surprised, Chambers informs us, was found in with another I in the of Craigdarroch House, along very me ; 'tis, own, usual way calculating these matters, brief metrical note from our in to the Author, reply invitation to Carse. See than our entitles more acquaintance me to ; but answer is Miscellaneous Poetical Pieces.] my short : Of all the men at your time of life, whom I knew in Edinburgh, you are the most accessible on the side on which I have assailed you. You are very much altered indeed from what you were when I knew you, if generosity point the path you will not tread, or humanity call to you in vain. As to myself, a being to whose interest I believe you are nutf0rb litit, still a well-wisher; I am here, breathing at all times, thinking * EDINBURGH. sometimes, and rhyming now and then. Every situation has its share of the cares and pains of life, and my situation, I am EUisland, Oct. 15, 1790. persuaded, has a full ordinary allowance of its pleasures and DEAR SIR, enjoyments. ALLOW me to introduce to your acquaintance the bearer, My best compliments to your father and Miss Tait. If you Mr. Wm. a friend of Duncan, mine, whom I have long known have an opportunity, please remember me in the solemn league and loved. His long father, whose only son he is, has a and covenant of friendship to Mrs. Lewis Hay. I am a wretch decent little in property Ayrshire, and has bred the young for not writing her; but I am so hackneyed with self-accusa- frc GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

tion in that way, that my conscience lies in my bosom with on a late most melancholy event. God knows what I have scarce the sensibility of an oyster in its shell. Where is Lady suffered, at the loss of my best friend, my first, my dearest ? I likewise I all that I am M'Kenzie wherever she is, God bless her! beg patron and benefactor ; the man to whom owe more leave to trouble you with compliments to Mr. Wm. Hamilton; and have ! I am going into mourning for him, and with Mrs. Hamilton and family; and Mrs. Chalmers, when you are sincerity of grief than I fear some will, who by nature's ties in that country. Should you meet with Miss Nimmo, please ought to feel on the occasion. remember me kindly to her. I will be exceedingly obliged to you, indeed, to let mo E. B. know the news of the noble family, how the poor mother and

* the two sisters their loss. I had a of poetic [This gentleman was, we believe, the only son of Mr. Tait of Harveyston, support packet Clackmannanshire, to whose hospitable mansion our Author paid two visits, bagatelles ready to send to Lady Betty, when I saw the fatal whilst his correspondent was a Mr. Crawford Tait, who settled as a youth. tidings in the newspaper. I see by the same channel, that Writer to the in Edinburgh, mairied there a daughter of the late Sir Hay Signet to of the son of which marriage is the the honored REMAINS of noble are designed Campbell, Bart., Succoth ; fifth and youngest my patron of Right Rev. Archibald Campbell Tait, D.D., Archbishop Canterbury.] be brought to the family burial-place. Dare I trouble you to let me know privately before the day of interment, that I may cross the country, and steal among the crowd to pay a tear to the last sight of my ever revered benefactor? It will oblige me beyond expression. E. B.

* Lord Glen- [This gentleman, the factor, or steward, of Burns's noble friend, laid the cairn, with a view to encourage a second edition of the poems, volume and before his lordship, with such an account of the rustic bard's situation pro- as from his slender with him he could furnish. The result, [Ellisland, 1790.] spects acquaintance as communicated to Burns by Mr. Dalziel, is highly creditable to the character DEAR SIR, of Lord Glencairn. After reading the book, his lordship declared that its merits to WHETHER in the way of my trade I can be of any service greatly exceeded his expectation, and he took it with him as a literary curiosity He his wishes to be of service to and desired Mr. doubtful. shield Edinburgh. repeated Bums, to the Eev. Doctor is, I fear, very Ajax's into Dalziel to inform him, that in patronizing the book, ushering it with effect of consisted, I think, of seven bull-hides and a plate brass, the world, or treating with the booksellers, he would most willingly give every aid in his his that Burns would take the earliest oppor- which set Hector's utmost force at defiance. Alas ! power ; adding request altogether further his interests. He tunity of letting him know in what way he could best I not a and the Doctor's foes are as with a view am Hector, worthy also expressed a wish to see some of the unpublished manuscripts, securely armed as Ajax was. Ignorance, superstition, bigotry, to establishing his character with the world. CromeJc.] bound stupidity, malevolence, self-conceit, envy all strongly in a massy frame of brazen impudence. Good God, Sir ! to such a shield, humour is the peck of a sparrow, and satire the pop-gun of a school-boy. Creation-disgracing Scelerats devil can such as they, God only can mend, and the only of I wish punish. In the comprehending way Caligula, Mr. as a child to they all had but one neck. I feel impotent

! for a curse to blast the ardour of my wishes withering Ellisland, 1st Sept., 1791. machinations. O for a the germins of their wicked poisonous MY DEAR SLOAN, from the Torrid Zone of Tartarus, to sweep I Tornado, winged SUSPENSE is worse than disappointment; for that reason the of their villainous contrivances to tfte that Mr Ballantine spreading crop hurry to tell you, that I just now learn lowest hell ! does not choose to interfere more in the business. I am truly E. B. it. sorry for it, but cannot help You blame me for not writing you sooner; but you will that omitted one little please to recollect you necessary piece of information your address. However, you know equally well my hurried life, indolent attachment. It must be a 10 Jttr. JlUxanber temper, and strength of longer hale than the longest life "in the world's and unde- FACTOR, FINDLAYSTON.* period make me so dear a friend as generate days," that will forget not Mr. Sloan. I am prodigal enough at times, but I will Ellisland, 19th March, 1791. such a treasure as that. DEAR part witn MY SIR, of situation. I can easily enter into the embarras your present to frank this letter to as it I HAVE taken the liberty you, from and God You know my favourite quotation Young encloses an idle of mine, which I send you ; poem " On Reason build RESOLVE ! for it if read it ___ knows dear you " you may perhaps pay enough in That column of true majesty man ; but the author through. Not that this is my own opinion; has that other favourite one from Thomson's Alfred by the time he has composed and corrected his work, And of critical discrimination. " the hero GREAT quite pored away all his powers What proves truly have felt Is never, never, to despair." I can easily euess from my own heart, what you 192 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

Or, shall I quote you an author of your acquaintance ? fully remembered to him. I have the honor to be, Sir, your " and most devoted humble servant, Whether DOING, SUFFERING, or FORBEARING, highly obliged, You may do miracles by PERSEVERING." E, B.

; brave Ward I I have nothing new to toll you. The few friends we have [Compare Note on Vision" Poetical Works, p. 99" Brydon's well could spy."] are going on in the old way. I sold my crop on this day se'ennight, and sold it very well. A guinea an acre, on an average, above value. But such a scene of drunkenness was hardly ever seen in this coiintry. After the roup was over, about thirty people engaged in a battle, every naan for his own hand, and fought it out for three hours. Nor was the Ellisland, 1791. scene much better in the house. No fighting, indeed, but BEAK SIR, folks lying drunk on the floor, and decanting, until both my I AM exceedingly to blame in not writing you long ago ; dogs got so drunk by attending them, that they could not but the truth that I am the most indolent of all human stand. You will I the as I is, easily guess how enjoyed scene ; I in the herald's I intend beings ; and when matriculate office, was no farther over than you used to see me. that my supporters shall be two sloths, my crest a slow-worm, Mrs. B. and family have been in Ayrshire these many " and the motto, Deil tak the foremost." So much of weeks. by way apology for not thanking you sooner for your kind execution Farewell ! and God bless you, my dear Friend ! of commission. E. B. my I sent the but somehow or other it would have you poem ; [Readers may perhaps be shocked at such an account of rural debauchery at a found its way into the public papers, where you must have sale, but the present was no exception to the usual routine at that time in such " " seen it. cases and at funerals, it is lamentable to think, as well as at Roups and " Holy Fairs," the abuse of refreshments provided for visitors was the same. The I am ever, dear Sir, yours sincerely. reader will find an interesting anecdote of Burns and Mr. Sloan at Wanlockhead, E. B. in Chambers's edition, vol. iii. p. 9. See also verses to John Taylor Posthumous Works.]

James dracu,

Globe Inn, 8 o'clock p.m. [1791.] (01 Julhtrtotr, SIR, I have your letter anent Crombie's bill. Your forbearance OF FTJLLARTON. has been very great. I did it to accommodate the thoughtless fellow. He asks till Wednesday week. If he fail, I pay it Ellisland, October 3, 1791. myself. In the meantime, if horning and caption be absolutely SIR, necessary, grip Mm by the neck, and welcome. Yours. I HAVE just this minute got the frank, and next minute EGBERT BURNS. must send it to post, else I purposed to have sent you two or [Mr. Chambers, from whose edition we quote this letter, informs us that the three other bagatelles, that have amused a vacant hour might defaulter alluded to was a mason about Dalswinton, Alexander Crombie by name, about as well as "Six excellent new songs," or, the Aberdeen who had been employed at the building of the farm-steading at PUlisland, and whom Bums had accommodated with his name, as a worthy man struggling with "Prognostications for the Year to come." I shall probably difficulties in the world. Mr. Oracle was an official in the Bank at Dumfries.] trouble you soon with another packet. About the gloomy " month of November, when the people of England hang and drown themselves," any thing generally is better than one's own thought. Fond as I may be of my own productions, it is not for their (2.) TO JAMES GEACIE, ESQ. sake that I am so anxious to send you them. I am ambitious, covetously ambitious of being known to a gentleman whom I Brow, Wednesday Morning, \_13th July, 1796.] am to call proud ; a who was a my countryman gentleman MY DEAR SIR, foreign ambassador as soon as he was a man, and a leader of It would [be] doing high injustice to this place not to ac- armies as soon as he was a soldier, and that with an eclat un- knowledge that my rheumatisms have derived great benefits known to the usual minions of a court men who, with all the it alas ! loss of still continues. from already ; but, my appetite adventitious advantages of connexions and princely princely I shall not need your kind offer this week, and I return to fortune, must yet, like the caterpillar, labour a whole lifetime town the beginning of next week, it not being a tide-week. before reach the they wished for height, there to roost a stupid I am detaining a man in a burning hurry. So, God bless chrysalis, and doze out the remaining glimmering existence you E. B. of old age. been a kind friend to our Author and the offer here referred If the that [Mr. Gracic had ; gentleman accompanied you when you did mo from to to, was that of his carriage, to bring the Poet home sea-bathing quarters the honor of on calling me, is with you, I beg to be respect- Dumfries. Chambers.] GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 193

Jttr. James (3.) TO ME. CLAEKE, dO MOFFAT. SCHOOLMASTER, FORFAR.

Dumfries, 10th January, 1792. Dumfries, 26th June, 1796. I RECEIVED this MY DEAR yours moment, my dear Sir. I sup with CLARKE, Eiddel in town still the victim of Captain to-night, else I had gone to Carse STILL, affliction ! Were you to see the emaciated directly. Courage, mon ami! The day may, after aU, be figure who now holds the pen to you, you would but at not know old friend. yours ; any rate, there is other air to breathe than that your Whether I shall ever get about of is Moffat, pestiferously tainted as it is with the breath of that again only known to Him, the Great Unknown, whose

. creature I am. arch-scoundrel, J There are two quotations from two Alas, Clarke ! I begin to fear the worst. As in to individual I poets which, situations such as yours, were congenial to my self, am tranquil, and would despise myself if soul. : I were not but my Thomson says ; Bums's poor widow, and half-a-dozen of his dear ' little ones helpless ! there I am weak as a What proves the hero truly great, orphans Is never woman's tear.* never, to despair." Enough of this ! 'Tis half of my disease.

And Dr. : I Young duly received your last, enclosing the note. It came ex- -" On Reason build Resolve, in I tremely time, and am much obliged by your punctuality. That column of true majesty in man." Again I must request you to do me the same kindness. Be so shall the result of To-morrow, you know my consultation very good as, by return of post, to enclose me another note. I with Eiddel. trust can do it Captain Yours, you without inconvenience, and it will seriously B. B. oblige me.f If I must go, I shall leave a few friends behind me, whom I shall regret while consciousness remains. I know I shall live in their remembrance. Adieu, dear Clarke. That I shall ever see you again, is, I am afraid, highly im- probable. TO ME. JAMES (2.) C[LAEKE], E. B. MOFFAT. * [This adaptation from Shakspeare " Dumfries, 17th Feb., 1792. But I am weaker than a woman's tear," Troilus MY DEAR SIR, and Cresaida: Act I., Scene 1. IF this is far from being merely rhetorical. It is to save the use finds you at Mofldt, or as soon as it finds you at manifestly employed of terms by himself that would have been too painful and for him to must without wait enervating Moffat, you delay on Mr. Eiddel, as he has in of the desolation utter, prospect to which he could not help looking forward.] been + note on letter to very kindly thinking of you in an affair that has occurred [Compare (1) Captain John Hamilton. The forbearance and gentleness of this to a of a application debtor, in the circumstances of the case, are clerk's place in Manchester; which, if your hopes are beyond mere commentary : sermons might be written on in them.] desperate your present business, he proposes procuring for you. I know your gratitude for past, as well as hopes of future favors, will induce you to pay every attention to Glen- riddel's wishes; as he is almost the only, and undoubtedly the best friend that your unlucky fate has left you. I Apropos, just now hear that you have beat your foes every tail hollow. Huzza ! lo triumphe ! Mr. Eiddel, who is at my elbow, says that if it is so, he begs that you will wait on him Jftt. Stephen (torke, directly, and I know you are too good a man not to pay your EDINBURGH. respects to your saviour. Yours, E. B. July 16, 1792. [These two letters, for the discovery of which the public is indebted to Mr. MR. BURNS begs leave to present his most respectful com- Chambers, read in connection with letter to indicate (G) Cunningham, very plainly pliments to Mr. Clarke. Mr. B. some time ago did himself the affectionate interest the Poet had taken in the welfare of his friend the then the honor of Mr. C. schoolmaster of Moffat. What triumph is here celebrated over his "foes," we writing respecting coming out to the do not learn but whatever it it is certain that he ; might be, required and country, to give a little musical instruction in a highly received still further assistance from our Author, and his finally relinquished where Mr. C. have his situation at for another of the kind at respectable family, may own terms, Moffat same Forfar, as the following letter, given by Mr. Chambers, shows : and may be as happy as indolence, the Devil, and the gout CLARKE TO BUHNS. will permit him. Mr. B. knows well how Mr. C. is engaged MY DEAR FRIEND, [Forfar, 18th Feb., 1796.] with another but cannot C. find Tour letter makes me the as I had family; Mr. two or three very unhappy ; more so, heard very natter- ing accounts of your situation some months ago. A note is enclosed and weeks to to each of them? Mr. is [20s.] ; spare B. deeply im- if such will be this shall soon partial payment acceptable, be followed by more. and conscious the here has more than answered pressed with, awefully of, high import- My appointment my expectations ; but furnishing a has still and the ance of Mr. C.'s whether in the of large house, &c., kept me very poor ; persecution I suffered time, winged moments from that Lord II me into all rascal, , brought expenses which, with my symphonious exhibition, at the keys of harmony, while listen- economy, I have not yet rubbed off. Be so kind as write me. Your disinterested Seraphs cease their own less strains; or in the friendship has made an impression which time cannot efface. Believe me, my ing delightful dear Burns, yours in sincerity, JAMES CLARKE.] drowsy hours of slumb'rous Eepose, in the arms of his dearly *2u 194 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

beloved elbow-chair, where the frowsy, but potent power of limited income and large family could ill afford. God forbid, Indolence circumfuses her vapours round, and sheds her Sir, that anything should ever distress you as much as writing dews on the head of her darling son. But half a line con- this card has done me. half veying a meaning from Mr. C. would make Mr. B. the With the sincerest gratitude and most respectful esteem, happiest of mortals. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very humble sert., EGBERT BURNS. and it is requisition ; where, said, a tender impression was afterwards made on Mr. C.'s heart one of his by elegant and accomplished pupils. In Cromek's have no conclusive evidence either as to the exact date of this " [We painfully Reliques the letter is addressed, to Mr. T. Clarke." by misprint, interesting letter, or the unfortunate monetary transaction to which it refers. We have more than one reference to "these disastrous times" in the correspon- dence with Hill, which enable us to fix the date as being at least posterior to summer of 1793; and one obscure reference to money matters letters (11) and (12) to Hill which seems to imply that Hill himself had knowledge of, perhaps- disagreeable interest in, some such transaction. But Gilbert Burns's distinct

statement about Mr. Clark's bill (schoolmaster at Forfar see letter (3) to him), and the well-known fact that the Poet had in some way, by pecuniary advance or otherwise, befriended him, and was still a creditor of his at the time of his own " (Eaptaitt Johnston e. death, seem to leave very little doubt on the subject. The Poet would appear to have never quite succeeded in squaring accounts with his landlord, Captain Hamilton," says Mr. Chambers. The above letter, which appears now for the Dumfries, Nov. 13, 1792. first time in print, explains satisfactorily the origin of these painful obligations, Sm, which so darkened and distressed his last hours, and which were undoubtedly the cause of his self-alienation from Captain Hamilton, and perhaps other esteemed I HAVE read of the Gazetteer. just your prospectus Edinburgh friends, in pride and sorrow. The above document, as our readers are already If on in been to you go your paper with the same spirit, it will, be- aware, has opportunely supplied us by George Manners, Esq., F.S.A., Croydon, and completes the elucidation of a subject on which Mr. Chambers has yond all comparison, be the first composition of the kind in bestowed much care.] Europe. I beg leave to insert my name as a subscriber, and if you have already published any papers, please send me them from the beginning. Point out your own way of sett- ling payments in this place, or I shall settle with you through the medium of my friend, Peter Hill, bookseller in Edinburgh. (2) TO CAPTAIN HAMILTON. on Sir ! Go Lay bare with undaunted heart and steady hand that horrid mass of corruption called politics and state- Saturday Morning, [January 31, 1795.] craft. Dare to draw in their native colours those SIR, " Calm villains whom no faith thinking can fire," I WAS from home, and had not the opportunity of seeing more than most card. It is not whatever be the shibboleth of their pretended party. your polite, your friendly most that could do to The address to me at Dumfries will find, Sir, your very possible, worthy Sir, you anything humble servant, offend anybody. My backwardness proceeds alone from the EGBERT BURNS. abashing consciousness of my obscure station in the ranks of life. Many an evening have I sighed to call in and spend [Compare letter (10) to Robert Graham, Esq., on this subject.] it at social fireside but a of obtrusive your ; shyness appearing amid the fashionable visitants occasionally there, kept me at a distance. It shall do so no more. On Monday, I must be in the country, and most part of the week; but the first leisure evening I shall avail myself of your hospitable good- ness. With the most ardent sentiments of gratitude and taptatn [John] respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your humble (1.) DUMFRIES. highly-obliged servant, EOBT. BURNS.

[After Martinmas, 1793.] [The friendly communication to which the above letter is a reply we find in

as : SIR, Mr. Chambers's Edition, vol. iv., p. 131, follows DUMFRIES, SOth Jan., 1795. IT is even so. You are the only person in Dumfries or in DEAR SIR, the to whom I have run in world, debt; and I took the freedom AT same time that I acknowledge the receipt of three guineas to account of with because I will me to enter a of a different nature ? When you, believed, and do still believe, that I may house-rent, you permit complaint I courted I wished to see I first came here, your acqflaintance ; you ; asked do it with more impunity as to than other you my feelings any you to call in and take a family-dinner now and then, when it suited your con- almost that I person ever met with. I will settle with you venience. For more than twelve months you have never entered my door, but seemed rather when we met. This kept me from sending any farther par- soon; and I assure you, Sir, it is with infinite pain that I have shy ticular invitation. If I have in any shape offended, or from inadvertency hurt on The fact for transgressed your goodness. unlucky me is, the delicacy of your feelings, tell me so, and I will endeavour to set it to rights. renew our will be to that about the beginning of these disastrous times, in a moment If you are disposed to acquaintance [I] glad see you to a at at three o'clock on Sunday ; and, any rate, hope you will believe of imprudence I lent my name to a friend who has since been family-dinner me, dear Sir, your sincere friend, and of unfortunate; course, I had a sum to pay which my very JOHN HAMILTON. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 195

" On our Author's to the Mr. Chambers remarks : One can reply (2) above, John scarcely doubt that there were other considerations pressing upon him the un- Sgnu, (Esq. pleasant sense of debt towards his landlord, and the consciousness that he was under the ban of a large part of respectable society on account of politics, the You know that among other high dignities, have the Riddel quarrel, and his own many imprudences." So far as a painful sense of you indebtedness to his landlord was a cause of this unwillingness on the Poet's part honor to be my supreme court of critical judicature, from which to intrude on the reader has now the clearest evidence and it Captain Hamilton, ; there is no appeal. I enclose you a song which I composed was probably the chief, if not the only cause although, as we perceive, he was since I saw and I am to the of it. honestly endeavouring to remove it. Captain Hamilton, proprietor of Allcrshaw, you, going give you history was landlord of both the houses our Author tenanted in succession at Dumfries, Do you know that among much that I admire in the charac- and was a man of the highest respectability and most amiable disposition.] ters and manners of those great folks whom I have now the honor to call my acquaintances, the Oswald family, there is nothing charms me more than Mr. Oswald's unconcealable attachment to that incomparable woman ? Did you ever, my dear Syme, meet with a man who owed more to the Divine Giver of all than Mr. O. ? a good things A fine fortune ; pleasing exterior; self-evident amiable dispositions, and an ingenuous upright mind, and that informed too, much beyond the usual of fellows of Captain run young his rank and fortune : and to all this, such a woman ! but of her I shall say nothing at

in of : in I Dumfries, oth December, 1793. all, despair saying anything adequate my song have endeavoured to do to what would be SIR, justice his feelings on in the scene I have the habitation of his HEATED as I was with wine yesternight, I was perhaps rather seeing, drawn, As I am a deal with seemingly impertinent in my anxious wish to be honoured with Lucy. good pleased my performance, I, in first of it to Mrs. but your acquaintance. You will forgive it it was the impulse my fervour, thought sending Oswald, " on second what I offer as the honest incense of heart-felt respect. He is the father of Scottish county thoughts, perhaps of from the well-known character of reform, and is a man who does honour to the business, at the genuine respect might, and be construed into some or same time that the business does honour to him," said my poverty poetry, modification other of that which soul abhors. Do let me worthy friend Glenriddel to somebody by me, who was talking servility my " know some convenient moment, ere the leave of your coming to this country with your corps. Then," I worthy family " that with wait on them. In the said I have a woman's longing to take him by the hand, and town, I, propriety, may ' circle of the fashionable herd, those who come either to show say to him, Sir, I honour you as a man to whom the interests their own consequence, or to borrow from the of humanity are dear, and as a patriot to whom the rights of consequence " visit in such a mob I will not mine is a different your country are sacred.' appear ; errand. Yours In times like these, Sir, when our commoners are , barely ROBERT BURNS. able by the glimmering of their own twilight understandings to scrawl a and when lords are what would frank, gentlemen [John Syme, Esq., of Ryedale, was distributor of stamps for the district, and had be ashamed to be, to whom shall a sinking country call for his office on the ground floor of the house in which Burns took up his residence on coming to Dumfries. Here they got acquainted. Mr. Syme was perhaps a ? To the To him who help independent country gentleman. he at least a a true enough friend of Burns was constant associate ; and, being in has too deep a stake in his country not to be earnest for man of taste and literary accomplishments, was often consulted by the 1'oet on her in the honest of can such subjects, and was, indeed, selected by Dr. Currie himself as the person to welfare ; and who, pride man, view whom the writing of the Poet's life should be entrusted. At the same time, it with the insolence of office and the allure- equal contempt appears to us that Mr. Syme's egotism and propensity to exaggerate, in his own for his own incident or detail of the Poet's life connected ments of corruption. favour and glory, any with himself, render him a very doubtful authority in such matters. The well- I mentioned to you a Scots ode or song I had lately com- known story, for example, of Burns drawing his sword-cane to avenge an imagin- posed, and which, I think, has some merit. Allow me to en- ary insult at Syme's table, and trembling at Syme's affectionate remonstrance, is an absurd of some convivial The reader is referred close it. "When I fall in with you at the theatre, I shall be manifestly exaggeration joke. for a variety of incidents in his name, to Chambers's edition, 1856, vol. iv. p. 155, to have of it. of as a glad your opinion Accept it, Sir, very &c. It need hardly be mentioned that the lady referred to in the letter was Mrs. humble but most sincere tribute of from a man who, Richard Oswald of Auehencruive, and that the song enclosed for Mr. Syme's respect " critical examination is the beautiful lyric, O, Wat ye wha's in yon town V See dear as he prizes poetic fame, yet holds dearer an independent Poetical Works, p. 208.] mind.

I have the honour to be, &c., R. B.

* [Supposed by Mr. Chambers to be Captain or Major Robertson, of Lude : The enclosed was " Compare letter (8) to Cunningham. poem Brace's Address" Babib JtVCullodi, of which our Author distributed, among literary and political friends, several copies about this time.] Dumfries, 21st June, 1794. MY DEAR SIR, MY long projected journey through your country is at last if fixed : and on Wednesday next, you have nothing of more importance than to take* a saunter down to Gatehouse about 196 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

" two or three o'clock, I shall be happy to take a draught of By some unexplained oversight, Mr. Chambers allocates this letter to Mr. Stephen Clarke, jun." being ignorant, perhaps, of Mr. Samuel Clarke, jun.'s M'Kune's best with you. Collector will be at Glen's Syme acquaintance with the Poet. There were three Clarkes, correspondents of our about that time, and will meet us about dish-of-tea hour. Author's, who may be here briefly distinguished : 1 James Clarke, schoolmaster

at afterwards Forfar : 2 teacher of and Syme goes also to Kerroughtree, and let me remind you of Moffat, at Stephen Clarke, music, organist of the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edinburgh a man of great musical genius, kind to me there : I will need all your promise accompany frequently referred to in our Author's correspondence with Thomson died the friends I can muster, for I am indeed ill at ease whenever August, 1797 : 3 Samuel Clarke, jun., a resident in Dumfries, and who occupied an important legal position there, as Assessor, if we mistake not, to the Burgh. I approach your honourables and right honourables. To him this letter is undoubtedly addressed, as well as that, on a similar topic, Yours sincerely, which immediately follows.] E. B.

* [So, elliptically, in original.] [Mr. David M'Culloch, younger of Ardwell, is the gentleman to whom we are indebted, through Mr. Lockhart, for the sentimental account of an interview with TO MB. SAMUEL JUN. " (2.) CLAEKE, Burns at Dumfries, as he, Burns, was walking alone on the shady side of the street, while the opposite side was gay with successive groups of ladies and MY DEAR SlR, gentlemen, all drawn together for the festivities of the night [King's Birth-day not one of to &c. I EECOLLECT of a drunken assembly night, 1794], whom appeared willing recognise him," ; something promise yesternight a about like some of we must be allowed to a story which, Syme's stories, express to breakfast with you this morning. I am very sorry that it is little qualifying scepticism. Compare Memoranda by Mrs. Burns Appendix. I remember too, mentioning The visit here alluded to was to Mr. Heron of Heron See Ballads on his election.]. impossible. you very oblidgingly something of your intimacy with Mr. Corbet, our Supervisor- General. Some of our folks about the Excise Office, Edinr., had and perhaps still have conceived a prejudice against me as being a drunken dissipated character. I might be all this, be an honest fellow but that I you know, and yet ; you know J;lr. Samuel Clarke, Jutt., am an honest fellow, and am nothing of this. You may in DUMFRIES. your own way let him know that I am not unworthy of sub- (I-) scribing myself, my dear Clarke, your friend, Sunday Morning [1794.] E. BURNS. DEAR SIR, [This letter, already quoted and commented on by us in Biography (p. xlv.), is I I drunk last but I am sober this morn- WAS, know, night, thus in original "Docketted: R. Burns's S. Clarke, jun., witness, Dumfries." Mrs. ing. From the expressions Capt. [Dods] made use of to me, No trace of any date visible. The original is in possession of his daughter, Stewart Gladstone of Capenoch, Dumfriesshire.] had I had nobody's welfare to care for but my own, we should certainly have come, according to the manners of the world, to the necessity of murdering one another about the business. The words were such as generally, I believe, end in a brace of I still pistols ; but am pleased to think that I did not ruin ^tr. JUexattbsr Jfinblater, the peace and welfare of a wife and a family of children in a drunken squabble. Further, you know that the report of SUPERVISOR OF EXCISE. DUMFRIES. certain political opinions being mine, has already once before [1795 ?] brought me to the brink of destruction. I dread lest last SIR, business be in the same night's may misrepresented way. INCLOSED are the two schemes. I would not have troubled You, I beg, will take care to prevent it. I tax wish your you with the Collector's one, but for suspicion lest it be not for Mrs. Burns's welfare with the task of as soon waiting, to it if will right. Mr. Erskine promised me make right, you as possible, on every gentleman who was present, and state have the goodness to shew him how. As I have no copy of this to him, and, as you please, shew him this letter. What, the scheme for myself, and the alterations being very consider- after all, was the obnoxious toast? our success in "May able from what it was formerly, I hope that I shall have access the present war be equal to the justice of our cause" a toast to this scheme I send you, when I come to face up my new that the most outrageous frenzy of loyalty cannot object to. books. So much for schemes And that no scheme to betray a I and that this will wait on the request beg morning you to seduce a or FRIEND, or mislead a STRANGER ; YOUNG GIRL, at the foolish I shall that parties present dispute. only add, or bribe an EXCISEMAN rob a HENROOST ; to subvert LIBERTY, ; I am that a man who stood so in estima- truly sorry high my or a to disturb the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, annoy GOSSIPPING ; tion as Mr. , should use me in the manner in which I to overthrow the credit of ORTHODOXY, or the authority of OLD conceive he has done. to or frustrate MAY SONGS ; oppose your wishes, my hopes E. B. PROSPER is the sincere wish and prayer of

[The above letter refers to one of those painful, and sometimes dangerous, EOBT. BURNS. political discussions into which the Poet was precipitated at this crisis by the " a true friend of our violence of his own zeal, and his contempt for the lobster-coated epauletted [In Mr. Findlater's opinion, who was Author's in life, and puppies" of the service, who took every occasion to assert offensively their own to whose affectionate vindication in some respects his reputation since death has professional loyalty in his presence. Neither love nor respect, it may be imagined, been indebted, the rebuke administered to Burns, by authority of the Board, either side. letter to Mrs. as at the time and in this of was lost on Compare (4) Riddel, p. 59. Wine may was not so severe commonly supposed ; opinion have had something to do with such collisions, but not so much as sheer political his on that subject, the Poet's widow herself concurs. Compare Memoranda by animosity. Mrs. Burns, also Reminiscences, 8 Appendix."] GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS.

. 3er0n, OF HERON. Dumfries, 23d April, 1795. [Dumfries, 1794 or 1795.] Sm, SIR, You see the danger of patronizing the rhyming tribe : you I of of ballads flatter the Poet's a most in the INCLOSE you some copies a couple political ; vanity potent ingredient of a son of a little notice and he, in one of which, I believe, you have never seen. Would to composition rhyme by ; Heaven I could make you master of as many votes in the return, persecutes your good-nature with his acquaintance. In these of I have come forward with Stewartry! But days volunteering, my " Who does the utmost that he can, services, as Poet Laureate to a highly respectable political Does acts could no more." well, nobly angels party, of which you are a distinguished member. The en- closed I a to the of In order to bring my humble efforts to bear with more effect are, hope, only beginning songs triumph which will earn in that contest. I have the honor to on the foe, I have privately printed a good many copies of you be, both ballads, and have sent them among friends all about the Sir, Your and devoted humble country. obliged servant, E. BURNS. To pillory upon Parnassus the rank reprobation of character, the utter dereliction of all principle, in a profligate junto [This letter, Mr. Chambers informs us, was found among the papers of the which has not only outraged virtue, but violated common Auchencruive family, and is supposed to have enveloped our Author's Election Ballads of the crisis.] decency, spurning even hypocrisy as paltry iniquity below their daring to unmask their flagitiousness to the broadest day to deliver such over to their merited fate, is surely not merely innocent, but laudable; is not only propriety, but virtue. You have already, as your auxiliary, the sober 10 JtTr. J0htt detestation of mankind on the heads of your opponents; EDINBURGH. and I swear by the lyre of Thalia, to muster oh your side all EXCISE-OFFICE, the votaries of honest Laughter, and fair, candid Eidicule ! 2oth April, 1795. I am extremely obliged to you for your kind mention of my SIR, interests in a letter which Mr. Syme shewed me. At present, I UNDERSTAND that I am to incur censure by the wine- situation in life must be in a great measure stationary, at my account of this district not being sent in. Allow me to state is I least for two or three years. The statement this am on the following circumstances to you, which, if they do not there the supervisors' list, and as we come on by precedency, apologise for, will at least extenuate my part of the offence. in two or three years I shall be at the head of that list, and be The letter was put into my hands sometime about be of to general of course. Then, a FRIEND might service appointed, the beginning of this month, as I was then in charge of the the which I would me in getting me into a place of kingdom district, Mr. Findlater being indisposed. I immediately, as from about a hundred and like. A supervisor's income varies of the wine-stocks and far as in my power, made a survey ; to two hundred a year; but the business is an in- twenty where I could not personally survey, I wrote the officer of the cessant and would be nearly a compleat bar to every drudgery, division. In a few days more, and previous to collection- moment I am species of literary pursuit. The appointed and in the course week, Mr. Findlater resumed charge ; as, in the common routine, I may be nominated on the supervisor, of collection, he would have both the officers by him, and the collectors' list and this is a business purely of politi- ; always old books among his hands, it very naturally occurred to me varies much, from better than cal patronage. A collectorship the wine-account business would rest with him. At the close two hundred a to near a thousand. They also come for- year of that week, I got a note from the collector that the account- besides a handsome ward on the list ; and have, by precedency making-up was thrown on my hands. I immediately set life of leisure. A life of leisure income, a compleat literary officer's James Graham of about it ; but one books, Sanquhar, with a decent is the summit of my wishes. It competence, not being at hand, I wrote him to send me them by first in me to would be the prudish affectation of silly pride say has not to the least post. Mr. Graham thought proper pay friend that I do not or would not be indebted to a political ; need, attention to my request, and to day I have sent an express I no means affairs before at the same time, Sir, by lay my for his stock-book. on benevolence. thus, to hook dependent situation your state of facts and if I must still be you my This, Sir, is a plain ; of an should occur where the If, in my progress life, opening censurable, I hope it will be considered that this and thought offices of a of your public character politi- I to be good gentleman officiating job being my first, cannot be supposed cal might bring me forward, I shall petition your of the business. consequence completely master of all the etiquette with the same frankness as I now -do myself the goodness If my supposed neglect is to be laid before the Honourable honor to subscribe myself, I will have the to the E. B. Board, beg you goodness accompany complaint with this letter. [Compare ballads on Mr. Ueron's election, &c,} I am, Sir, your very humble servant, EOBT. BURNS. 198 LIFE .AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

ADDRESS OF THE SCOTTISH DISTILLERS Omnipotence, overset your career, and laid all your fancied in honours the dust. But turn your eyes, Sir, to the tragic tht Etgki 30n. fflilliam Jit scenes of our fate : an ancient nation, that for many ages had gallantly maintained the unequal struggle for independ- SIR, ence with her much more powerful neighbour, at last agrees to a union WHILE pursy burgesses crowd your gate, sweating under which should ever after make them one people. In the weight of heavy addresses, permit us, the quondam distil- consideration of certain circumstances, it was covenanted that lers in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, to approach the former should enjoy a stipulated alleviation in her share you, not with venal approbation, but with fraternal condol- of the public burdens, particularly in that branch of the ence not as revenue called the Excise. This ; what you are just now, or for some time have just privilege has of late been but as in all be. to some ; what, probability, you will shortly given great umbrage interested, powerful individuals We shall have the merit of not deserting our friends in the of the more potent part of the empire, and they have spared day of their calamity, and you will have the satisfaction of no wicked pains, under insidious pretexts, to subvert what perusing at least one honest address. You are well ac- they dared not openly to attack, from the dread which they with the dissection of human nature nor do entertained of the of their ancient enemies. quainted ; you yet spirit need the of a In this we fell nor did alone our assistance fellow-creature'd bosom to inform you conspiracy ; we suffer, that man is always a selfish, often a perfidious being. This country was deeply wounded. A number of (we will say) in assertion, however the hasty conclusions of superficial observa- respectable individuals, largely engaged trade, where we tion were not but to may doubt of it, or the raw inexperience of youth may only useful, absolutely necessary our country in her dearest interests with all that near dear deny it, those who make the fatal experiment we have done ; we, was and will feel. You are a statesman, and consequently are not to us, were sacrificed, without remorse, to the infernal deity of * ignorant of the traffic of these corporation compliments. The political Expediency ! We fell to gratify the wishes of dark little great man who drives the borough to market, and the Envy, and the views of unprincipled Ambition ! Your foes, were avowed were too brave to take an very great man who buys the borough in that market, they Sir, ; ungenerous fell two do the whole business and well ; in the face of On the our ; you know they, likewise, advantage you day. contrary, to our have their price. With that sullen disdain which you can so enemies, complete overthrow, contiived to make their well the of a nation. Your downfall assume, rise, illustrious Sir, and spurn these hireling guilt appear villainy only efforts of venal stupidity. At best they are the compliments drags with you your private friends and partizans : in our of a man's friends on the of his execution are more or less involved the most numerous and most morning ; they take misery a valuable of the all those who decent farewell, resign you to your fate, and hurry away part community immediately from your approaching hour. depend on the cultivation of the soil, from the landlord of a to his lowest hind. If fame say true, and omens be not very much mistaken, province down you are about to make your exit from that world where the Allow us, Sir, yet further, just to hint at another rich vein sun of the of of comfort in the of ; the gladness gilds paths prosperous men : permit us, dreary regions adversity gratula- tions of an conscience. In a certain great Sir, with the sympathy of fellow-feeling to hail your approving great assembly, passage to the realms of ruin. of which you are a distinguished member, panegyrics on your Whether the sentiment proceed from the selfishness or private virtues have so often wounded your delicacy, that we cowardice of mankind is immaterial shall not distress with on the There is, ; but to point out to a you anything subject. one of conduct which our child of misfortune those who are still more unhappy, is to however, part your public feelings him some of will not us to in silence : our must tres- give degree positive enjoyment. In this light, permit pass gratitude

our on ; we Sir, whole Sir, downfall may be again useful to you : though not pass your modesty mean, worthy your the Scots Distillers. In exactly in the same way, it is not perhaps the first time it has behaviour to evil hours, when recollection on the let gratified your feelings. It is true, the triumph of your evil obtrusive presses bitterly sense, that, is a and the to star exceedingly despiteful. At an age when others are the Sir, come like healing angel, speak peace your of the world can neither nor take votaries pleasure, or underlings in business, you had at- soul which give away. tained the wish of a We have the honor to be, Sir, highest British statesman ; and with the date of human a Your fellow- sufferers, ordinary life, what prospect was before you ! sympathizing Deeply rooted in Royal Favour, you overshadowed the land. And grateful humble Servants, The birds of passage, which follow ministerial sunshine JOHN BARLEYCORN Praeses. clime of faith through every political and manners, flocked to * " [Compare Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer" Poetical Works, p. 10.] branches ; and the beasts of the field " your (the lordly posses- [" This ironical letter," we are informed by Cunningham, was found among of " the of Burns." It first in Cromek's We sors hills and valleys) crowded under your shade. But papers appeared, however, Reliques. are afraid so admirable a piece of Satire never found its way to the Right Hon- behold a watcher, a one, came down from and holy heaven, ourable Gentleman's eye for whom it was intended. It is in the very best style cried and said thus : a vein of merriment and combined aloud, Hew down the tree, and cut off of Junius, with genial solemnity running which he was not of and it is to see such evi- his branches off through it, capable ; pleasant by ; shake his leaves, and scatter his fruit let ; dence, that Burns could rightly appreciate both the character arid position of the the beasts from under get away it, and the fowls from his legislator by whom he, in his obscurity, and for his too great had " great honesty, branches ! been if not A blow from an unthought-of quarter, one of neglected, contemned.] those terrible accidents which peculiarly mark the hand of GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 199

the 30n. fv0b0st, Dailiea, attb quantities of ale, pays nothing : because in both cases Ale certificates are never asked for; and* of all the English ale, Icrtott <2T0ttttnI 0f Dumfries. porter, &c., scarcely any of it pays. For my part, I never recorded an ale certificate in Dumfries, and I know most of GENTLEMEN, [1793 ?] the other officers are in the same predicament. It makes no THE taste and liberal of town has literary spirit your good part of our official duty, and besides, until it is universally so filled the various of schools, as to ably departments your assessed on all dealers, it strikes me as injustice to assess one. make it a great object for a to have his children I very parent know that our collector has a per-centage on the collection : educated in them. Still, to me, a with stranger, my large but as it is no great object to him he gives himself no concern family, and very stinted income, to give young ones that my as to what is brought into the town. The supervisor would education I wish, at the school-fees which a high stranger suit you better. He is an abler and a keener man, and what pays, will bear hard me. upon is all important in the business, such is his official influence Some years ago your good town did me the honor of mak- over, and power among his offrs.,* that were he to signify that ing me an honorary Will allow me to " " burgess. you request such was his wish, not a pennie would be left uncollected. that this mark of distinction extend so as to me may far, put It is by no means the case with the collector. The offrs. are on the of a real freeman of the town, in the schools ? footing not so immediately among his hands, and they would not pay [That I not of this may appear altogether unworthy favor, the same attention to his mandates. Your brewers here, the allow me to state to some little services I have you lately Kichardsons, one of whom, Gabriel, I survey, pay annually in done a branch of your revenue. The " " two-pennies exigible twa-pennies about thirty pounds, and they complain, with on foreign ale vended within limits : in this rather your great justice, of the unfair balance against them in their com- neglected article of income I am to shew that your ready petion with the Bridgend, Annan, and English traders. As within these few weeks exertions have secured for you my they are respectable characters, both as citizens and men of of those duties the sum of Ten Pounds; and in this nearly business, I am sure they will meet with every encouragement too, I was the one of the of the Excise only gentlemen from the Magistracy of Dumfries. For their sakes partly I Mr. Mitchell, whom for his who (except you pay trouble) have interested myself in this business, but still much more took the least concern in the business.*] on account of many obligations which I feel myself to lie If you are so very kind as to grant request, it will my under to Mr. Staig's civility and goodness. Could I be of the be a constant incentive to me to strain nerve certainly every smallest service in anything which he has at heart, it would I if where can officially serve you ; and will, increase possible, give me great pleasure. I have been at some pains to ascer- that with which I have the honor to grateful respect be, tain what your annual loss on this business may be, and I Gentlemen, have reason to think it may amount fully to one-third of Your devoted humble Servant, what you at present receive. These crude hints, Sir, are E. B. entirely for your private use. I have by no means any wish * [For supplying this important paragraph we are indebted to Mr. Carruthers to take a sixpence from Mr. Mitchell's income : nor do I wish of the Inverness Courier. I to I to serve Mr. Findlater ; wish show any attempt, can, [The request contained in this letter, one is glad to know, was immediately to declare what I have the complied with. Burns had been made an honorary burgess on occasion of his to do anything with sincerity first visit to Dumfries in as he was from and the above 1787, returning England, honour to be, Sir, your obliged humble Servant, was not made till 1793 so there had been no haste on his application certainly ; ROBERT BURNS. part, to convert this honour to advantage : and by the letter which follows, * for " it appears he was still going on, doing all in his power to augment the reve- [Contraction officers."] above interesting document first appeared, as a note, in a local pamphlet, nues of the Burgh, and more than compensate for the privilege conferred of [The Mr. on the Established Churches of Dumfries. Our free education for his children. His boys, under the special care of his esteemed published by M'Diarmid, attention been directed to it Mr. W. R. M'Diarmid, we extract it with friend, Rev. James Gray, then master of the grammar-school, Dumfries, were having by much satisfaction, as one among the many proofs now accumulating of the care in the full enjoyment of its advantages at the time of their father's death.] with which Bums discharged all the duties, directly or indirectly, devolving on not have been so much the slave of as he has him ; and that he could dissipation, frequently been represented to be, at this period. Provost Staig, we are further informed, took the opinion of counsel on the set forth in this letter that the had question, which confirmed the views Burgh the power to tax all imported malt liquor. Our readers will remember that a Divisions in Dumfries with a view to fr0b0st similar subject, the reduction of Excise economise the public, as well as the local revenues, was fully represented by our Author to Mr. Graham of Fintry, in his capacity of Commissioner letter (11) to Friday, Noon, [1795.] him. How Robert Burns, on any rational ground, could be accused of neglecting his duties, as a citizen or as a public official, is to us incomprehensible. Let our I KNOW, Sir, that anything which relates to the Burgh of readers compare the above and similar preceding documents with our own re- readiest so arid Dumfries' s interests will engage your attention, marks on the subject, in Reminiscences, 8, Excise Rebuke Appendix judge shall make no apology for this letter. I have been for some for themselves in the matter.] time turning my attention to a branch of your good town's reasons our Author's revenue, where, I think, there is much to amend : I mean the [FoR special assigned, correspondence " " his at Dalswinton and his letter Twa-Pennies on ale. The Brewers and Victuallers within with Mr. Miller and family ; first for the of a : of now for the time the jurisdiction pay accurately but three common brewers in thanks, published, gift since much of, here a the Bridgend, whose consumpt is almost entirely in Dumfries, Pair of Pistols, spoken occupy separate at the end of this pay nothing: Annan Brewer, who daily sends in great and more conspicuous place department.] 200 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS

of the same and it would at CORRESPONDENCE September year ; again, appear, some later date before : letters to Miss WTTII THE deciding Compare Chalmers (1) and (2); also (7), March 14th, 1788, when the DALSWINTON FAMILY. lease was agreed on. According to Cunningham, whose father was steward on the estate, Burns had the choice of three Ellisland of As our Author's connection with Mr. Miller patron, friend, farms, including ; two which, Eoregirth and and landlord was peculiar, and upon the whole unsatisfac- Bankhead, were infinitely superior in an agricultural of and as the reader desire to see all point view, but not so situated as Ellisland ; tory ; may naturally now romantically extant of the correspondence on his part with that gentleman and therefore had made a "poet's choice rather than a far- and his family, we think it advisable to arrange these letters mer's." Mrs. Burns, indeed, admits that "this may be true." in a separate group, with a few introductory remarks, that all [Memoranda by her Appendix.] Gilbert Burns, on the con- maintained that no such choice was ever offered that necessary information may be presented at once. trary, ; Patrick Miller, Esq., then of Dalswinton, and brother to the Mr. Miller not only specified the farm, but fixed the rent,

all conditions : Lord Justice-Clerk of that day, was by profession a banker, with so that the Poet had no option but either taste an in to take or not which his own first letter seems to by amateur practical science, by position a country ; imply. gentleman of influence and character; also, a sort of self-con- However this may be, Mr. Miller ultimately "granted a stituted patron of struggling genius in poetry and the fine lease of seventy-six years at the annual rent of 50 for the arts ; but with a estimate of his three first and 70 for the remainder sufficiently high own impor- years, ; agreeing tance, crotchety and capricious the last person in the world, farther to give his tenant 300 to build a new farm-steading perhaps, to be really serviceable to a man like Burns. Burns and enclose the fields." Mr. Chambers, whose words we here accordingly was never on very cordial terms with him, and we quote, is of opinion, all things considered, that "there is no have no doubt was glad enough to get rid of Ellisland without reason to suppose that Mr. Miller drove a hard bargain with an open rupture. Mr. Miller, however, showed all the sort of Burns." Cunningham, however, distinctly assures us that, interest in, and attention to the Poet a man of his kind could be in the opinion of his neighbours, it would require the utmost to show and it is a expected ; pleasant memento of their friend- economy and hard labour for the tenant to save 20 a year to learn besides from Ellisland ship that, being an occasional guest at the no fortune assuredly ! and Burns himself we Burns mansion, was present by invitation at the first trial know, by repeated intimations in his letters, was of the same of the first trip steamboat in the world, on Dalswinton Loch. opinion else had he never thought seriously of the Excise, as The incident has been thus commemorated : a provision against poverty. "An was built under engine Symington (James Symington) the engineer's Thus, then, stood the bargain in March, 1788, when the direction and sent superintendence, to Dalswinton and put together in October Poet entered on the and in with 1788. This farm; November, 1791, engine and the little vessel in which it was placed formed the first steamer that curses on its he the scene for was ever built. The little boat was launched on Dalswinton Loch, yet hopeless sterility, quitted and steamed across the Loch at the rate of five miles an hour. The company on ever leaving nothing behind him, as Cunningham tells us, board on that memorable occasion were Mr. Mr. tutor to Mr. Miller; Taylor, "but a with which he loved to exercise his Miller's and Alexander the putting-stone boys; Nasmyth, well-known painter. Besides these, there was a brisk stripling with marked a of his can never die and strongly features, by name Harry strength, memory musings which ; Brougham, afterwards to be Lord-Chancellor of England ; and but not least last, 300 of his sunk in its furrows ! of the money beyond redemption" group, was one of Mr. Miller's tenants, the farmer of Ellisland Kobert the bard of Ellisland, the Isle an old tower-like residence Burns, great Scotland. 'Many a time,' says Mr. James Nasmyth, including son of the distinguished ' I have heard painter, my father describe the delight of on some level land, at one time surrounded by water from the the in at this first and party question successful essay of steam navigation. I wish river lies on the south side of the Nith, opposite the mansion only Burns had immortalised it in verse; for it was of his " worthy highest muse.' house and policies of Dalswinton. The Poet lived in this old Mr. fabric till the new on the farm was built the Ellis- Miller, as our readers may remember, first introduced steading himself to the land that now is of his own where he the Poet with a handsome enough donation of ten designing ; spent guineas letter to John two remaining years of his brief sojourn here, and which is (2) Ballantine, Esq. ; and afterwards the still an of universal interest to readers of his works. proposed taking of a farm by him on his own estate object of Dalswinton letter to The name of this now celebrated farm was Ailies- (3) the same. This estate, which originally Mr. Miller had land, then Ellesland, Ellisland. It was recently purchased (1785 or 1786) was, on his finally purchased own " from Mr. as a reasonable a Mr. public avowal, in a wretched condition It was in the Miller, investment, by most for when to it miserable state of exhaustion, and all the tenants in Morine, 2000, Burns was prepared give up. it This must either have had some poverty."* Burns, should seem, was expected to invest gentleman, therefore, special both labour and capital in a of this fancy for the spot, or believed in the possibility of portion exhausted soil, realising at far too a a much handsomer from it than the Poet high rental for its value, and with whatever percentage ever of dreamed with for he prospects remuneration he could hope for. of; and, capital improvements, might Before this not be concluding disadvantageous bargain, however, wrong, Burns twice or thrice visited the Dalswinton, now a estate, no locality : first in June, 1787^ magnificent although longer on returning from his Border Tour in possession of Mr. Miller's was the by Dumfries; again, in family, originally patri- of the noble House of mony Cummin ; whose representative View (General of the Agriculture, &c., of cousin and rival of the Bruce was him slain at Dumfriesshire, 8vo. Edtabur^T: by the altar 1812. Account Mr. Miller-as by quoted by Chambers.] of the Grey-Friars in Dumfries. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 201

to town. I was still more unlucky in catching a miserable (i.) fhrimk Jtliller, cold, for which the medical have ordered me into DALSWINTON. gentlemen close confinement, "under pain of death" the severest of penalties. In two or three days, if I get better, and if I hear Edinburgh, 28th September, 1787. at your lodgings that you are still at Dalswinton, I will take SIR, a ride to Dumfries directly. From something in your last, I I HAVE been on a tour through the Highlands, and arrived would wish to explain my idea of being your tenant. I want in town but the other day, so could not wait on you at Dal- to be a farmer in a small farm, about a plough-gang, in a swinton about the latter end of August, as I had promised pleasant under the of a landlord. I and intended. country, auspices good have no foolish notion of being a tenant on easier terms than Independent of any views of future connections, what I another. To find a farm where one can live at all is not easy owe you for the past, as a friend and benefactor, when friends I only mean living soberly, like an old-style farmer, and I had few, and benefactors I had none, strongly in my bosom joining personal industry. The banks of the Nith are as prohibits the most distant instance of ungrateful disrespect. sweet as I and 'tis poetic ground any ever saw ; besides, Sir, I am informed you do not come to town for a month still, and but justice to the feelings of my own heart, and the opinion within that time I shall certainly wait on you, as by this time of my best friends, to say that I would wish to call you land- I suppose you will have settled your scheme with respect to lord sooner than any landed gentleman I know. These are your farms. views and wishes and in think best to my ; whatever way you My journey through the Highlands was perfectly inspiring, lay out your farms, I shall be happy to rent one of them. I and I hope I have laid in a good stock of new poetical ideas shall certainly be able to ride to Dalswinton about the middle from it. I shall make no apology for sending you the en- of next week, if I hear you are not gone. closed : it is a small but grateful tribute to the memory of our I have the honour to be, Sir, common countryman.* I have the honour to be, with the Your humble servant. most humble obliged, grateful sincerity, Sir, your obliged servant, ROBT. BURNS. EOBT. BURNS. [On this letter Mr. Chambers, chiefly, and justly relies to prove that our Author's second Tour by Stirling to Clackmamianshire was in the month ol P.S. I have added another poem, partly as it alludes to October, and not in August, as Dr. Adair by an error of memory imagined. some folks nearly and dearly connected with Ayrshire, and Compare Second Tour Appendix. Both the above letters, which we quote from Mr. Chambers's edition, wera partly as are the only coin in which the can rhymes poor poet first printed by him from copies of the originals in possession of Mr. W. C. Aitken, pay his debts of gratitude. The lady alluded to is Miss Broad Street, Birmingham.] Isabella M'Leod, aunt to the young Countess of London. As I am. determined not to leave Edinburgh till I wind up my matters with Mr. Creech, which I am afraid will be a tedious business, should I unfortunately miss you at Dal- swinton, perhaps your factor will be able to inform me of your intentions with respect to the Elesland farm [so in MS.'], which will save me a jaunt to Edinburgh again. TO PATRICK MILLER, ESQ., There is something so suspicious in the professions of OF DALSWINTON. attachment from a little man to a great man, that I know not how to do justice to the grateful warmth of my heart, when I 1793. would say how truly I am interested in the welfare of your Dumfries, April, little troop of angels, and how much I have the honour to be SIR, humble again, Sir, your obliged servant, MY poems having just come out in another edition, will you EOBT. BURNS. do me the honor to accept of a copy ? A mark of my grati- tude to as a to whose I have been [Most probably the elegy on Sir James Hunter Blair : Mr. Miller's family, you, gentleman goodness of Barskimming and Glenlee, belonged also to Ayrshire. He was therefore a indebted of for as a much ; my respect you, patriot who, in a fellow-countryman both of the deceased baronet's and of our Author's.] venal, sliding age, stands forth the champion of the liberties of my country; and of my veneration for you, as a man, whoso benevolence of heart does honor to human nature. a I There was time, Sir, when was your dependant : this language then would have been like the vile incense of flattery I could not have used it. Now that that connection is at an (20 TO PATRICK MILLER, ESQ., end, do me the honor to accept of this honest tribute of respect DALSWINTON. from, Sir, Your much indebted humble servant, Edinburgh, 20th October, 1787. R. B. SIR, I WAS spending a few days at Sir William Murray's, Ough- tertyre, and did not get your obliging letter till to-day I came *2c 202 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

had it in head to try my hand in the way of little prose Captain JftiUer, my essays, which I propose sending into the world through the DALSWINTON. of and should these be worth his medium some newspaper ; COPY OF " SCOTS WHA [ENCLOSING HAE."] while, to these Mr. Perry shall be welcome : and all my re- ward shall be, his treating me with his paper, which, by the or [1793, 1794.] bye, to any body who has the least relish for wit, is a high DEAR SIR, treat indeed. With the most grateful esteem, I am ever, ode is a I no THE following on subject which know you by Dear Sir, &c., means regard with indifference. E. B.

"O r Liberty, The gentleman addressed in the above two letters is presumably one and the Thou mak'st the face of nature gloomy gay, same person Captain Patrick Miller, younger of Dalswinton, and M.P. for the * Giv'st to the and to the ' ' beauty sun, pleasure day." Dumfries district of Boroughs. He is described in the Five Carlins as a " wi' " but our Author did not entertain sodger modest grace ; certainly It does me so much to meet with a man whose honest youth, good the highest opinion of his capabilities in any way compare letter (6) to Robert bosom glows with the generous enthusiasm, the heroic daring, Graham, Esq. His recommending Burns to the editor of the Morning Chronicle, but the however, was as a friendly act, acknowledged ; engagement of liberty, that I could not forbear sending you a composition friendly, and, proposed would have been manifestly dangerous to Burns -besides being, in our of own on the which I think is in best my subject, really my humble opinion, morally unsuitable for him. It was wise in him to decline it. also the same viz. manner. I have the honour to be, The "Ode" referred to in both letters is, no doubt, one and " Bruce's Address" for which the Author seems to have been anxious to secure Dear Sir, &c., its but the or publicity, knowing value ; which, through delay pottering stupidity ROBERT BURNS. of editors, he was doomed never to see. * [ADDisox.l The above distinction of the individual addressed was rendered necessary by also [At a sale of old manuscripts and books in London lately, the following lot was the fact, that Captain Patrick Miller had a younger brother William, Captain, " included : Robert Burns' s ode, Bruce's Address to his troops at Bannockbum" afterwards Major Miller, who married Miss Jessy Staig, second daughter of " " Tune, Lewie Gordon." The autograph manuscript of this poem is written on Provost Staig, Dumfries, celebrated by our Author in his song of True-hearted two sides of a letter addressed to Captain Miller, Dalswinton. This precious relic was he," &c. Poetical Works, p. 205.] of the great Scottish Poet is framed and glazed, and enclosed in a handsome mahogany case; it went for 12, and was purchased by Mr. Robert Thallon, who immediately drew a cheque for the amount, and was congratulated by the auctioneer on his so obtaining great a bargain. Newspaper Notice, 186S.]

B. fletoal, [DUMFRIES.]

DR. SIR, 10 Patrick Jttiller, Jim., ENCLOSED is a state of the account between you and me OF DALSWINTON. and James Halliday respecting the drain. I have stated it at 20d. per rood, as, in fact, even at that they have not the Dumfries, Nov. 1794. wages they ought to have had, and I cannot for the soul of DEAR SIR, me see a poor devil a loser at my hand. YOUR offer is indeed truly generous, and most do sincerely Humanity, I hope, as well as Charity, will cover a multi- I thank for it but in you ; my present situation, I find that I a mantle of which -between I tude of sins ; you and me dare not accept it. You well know sentiments my political ; have some little need. I am, Sir, yours, and were I an insular individual, unconnected with a wife and E, B. a family of children, with the most fervid enthusiasm I would [The above letter, which first appeared in Chambers's edition, was addressed have volunteered services : I then could and would my have to Mr. David Newal, writer in Dumfries, and factor on the Dalswinton estate. It despised all consequences that might have ensued. refers to some agricultural improvement, in which the tenant and the landlord concerned but in which on the tenant's in the Excise is seem to have been equally ; humanity My prospect something ; at least it is, en- part is foremost. Besides this, Mr. Chambers, at the same place, gives the cumbered as I am with the the welfare, very existence, of near substance of another account with one D. Halliday, some relative of James's, half-a-score of helpless individuals, what I dare not doubtless, which infers a debit on Burns's side of 10, 17s. 3d., as wages to D. II. sport " for a and a credit of Is. of so much in with. building yard-dike ; 11, 6d., composed cash, so much in meal and cheese, and certain other sums paid for Halliday." It In the mean are most time, they welcome to my Ode; only, is not the same account as that referred to in above letter, but a memorandum " let them insert it as a of D. Halliday's wages at the Martinmas Term. It contains, however, thing they have met with by accident, only characteristic Mr. Chambers "for the Poet makes an error equally matter," says ; and unknown to me. if Mr. Nay, Perry whose honor, after of summation to the extent of 5s. in Halliday's favour, and overpays him 4s. 3d. character of I ' ' took care that ' he should not be your him, cannot doubt if he will give me an besides. As to this poor-devil too, he special ' " ' address and channel a loser at his hand : A very rare and beneficent illustration of the truck by which any thing will come safe from system,' surely ! those with which he be spies may certain that his correspon- Mr. Newal had been tenant of the Isle before Burns went to reside there, but " dence is I will now and then left it in consequence of strange nocturnal sounds in the old tower," which his beset, send him any bagatelle would no doubt imagine to be haunted.* He seems to have been after- that I write. In the of family may present hurry Europe, nothing wards an intimate friend of our Author's at Dumfries, who, according to Mr. but news and politics will be but would in to hear a Scotch air on the piano from his regarded ; against the days Chambers, occasionally step of peace, which Heaven send soon, my little assistance daughters. may * The notorious persecutor, Grierson of Lagg, whose ghost might well disturb fill an idle column of a perhaps up newspaper. I have long any ordinary household, lies buried in the neighbourhood.] GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 203

BURNS'S PISTOLS: FRAGMENTS, NOTES, &c. LETTER OF THANKS TO THE MAKER.

FROM ORIGINAL IN POSSESSION OF MISS MARY S. GLADSTONE, FASQUE, LAWRENCEKIRK.

Ellisland, 1792.

THOU Eunuch of language : thou Englishman, who never

was south of the Tweed : thou servile echo of fashionable bar-

barisms : thou quack, vending the nostrums of empirical

elocution : thou marriage- maker between vowels and con- ST. BIRMINGHAM. GUN-MAKER, PAUL'S SQUARE, sonants, on the Gretna-green of caprice : thou cobbler, botch- the ing flimsy socks of bombast oratory : thou blacksmith, 2'3d Ellisland, Jany., 1789. hammering the rivets of absurdity : thou butcher, embruing

MY DEAR SIR, thy hands in the bowels of orthography : thou arch-heretic in

as : MY honor has lien bleeding these two months almost, pronunciation thou pitch-pipe of affected emphasis : thou 'tis near that time since I received your kind tho' short carpenter, mortising the awkward joints of jarring sentences:

defensive tools do more than : epistle of the 29th Oct. The thou squeaking dissonance of cadence thou pimp of gender :

do honor to their maker but I trust thou : half mankind do, they ; Lyon Herald to silly etymology thou antipode of

the fate of a miser's to : that with me they shall have gold grammar thou executioner of construction : thou brood of used. be often admired, but never the speech-distracting builders of the Tower of Babel : thou

Long before your letter came to hand, I sent you, by way lingual confusion worse confounded : thou scape-gallows from

the a of tho : of Mr. Nicol, a copy of book, and proof-copy the land of syntax thou scavenger of mood and tense : thou print, loose, among the leaves of the book. These, I hope, murderous accoucheur of infant learning : thou ignis fatuus, are safe in your possession some time ago. If I could think misleading the steps of benighted ignorance : thou pickle- of any other channel of communication with you than the herring in the puppet-show of nonsense : thou faithful re- villainous expensive one of the Post, I could send you a corder of barbarous idiom : thou persecutor of syllabication : of as a small return for baleful and the parcel my Rhymes ; partly your thou meteor, foretelling facilitating rapid ap- kind, handsome compliment, but much more as a mark of my proach of Nox and Erebus. sincere esteem and respect for Mr. Blair. A piece I did above which it would some of lately I shall try to cram into this letter, as I think the [The extraordinary invective, require solidity moral constitution to withstand, and which reminds one very much of the turn of thought perhaps please you. may "flytings" of Polwart, Kennedy, Dunbar, &c., is supposed by some to have been intended for the same hypercritical reviewer referred to by our Author " WRITTEN IN FRIARS-CARSE HERMITAGE, ON THE in his Epistle to Graham of Fintra Poetical Works, p. 117. It first appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for August, 1832. The original MS. was in posses- BANKS OF THE NITH. sion of Mr. Andrew Henderson, surgeon, Berwick-upon-Tweed one of the sons of the Kusebud." Chambers.] OCT. 1788.

[Here follows version alluded to, Poetical Works Various Readings p. 239.]

I remember with pleasure, my dear Sir, a visit you talked of paying to Dumfries, in Spring or Summer. I shall only say, I have never parted with a man, after so little acquaint- (i.) Draught 0f f0be fetter. ance, whom I more ardently wished to see At again. your A first convenience, a line to inform me of an affair in which I [FOR FARMER.] am much interested just an answer to the question, How MADAM, you do, will highly oblidge, my dear Sir, WHAT excuse to make for the liberty I am going to assume Yours very sincerely, this I am at a loss. If the most ROBT. BURNS. in letter, utterly unfeigned respect for your accomplished worth if the most ardent attachment if and truth if these, on will [The above letter, which, by Miss Gladstone's courteous permission, we have sincerity my part, the privilege of first presenting to the public, seems to have been originally in any degree weigh with you, my apology is these, and these among the documents entrusted to Dr. Currie, but why not employed by him alone. Little as I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance, does not appear. It is connected with, and indeed forms, in part, the subject of a most interesting discussion, in which Dr. Maxwell, Bishop Gillis, and other it has been enough to convince me what enviable happiness to be of the celebrated are involved. parties claiming possessors pistols, must be his whom you shall honour with your particular The reader, whose attention is thus invited to the subject, will find the whole in and more than to convince me how circumstances detailed the Appendix Reminiscences Original, Part I, 10. Dr. regard, enough unworthy Maxwell, &c.] I am to offer myself a candidate for that partiality. In this kind of trembling hope, Madam, I intend very soon doing myself the honour of waiting on you, persuaded that, how- LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

ever little Miss G be to attend to the suit may disposed on $00 k*. of a lover as unworthy of her as I am, she is still too good to despise an honest man, whose only fault is loving her too much for his own peace. I have the honour to be, Madam, (1.) [CICERO'S SELECT ORATIONS TRANSLATED.*] your most devoted humble servant.

Edin., 23d April, 1787. THIS book, a present from the truly worthy and learned DR. GREGORY, I shall preserve to my latest hour, as a mark (2.) DRAUGHT OF LOVE LETTEB. of the gratitude, esteem, and veneration I bear the Donor. [FOR THE SAME.] So help me God! EGBERT BURNS.

* DEAR MADAM, [London, 1756.] THE passion of love had need to be productive of much as where it takes delight ; thorough possession of the man, it ON THE BRITISH almost unfits him for anything else. The lover who is certain (,2.) [DELOLME CONSTITUTION.] of an return of is equal affection, the of men ; surely happiest Mr. Burns presents this book to the Library, and begs they but he who is a prey to the horrors of and dreaded anxiety will take it as a creed of British liberty until they find a is a whose situation is no disappointment, being by means better. E. B. enviable. Of this, my present experience gives me sufficient To amusement seems [Early in March, 1793, our Author was admitted by vote of committee, a free proof. me, impertinent, and business " member of the Public Library, Dumfries, out of respect and esteem for his intrusion, while alone of mind. you engross every faculty my abilities as a literary man." On the 30th of the same month, he presented to the 1 to the books Julia de Knox's May request you drop me a line, to inform me when I library following ; Humphry Clinker, Koubtgm!, History of the Reformation, and Delolme on the British Constitution ; the last of which had wait on !" For do and let may you pity's sake, ; me have " the above characteristic inscription. The tradition is, that early in the morn- it soon. In the meantime, allow me, in all the artless ing after Delolme had been presented, Burns came to Provost Thomson's bedside before he was to see the as he feared he had sincerity of truth, to assure you, that I truly am, my dearest up, anxiously desiring volume, ' written something upon it, which might bring him into trouble.' On the volume Madam, ardent lover, and devoted humble servant. your being shewn to him, he looked at the inscription which he had written upon it is it the [Love perhaps the only passion pathetic in reality that is ridiculous by the previous night, and having procured some paste, he pasted over fly- proxy, and it is certainly ridiculous here. The worthy swain whose ardour thus leaf in such a way as completely to conceal it. I have seen the volume," says " found vent, we learn from Mr. Carruthers of the Inverness Courier, through Mr. Mr. Chambers's informant, which is the edition of 1790, neatly bound, with a Chambers, was a farmer on the estate of Rockhall in the neighbourhood of portrait of the Author at the beginning. Some stains of ink shine through the and the a Miss G of in that there is written on the back of the Dumfries, lady , respectable connections, the same paper, indicating something engraving; ' is On locality. Which of the two draughts,' or whether both were employed to pro- but the fly-leaf being pasted down upon it, there nothing legible. holding pitiate her favour, we do not know, but the suit was successful. The worthy the leaf up to the light, however, I distinctly read, in the undoubted manuscript of man was blessed with an excellent wife, in consequence of this vicarious interces- the Poet, the following words "as above. See Mr. M'Robert, the librarian's sion and both the and for a to vol. 35. ; couple themselves, the Poet while, lived enjoy information, Chambers, iv., j>. the marriage -making joke. The originals are, or lately were, in possession It seems in vain, after this, to say that Burns's fears of mischief in conse- of Mr. W. Smith, perfumer, Dumfries.] quence of his political opinions were groundless.]

IN various departments of the foregoing Correspondence, as our readers are aware, not a few interesting and important docu- ments have been recovered by us, and arranged as nearly as possible in their appropriate order. We regret to say that more than one series of letters is still imperfect, and that the missing letters are in many cases beyond all reasonable hope of Besides recovery : among these are most to be lamented the letters to Muir and Aiken. these, however, there was another important series addressed to Dr. George Grierson, an intimate friend of our Author's and also of the late Mr. William Eeid's, in whose the lost letters to Muir also were. These valuable relics were of Brash & Eeid, booksellers, Glasgow ; possession almost all destroyed by the inundation of the Clyde in 1831, alluded to at p. 139. But although part of our Author's correspondence in this way perished, a document by Dr. George Grierson himself, in relation to Bums's West Highland Tour curious about that hitherto ex- letter (3) to J. Smith, p. 147 fortunately survives, in which many particulars mysterious cursion are narrated; and which, by the courtesy of our friend John Eeid, Esq., we have the satisfaction of presenting now. In connection with which, another document relating to subsequent Northern Tour see Appendix by the kindness of our esteemed correspondent, George Manners, Esq., of Croydon, to whom we are indebted for many similar favours, is appended. in Besides these, some interesting quotations from our Author's manuscripts in the British Museum, elucidation or cor- rection of Letters hitherto imperfectly edited, most obligingly supplied to us by Eobert Carruthers, Esq., of the Inverness Courier, and which may be here more appropriately introduced than elsewhere, are inserted, and close this department of our work. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 205

horses across cHest $ighi*nib lochs and amis of the sea, with speed enough to accomplish the in so short a time as journey implied. If, on the other hand, it is only a mis- for BURNS AT INVERARY AND DUMBARTON: spelling Tarbet on Lochlomond, then the party must have remained longer there than Burns's own letters to Ainslie and to J. (1) (3) Smith import ; or BY DR. GEORGE GRIERSON. they must have come from the east, and Burns wrote the complimentary lines to Miss M'Lachlan, on his way to Inverary returning a day or two after on the same track, which seems very unlikely indeed. Nothing more of the encomium on Miss M'Lachlan, so far as we are aware, remains; or of the Invocation to the Sun either WHOE'ER thou art that which is to be regretted. lodgest hero, The (3.) inscription on the window-pane at as our readers will Heaven wofu' case Inverary, per- help thy ; ceive, differs, to from the edition are according Grierson, usually given ; and we much Unless thou com'st to visit Him, disposed to believe that Grierson' s edition is the correct one. About the That of his Grace. (4.) year 1770, George Buchanan, Esq., merchant, Glasgow, acquired King Kings, the by purchase lands of Auehindennan-Dennistoun, and the adjoining lands of Bannachra, on the banks of Lochlomond. Mr. Buchanan fixed his residence at There's there's Highland greed, Highland pride ; Auehindennan, converted by him into Arden now the property and residence of There's scab and Sir James Lumsden, Lord-Provost of The M'Lachlans at Highland hunger ; Glasgow. Bannachra, therefore, would be tenants of Mr. Buchanan's. If Heaven it was that sent me here, From Mr. Buchanan's hospitable board our travellers, in a state of high exhil- It sent in aration me an anger. apparently, issued eastward on their way to Dumbarton. The extra- vagant escapade which followed must therefore have occurred between the east of Arden and N.B. The above lines were written at the Inn at Inverary gate the west gate of Cameron House, most probably at the sharp turn of the road where it leaves K. on the of the loch, at what was once the old Italian villa of by Burns, pane glass, in presence of George Bclretiro where thorn trees and quickset hedges, if we remember rightly, used in to be Grierson, 1788. plentiful and rough enough. See notes on "Kerry Miniature" Appendix. Rev. James Burns wrote an encomium on the Inn- (5.) Oliphant, formerly of Kilmarnock, and of the straitest sect Mary M'Lachlan, was there, translated to Dumbarton in 1773, in face of much angry opposition at Tarbert with the keeper's daughter, ending objectors having employed a man to traverse the streets of the selling " burgh The whole works of Rev. James Oliphant, presentee to this parish, for the small To fair Maria add M'Lachlan, charge of twopence." Mr. Oliphant had already received a by no means pleasant " Quod Burns, a rhymer lad frae Mauchlin. recognition from Burns in his poem of the Ordination" hence those anathemas

on ! the Fast-day It was Oliphant's turn at reprisals, and there is every reason George Grierson was with him when ho wrote the stanzas on to believe that by his influence the honour just conferred on Burns by the magis- trates was cancelled no trace of it being found in the records of the burgh. For Miss M'Lachlan, in 1788 : and he, a day or two after this, fuller details of this strange proceeding, see Reminiscences, Original, Part II., " wrote an Invocation to the Sun, at Bannachra, on the banks Dumbarton" Appendix. of It in For certain local information in the two last notes we are indebted to Irving's Lochlomond. was June, 1788 ; when Burns made History of Dumbartonshire, and to the courteous assistance of John Denny, Esq., a Duncan son of Mr. M'Lachlan of young man, M'Lachlan, Town-Clerk of Dumbarton, in examining the records. Of Dr. Grierson we have hitherto learned or of the other more mentioned Bannachra, bring out the largest bowl of punch his house nothing ; parties conspicuously in the narrative although a little additional time, we have no doubt, would could furnish, and made all the ladies and gentlemen kneel enable us to trace them all.] down, till he would repeat extempore, at the dawn of Day, an Invocation to the Sun. The company were Dr. Grierson, Mr. M'Lachlan, junior, and the family, Mr. M'Farlan from Jamaica, Mr. John Sheddan, merchant, and Miss Sheddan of llorth 3tghtob Glasgow, Mr. Gardner of Lady-Kirk, and the two Misses Butters from Edinburgh. Next day, Messrs. Grierson, Gard- WILLIAM INGLIS, EsauiRE, INVERNESS. ner and Burns left Arden in the evening, and in coming to DEAR Dumbarton met with a with his bare- SIR, Highlandman riding THE gentleman by whom this will be delivered to you is Mr. Burns of Airshire, back on a bare-backed horse. Burns piirsued the High- who goes on an excursion to the North personally unacquainted, excepting in so far as his elegant and simple poems may have caught your attention. To men of landman, till he was thrown from his horse into a thorn such liberal and disinterested feelings as I know the citi/cns of Inverness to be, all tree, and Burns's face was bloody, he having fallen from little seemed necessary as recommendatory of the Bard of Nature. Yet I thought it of me to him to without mentioning him to as his horse and cut his face. They came that night safe to unworthy permit migrate you for and attention which dis- my friend, and consigning him to you that civility Dumbarton when the did them all the honour magistrates tinguishes you among all ranks of migrants. I offer my best respects to Mrs. of of their and Oli- and am dear most obedt. servt., the freedom city [on them] ; Inglis, always, Sir, your conferring WILL. DUNBAR.* the the phant preached next day, being Fast-day, against EDIN., 24th Augt, 1787. parties foresaid, and found great fault [with] the magistrates for conferring honours on the author of vile, detestable, and SEilliam is, (Esquire. immoral publications. INVERNESS.

[From original, entitled "Hints respecting Bums the Ayrshire Poet, by G. Mu. BURNS presents his most respectful compliments to Grierson," in possession of John Reid, Esq., Kingston Place, Glasgow.] have waited on him with the [On the above curious and plain-spoken document the following remarks, to Mr. Inglis would inclosed, make it perfectly intelligible, are required : but is jaded to death with the fatigue of to-day's journey Dr. Grierson, who seems to be accurate enough as to facts, has evidently {!.) won't leave Inverness till Thursday morning. been misled in recollection as to the exact year. This celebrated, but hitherto mysterious, excursion took place in the last week of June, 1787. Ettles Hotel, Tuesday evening. If the Tarbert here referred to was the Tarbert on Lochfine, as we suppose (2.) * Provost from the [The gentleman to whom this note of introduction is addressed was it was, then Bums and his friends must have approached Inverary south, of Bute or of Inverness, by whom our Author was hospitably entertained on the most probably, as Mr. Chambers conjectures, from Greenock, by way Inglis on from his visit to the Fall of Fyers. The writer C'owal of which latter district was a native, and whose birth- Wednesday evening, returning ; Mary Campbell " of the note was William Dunbar, Esq., W.S., Colonel of the Crochallan Corps." place Burns might secretly desire to see. Compare Chambers, Vol. II., p. 93. of so From original in possess-on of George Manners, Esq., Croydon.] The only objection to this theory would be the difficulty transporting many 206 LIFE AND WORKS [PROSE WORKS.

n (9.) Jttrs. [> 61.]

the in stands thus in British Museum : OUR readers will find a reference to these under head of GOSSIP, Appendix ; [Concluding paragraph copy ] and, knowing that no edition of our Author's works could be complete without to which Mrs. Bkldel consulting those documents, but despairing of being able to do this at a suf- When Anacharsis' Travels come hand, date to the result in its we made the refer- ficiently early embody proper place, mentioned as her gift to the public library, Mr. B. will thank ence above noted as distant as possible. By the most courteous attention of our her for a of it to her sending it to the library, accomplished correspondent, Robert Carruthcrs, Esq., of the Inverness Courier, this reading previous difficulty has in a great measure been obviated, and many of the variations and as it is a book Mr. B. has never seen, and he wishes to have a corrections required have been incorporated in the text. The most im- already longer perusal than the regulations of the library allow. portant of these will be found in the supplementary letters to James Johnson,

130 ; in the letter to the of 199 and or the version p. Provost and Town Council Dumfries, p. ; [Could this have been a rough draught by Burns, was printed in some notes to the autobiographical letter to Dr. Moore, p. 75. "dressed up?"- Carruthera. A rough draught, as in many other instances, we The variations thus obtained the not are, upon whole, extremely important ; have no doubt.] " but they are all deserving of attention. What a grief it is," says Mr. Car- " ruthers, writing to us on this subject, that out of the 78 lots of the Pickering Collection of Burns's MSS., only 10 should have been purchased by the Museum! Some of the best went to America. The late Alexander Hastie's bequest to the Museum has added some pieces of interest," &c. Of the variations deserving ss.] more and that did not us in time to be in the Miss J0itteiulle. o particular notice, reach placed text, the following are subjoined : [Letter to this lady begins otherwise, thus : ]

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL LETTER ENCLOSED is the Address, such as it is, and may it be a pro- logue to an overflowing house. If all the town put together IP- have half the ardour for your success and welfare of my indi- vidual will most be [Burns himself, according to Currie, corrected this autobiographical letter, wishes, my prayer certainly granted. and the corrected was used for altera- copy the press ; but the greater part of the [Burns evidently re-wrote the letter to Miss Fontenelle : the copy with the tions seem to Mr. Carruthers to be in the style of the Doctor himself: very likely. above opening was wanner in expression. It belonged to Charles Mathews. The following passage, for example, from the original, as compared with Currie's Carruthers.] text reproduced in our own p. 76, c. 2, near foot shows a difference both of terms and substance in Burns's favour, and frees him from all grounds of censure as to mis-statements of fact, implied against him, as it appears, in Mr. Chambers' s edition.]

A LETTER from Dr. Blacklock to a friend of mine overthrew (40.) Thomson. IP- 94.] all my schemes, by rousing my poetic ambition. The doctor [Before last paragraph the following appears in original : ] belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not even dared to hope. His idea that I would meet with every en- So much for an idle farrago of a gossiping letter. Do you couragement for a second edition fired me so much that away know a droll Scots song, more famous for its humour than its I posted to Edinburgh, &c. delicacy, called "The Grey Goose and the Glede?" Mr. Clarke that the tune is an old chant of the [Chambers, taking Currie's edition, as other editors have also done, for granted says positively " as correct, observes that Blacklock said nothing of Edinburgh," which is Eomish church, which corroborates the old tradition that at true. But the reader will observe that Burns makes no such in the allegation the Eeformation the Eeibrmers burlesqued much of the old Doctor's name, the allegation to that effect being by Currie, on supposition, and not church music with them to verses. As a fur- by Burns. Compare Chambers, vol. I., p. 312.] setting [lewd] ' ' ther proof, the common name for this song is Cumnock Psalms."

[In the last paragraph ] Dr. Maxwell the identical Maxwell whom Burke men- (2.) ^0 fabg m. M. Constable. [P. 56.] tioned in the House of Commons was the physician who &c. [In this letter, Mrs. Miller should be Mr. Miller: and after the words "un- seemingly, " fortunate the : Mary following appears in the original ] [Why this paragraph should have been mutilated by editors, we cannot I imagine.] enclose your ladyship a poetic compliment I lately paid to the memory of our greatly-injured lovely Scotish Queen. I have the honor to be, my Lady, your Ladyship's highly- obliged and ever-devoted humble servant, EOBT. BURNS. (40 104.] Ellisland, near 25th 1791. Dumfries, April, [In Chambers's edition of this letter compare our own edition, p. 80, and Chambers's, as reproduced by us, p. 104 the following paragraph should be [With respect to the date of this letter there seems to have been some confu- inserted at the asterisks placed Mr. Chambers near the sion. It has hitherto been dated as on by end.] the llth of April. The probability is that our editions hitherto have been from a rough draught with that date, and without I do dear wish to do this and I not, my Sir, you ; beg you the concluding passage above quoted. When the letter was copied out and it would be dated on a later will not hint it to Mr. Clarke. If we do it all, I will break it finished, day accordingly. Lady Winifred, with whose fine title and distinction we are hereditary accustomed to associate many to him myself. romantic is described Sir " ideas, by Walter Scott in a letter to Lockhart, as tha't old to " singular curmudgeon" whom Bums played high Jacobite."] [This most chai-acteristic paragraph, so strangely omitted by Mr. Chambers, confirms, in a remarkable way, our own conjecture with respect to the whole of this letter, and more particularly with respect to this very reference of our Author's to the debt. Compare note by us on the subject, p. 104, c. 2.]