NOTES, CRITICAL AND HISTORICAL, TO POSTHUMOUS WORKS.

ABBREVIATIONS : PAGE c. s. p. ; COLUMN ; STANZA ; I. LINE.

Letters are referred to in these [Where Notes, the pages indicated will be found in Prose Works.]

of Eobert as our readers will THE Posthumous Works Burns, of the very finest lyrical compositions of our Author. The observe, are very numerous and miscellaneous. They have first in order, which is also the most beautiful been recovered at various from various and dates, sources, by p. 325. MARY MORISON : Is surely one of the tenderest; various collectors and we have endeavoured to most indefatigable ; truthful, and exquisite serenades ever imagined or in- as as apportion them accurately possible, having due regard dited by a youth to propitiate an unconscious or indifferent to that each discoverer in this maiden. competing claims, interesting How Burns should have estimated this so slightly field have his credit and is one of might authority unimpaired. A the many inexplicable problems of his psychological considerable number of the songs which in Johnson's existence. Its date is as its appear very early simplicity bespeaks ; Museum and in Thomson's Collection might also in a certain and the heroine, unless related to Mr. Morison, cabinetmaker, sense be called Posthumous, inasmuch as these works were Mauchline, is unknown. The supremacy of this type of in- the nocence not completed until long after the Author's death. But and beauty in the dance, adding splendour to, or compositions contributed by him to their pages were already surpassing in splendour, the brightest and loveliest, in her as the author intended absence and the and silent in their respective publishers' hands very ; rapt wonder of the lover as them to appear, so that the delay in their appearance until he sees her in his imagination float or whirl along, or brings after his death was only an accident. . Thomson's Collection her into comparison with the others, has a beautiful and nearly in was originally designed to be in four volumes only, and our perfect counterpart Dante's vision of the Dance in Paradise, selections from that work have been limited accordingly to the characters alone, male and female, being transposed. those volumes. Two volumes more were subsequently added, E come surge e va ed entra in ballo in which a few of Burns's songs still in the editor's hands Vergine lieta sol per fare onore Alia non alcun fallo but as these Mr. Thomson's novizia, per ; were printed ; songs, by generous Cosl vid' io lo schiarato splendore had in Dr. Currie's edition, permission, already appeared they Venire a' due che si volgeano a ruota, have been placed by us foremost under his name as post- Qual conveniasi al loro ardente amore. Misesi 11 nel canto e nella nota : humous Dr. Currie in this, and in many other publications. E la mia donna in lor tenne 1' aspetto all other edi- respects, enjoyed an immense advantage over Pur come sposa tacita ed immota. Pur. Cant. xxv. tors the Posthumous Works of our Author as collected ; yet As rises up and enters on the dance numerous and are far from The innocent of by him, although important, being joyful virgin guile ; To the Bride alone she doth advance : the most important discovered since the Author's death. The greet " So saw I on the pair that wheeled the while " and " Willie's which Jolly Beggars alone, Holy Prayer," New splendour added like a meteor glance, con- Such as became their love. Even were first given to the world surreptitiously by Stewart, flaming so, In song and string alike it seemed to glow. with Currie's third edition, would be enough temporaneously But fixed on them alone my lady held her eye, their and with the to ensure high immortality for Author; As some rapt spouse unmoved and silently. " " " Cotter's Tarn o' Shanter," Death and Saturday Night," Yestreen, when to the trembling string, to the and some The dance thro' the ha' Doctor Hornbook," the "Address Deil," gaed lighted ; To thee took its constitute the immutable foundation of his fame in my fancy wing, others, I sat hut neither heard or saw. that department. Tho' this was fair, and that was braw, And yon the toast of a' the town, CURRIE'S EDITION. I sighed, and said amang them a', " " Ye are na Mary Morison ! in Currie are fifteen in number (the The songs properly " This and the other to Nanie, O" but this in sixteenth in our edition being the duplicate version, p. 328, song, My and include several some pre-eminently, as having more passionate fer- not given by, although known to, him), respects LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

in vour it, combined with the utmost grace we may pronounce elapsed, and how different is it all now from the innocent, to be the first most characteristic and perfect utterances of unsullied days of Mary Morison and Nanie ! the great unsuspected flood of lyric melody that was hidden p. 329. CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES : an exquisite in the it it seems Author's soul : he sang them thus, and he knew not. pastoral, given by us as appears in Currie, and which p. 325. WILL YE GO TO THE INDIES, MY MARY? speaks there to be perfect. In Chambers's and Cunningham's edi- for itself, and for its Author, and for Mary, at the date of tions, however, four additional lines are found, which belong their betrothal, in its own passionate unmistakable way. to a much older version, revised and improved by Burns for " " p. 326. STREAMS THAT GLIDE IN ORIENT PLAINS: a the Museum [p. 191, s. vi.] The present song is entirely farewell compliment to the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, on his own, and it could not be improved by the addition of a leaving their residence abruptly during his northern tour in single word or sentence. 1787, carries us in an opposite direction. The passionate love p. 330. SAW YE MY PIIELY ? another pastoral, written of is the irritation under for the music : and an. avowed com- liberty, however, predominant ; but apparently MY CHLORIS, which the lines were written is not manifest. The Author pliment to Miss Lorimer, which the Author esteems for " " " was in fact dragged away, by his friend Nicol's ill-humour, simplicity and tenderness as being pretty well" letter from the most captivating society, where he had intended to (41) to Thomson. bestow himself for a week; but atoned to his noble enter- p. 330. 'TWAS NA HER BONIE BLUE E'E, may deserve tainers for his beautiful in the and hasty leave-taking by this ode same encomium ; their honour. [Compare Highland Tour, Appendix, p. x.] p. 331. How CRUEL ARE THE PARENTS: altered from an

p. 326. MY LOVELY NANCY : we need hardly remind our old English song, is but the musical reiteration of many an readers, is a compliment to Clarinda, although, in letter (37) ineffectual sermon on a painful and revolting theme. But to her, he wishes to disguise the fact. the concluding song in this list, p. 327. MY WIFE'S A WINSOME WEE THING: declared by p. 331. WERT THOU IN THE CAULD BLAST ? has a sort himself letter (3) to Thomson to have been extemporaneous, of dramatic interest that requires to be reverentially specified. might be in compliment to Mrs. Burns, as we rather suppose, The song itself, which is said to have been absolutely extem- or by poetical license to some imaginary spouse. pore, was composed for Jessy Lewars, as she sat at the piano- melodies a p. 327. MEG o' THE MILL : the only presentable version forte entertaining the Poet with some old Scotch of a very rude ballad transformed for Thomson's Collection few weeks before his death. Her own account of the matter by our Author, in whose hands its rudeness totally disappears. is, that whilst beginning seriously to ail (end of May, 1796), The old original, a little dressed up by him also, may be found he called on her one morning, and desired her to select and in the Museum but has not been extracted us. edi- for him tune she most that he ; by The play any preferred, might adapt " tion here given was very highly valued by its author. words to it for her sake. The air she chose was The Eobin p. 327. PHILLIS THE FAIR: may be a tribute to Miss came to the Wren's Nest," which she continued to play until and his ear the and in a few minutes M'Murdo; DELUDED SWAIN, which follows, may have caught rhythm completely ; had some It original ; but they were both written to accommo- afterwards the above beautiful song was composed. was date the exigencies of the musician, and to supply a page in long afterwards set to deeply pathetic music by the gifted his popular publication. Felix Mendelssohn. pp. 328-29. THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR, p. 331. ELEGY ON THE LATE Miss BURNET; unfinished: and FAREWELL THOU STREAM THAT WINDING FLOWS : see Heroines of Burns. which are but two versions of the same song, the one adopted p. 332. SONNET ON HEARING A THRUSH SING, in a by Currie, and the other rejected are of a very different morning walk, on the Author's birthday, 1793: beautiful in order and that refer to as a in ; they both Mrs. Eiddel is undeniable. any circumstances prayer, which Faith, Humility, are far too to and are all combined but inex- They profoundly passionate be merely imagin- Gratitude, Charity equally ; and the visible conflict and estimation when ary ; between right and wrong, in pressibly touching, beyond valuable, which the horrors of moral perdition are involved, is too real one remembers how that birthday of his has ever since been to leave any doubt of the actual state of the Author's mind sanctified in the memories and hearts of his fellow-men. at the moment. No more Petrarchan lyric than these has p. 332. SONNET ON DEATH OF EGBERT EIDDEL, Esq. : been written since the days of Petrarch. The situation, the has a peculiar interest, inasmuch as it was a parting tribute relationship, the sentiments are the same as with Petrarch; to the memory of a very dear friend with whom, through the " and the language itself, Love's veriest wretch," seems to officiousness of third parties, he had unfortunately quarrelled, bo actually coined for, or taken from, the lips of Petrarch. and who was untimely carried to his grave before a recon- The first edition with Maria's name was written before, and ciliation could be effected. The cause of this quarrel, we have the other, with 'Eliza' inserted, after, the quarrel with Mrs. the best reason to know, was Mrs. Walter Eiddel's indiscre-

Eiddel but the fact is : ; transparent through all and what tion in repeating to her brother-in-law some jocular remarks the occasional of the his agonies man's soul must have been in the Poet had made on (Mr. Eiddel's) peculiarities ; and extricating himself from such maelstroms of passion as he here this indiscretion, as it lost him a true friend, added doubtless describes, and for which no other word than maelstrom is more bitterness to his own quarrel with her. On this subject " appropriate, can hardly be imagined, and certainly could not the reader may compare the lines Extempore, pinned on a bo expressed by any one but himself. Ten years exactly have Lady's Coach," p. 418. That this tribute to Mr. Eiddel's memory, however, was by no means fictitious or overstrained Lord Woodhouselee. He was a but genuine, the reader correspondent of our Author's may satisfy himself by in " comparing respect to the ancient of of which he also Inscription on a Grotto at poetry Scotland, knew Friars-Carse," p. 420. much, having been intimately with Allan Earn- Dr. Currie, who was the acquainted among first to recognise cor- and say ; was highly esteemed our Author as an respondence between Burns and by authority foreign poets, remarks that on that Author's the two subject. Annotations, p. 306. concluding lines [of this sonnet] a sentiment express p. 336. FIRST EPISTLE TO EGBERT similar to GRAHAM, ESQ. : is exactly one of the most beautiful in the passages also the first formal of our Pastor from the attempt Author at what may be Fido, 7th to the 10th line of the at monologue called English didactic in the of the of the 3d Act: poetry style Johnson or opening yet Burns had no acquaintance in Pope, which he seems to have had an ambition to shine with Guarini's works." We have looked at the ; passage here but in which, he referred although good, would not have been pre- to ; but the resemblance appears to us very general, eminently successful. His own passions were far too strong and not to its sufficiently strong justify quotation. to afford the composure requisite for such writing, and his p. 333. A VISION: has been commented already on, p. 273. previous with books and and the acquaintance systems of philosophy FAREWELL TO AYRSHIRE appears in this place entirely too limited. Whether he was conscious on Dr. of this, or whether Currie's authority. some accident prevented, is uncertain but certain it is that 334. SECOND ; p. EPISTLE TO DAVIE : of date 1785, this although very epistle, which is the first, did not appear until after interesting in its own way, as a brotherly communication with the Author's death, whereas his third in the same an esteemed epistle, style friend, and containing some valuable moral re- and to the same kind patron, appears in one of his own editions is not for flections, a moment to be in this or in see compared, p. 117. There is a pleasant interest, however, connected other with the any respect, truly grand effusion with this first philosophical epistolary effort in the English style viz., that which preceded it to the same This correspondent. epistle, in- it was composed in the throng of harvest at Ellisland when deed, seems never to have been intended for " publication by its he had newly entered on his farm, when he was as tired as author, otherwise it would have in one of his a appeared own dog" in the labours of the field, and when his muse was editions. It was first printed Sillars as a sort of in by himself, employed the more congenial occupation of celebrating the introduction to his poems, published at Kilmarnock uniform of his praises Jean. Compare letter to Mrs. Burns, p. 217. with Burns's, and the same John by in : printer, Wilson, 1789. p. 337. SKETCH INSCRIBED TO EIGHT HON. 0. J. Fox : That volume, which is now before is remarkable us, chiefly for which follows in a similar style, requires no other comment- its vulgarity, shallowness, and bad taste. Burns's as than of success, ary that his own letter (21) to Mrs. Dunlop, p. 18. he became aware, had such a shoal of ill- speedily "encouraged p. 338. ADDRESS TO THE TOOTHACHE it is also super- spawned monsters to crawl into public notice, under the title fluous to comment upon ; but the Epistle of Scottish that the Poets, very term Scottish Poetry borders p. 338. To DR. BLACKLOCK invites in so far as " annotation, on the burlesque; and the he had himself the of compliments too pride the Poet protests against, and apologizes for, the bestowed on Sillars made him generously conspicuous. This meanness of his occupation as an exciseman, throughout, and distinction was now abused him his very by ; own on his but resolve to be master of his own " poem desperate impossible but an " Whisky" being insolent review of Burns's Scotch destiny henceforth is most emphatically recorded. Compare Drink." So much for the of a small gratitude rival. Whether Phrenological Summary Appendix, p. Ixxix. Burns was made actually aware of this, we are not informed. p. 340. On what is WRITTEN IN A WRAPPER TO CAPTAIN

Most he was : for his letter to probably (20) Mrs. Dunlop, GROSE, we must be excused, in our clerical capacity, from from which the above reference is was of 1789 observation it is quoted, March, making any ; although impossible to run and there are no more it " Epistles, should seem, to Davie." over such a catalogue of conjectures without an accompani- 335. LINES p. ON MEETING WITH LORD DAER: first ment of laughter and a little laughter occasionally, on some Currie as printed by a note, in his life of the Poet, and per- of the topics enumerated, is beneficial medicine. not haps quite what the Poet himself would have indited a pp. 340-41-42-43-44, containing only SKETCHES, PRO- few years, or even a few months, afterwards, were occasioned LOGUES, ADDRESSES, &c., may also be allowed to speak for a by purely accidental interview with his lordship at Dugald themselves. The MONODY alone, and the EPITAPH on a Lady Stewart's residence of Catrine, where Lord Daer arrived when famed for her caprice p. 344 require more than a moment's Dr. M'Kenzie and our Author were at dinner with the pro- notice, inasmuch as they refer to the unhappy alienation fessor. The verses read as if some formal introduction had which took place between Mrs. Eiddel and our Author. In been planned; but the interview was unpremeditated, as the same strain, but on a separate occasion, the reader will Dugald Stewart himself assured Dr. Currie. find the EPISTLE FROM ESOPUS TO MARIA, hereafter; and

p. 336. ADDRESS TO MR. W. TYTLER : is chiefly remark- although these appear only in our Author's Posthumous able for the serious display it affords of the writer's Jacobitical Works, they were sufficiently well known at the time to give predilections, insomuch that in its first published form whole offence to the lady and her friends. No justification of such Words and lines had to be omitted. It is remarkable also for libels can now be advanced, but the extreme sensibility of the the satisfaction it evinces on the writer's part with Miers' writer to the practical dismissal from the circle of Mrs. profile of himself recently taken in Edinburgh, and of which Eiddel's acquaintance he had experienced, and the obstinate the to he distributed not a few copies among his friends. Mr. Tytler and rather ungenerous refusal of lady herself be recon- be to for was father of the distinguished lawyer who became afterwards ciled. Her husband, a foolish man, might blame w.^>

430 LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

this but the sufferer. His health fore "be of ; Burns was own bad also, supposed unworthy the public eye." He made as Mr. be an which is no affirmation of their Chambers pleads, would aggravation ; "positive authenticity," but as the true. But no mere accidental distemper would ever have original manuscripts were in his own possession, the identifi- provoked him to the use of such language towards a woman. cation of their authorship was soon and easily determined. There was a deeper cause than all that. His own self-respect That most of them were Burns's own one of them, indeed, had been mortally wounded, and Mrs. Eiddel not only did not his best there could be no doubt. The volume, however, help him to heal that wound, but by her indiscreet rehearsal contained at least two pieces which had already appeared in of his words in other quarters (see note, Sonnet on Death of the "Museum" unknown to Stewart, and of which dupli- Robert Eiddel, Esq., supra], she increased the pain of it. He cates had been found elsewhere by him. It contained also an had humbled himself almost to the dust to obtain reconcilia- epigram or two, picked up at random; and the celebrated " tion or even a look of forgiveness, in vain, and he was not to Epistle to a Tailor," which of course was not Burns's. Its be trifled with longer; but his reprisals were undignified, and most important addition, however, to the Poet's works, and he happily lived to lament them. Mrs. Eiddel also lived to for which the publisher is entitled to universal thanks, was " " forgive them, as her subsequent correspondence shows. Let the Jolly Beggars the history of which has been long us leave the quarrel, therefore, in the light of such reconcilia- involved in obscurity, and is not yet very clear. We subjoin tion and forgiveness. See letters (6) to (12) to Mrs. Eiddel. all the known facts, as briefly epitomised as possible.

On what remains in Currie's edition much of it, especially p. 352. THE JOLLY BEGGARS, A CANTATA : How this the POEMS to Mitchell and De Peyster, p. 345, in one way, remarkable and most perfect of all our Author's larger and the VERSES addressed to Young Ladies, pp. 346-47, in lyrical works could have been rejected by Dr. Currie, as characteristic of the writer it seems un- insinuated we are at a loss to understand another, eminently by Stewart, much ; necessary to comment at large. The authorship of the POEM because only one manuscript copy ever existed, which Currie ON PASTORAL POETRY, p. 349, has been questioned by Mr. presumably never saw. In this respect, unless Stewart knew Chambers, on Gilbert Burns's expressed doubts; whereas both all the facts of the case much better than appears on the sur- Currie, as our readers see, and Cunningham maintain it. We face, his implied reflection on the fidelity of Currie's editorship are ourselves quite disposed to accept it as genuine. cannot be correct. But he might reasonably take for granted, The Epistle To MRS. SCOTT, p. 350, is an extremely fine as other more distinguished authorities have done, that so summary of the Author's moral experience and ambition, important a work as this was sure to be found among the elicited by a sort of masculine blue-stocking. The gallantry, Author's own remains, and had been examined and rejected the wisdom, the prophetic sense of it, and the happy ease with by his recognised editor. In an article in the Quarterly line is turned in could be with reference to Stewart's which every it, hardly surpassed ; Eeview, edition, and attributed by although the writer's absolute reverence for the lady might Cromek to Sir Walter Scott, the following passage to the " not be so highly toned. Compare Border Tour App., p. vi. same effect occurs : Yet applauding, as we do most highly As for the ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF SIR JAMES HUNTER applaud, the leading principles of Dr. Currie's selection, we BLAIR, p. 351, it must be read as many other such compli- are aware that they sometimes led him into fastidious and mentary effusions to the memory of departed greatness are, over delicate rejection of the Bard's most spirited and happy with some allowance for poetical exaggerations both in figure effusions;" among which "A Cantata in particular, called and but that the Author cherished a sorrow the ' for humorous discrimination of feeling ; genuine Jolly Beggars,' character for the loss of a kind Ayrshire friend and generous patron is inferior to no poem of the same length in the whole range unquestionable compare letter (4) to Aiken. Sir James died of English poetry," is included by the writer. All which on the 1st of July, 1787, and Burns seems to have written assertion looks indeed like authority, as against Dr. Currie his for the Elegy in Edinburgh, on arrival there after his West rejecting it, but may be only a repetition, after all, of Highland Tour, and just before he started with Nicol for the Stewart's own intimation. Even at a much later date, we

' ' North. He enclosed a copy of it to Miss Ferrier, with verses find Professor Wilson in his celebrated Essay saying, Mr. to herself 402. in his ' complimentary p. Thomson five-pound letter asks, Pray, my good sir, is By whom these two pieces were first published, is not now it impossible for you to muster a volume of poetry ?' Why, clearly ascertained. with the assistance of Messrs. Johnson and Thomson, it would and have been possible ; then Burns could have called in his

THOMAS STEWART'S EDITION, ' " Jolly Beggars,' &c. Now the fact in reality was, that " Which contains Poems ascribed to Eobert Burns, the Burns, long before that time, had not only laid the "Jolly Ayrshire Bard, not contained in any edition of his works Beggars" aside, but gifted it unconditionally away, having hitherto published," was a thin octavo volume which ap- preserved no copy, and did not even remember its existence. peared at Glasgow and at Greenock, 1801, and is commonly This he distinctly avows in his letter (30) to Thomson. The in spoken of as surreptitious, having been published without the Professor, however, this instance, is to be excused also, in- knowledge or consent of the Poet's family, and presumably asmuch as the passage in question had not been published at for the publisher's own immediate benefit. But its publica- the date, as we believe, of his writing having first appeared tion was defended by himself on the ground substantially, in Chambers' s edition and it might be as difficult for him that it was rescuing from public loss poems which had been as for Stewart, or the writer in the Quarterly, to imagine " omitted in the Liverpool edition," and which might there- how Burns could forget such a composition. But it is more AND HISTORICAL.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 431

to hear " surprising Mr. Carlyle state that this which to poem have been written from actual observation of such a scene does not in Currie's appear edition, has been often printed in Mrs. Gibson's Hostelry (otherwise Poosie Nansie's Howf) before and under the humble title since, of The Jolly Beggars.'" at Mauchline. The Poet was accompanied on that occasion by That it has been often printed since it first in " appeared his friends Eichmond and Smith. In the course of a few Stewart's not edition, although quite so correctly in general, Mr. " days," says Chambers, he recited a part of the poem to is true; but when or where was it printed before ? Nowhere. Eichmond, who used to say, that, to the best of his recollec- Mr. Stewart in the first was, fact, publisher who discovered it tion, contained, in its original form, songs by a sweep and a that work ; and he it with printed astonishing fidelity from sailor, which did not afterwards appear." It is highly pro- the and sole in original, existing, manuscript his own posses- bable that it was from Eichmond, then in Edinburgh, Mr. sion. That manuscript was afterwards fac-similed Lums- by Thomson first heard of the cantata. That Eichmond's state- den of 1823 Glasgow, the fac-simile being certified as true ment as to its having been originally in another and perhaps Stewart and the by ; poem has since become an and a form is integral larger correct, the fac-simile itself bears witness, indispensable part of our Author's collected works. That the there " being two entire pages, beginning with Eecitativo, existence of the work itself, however, Poor although forgotten by Merry Andrew," and ending with the last words of his the had been somehow to Thomson is Author, reported mani- song, which must have been written at another time and fest, or it could never have occurred to him to make substituted for other inquiries pages two or four, as the case might on the but that subject ; he never saw the work is be when the work equally was revised and finished. It appears to for such in that would been manifest, inquiries, case, have ourselves, reviewing the whole, that Burns must either have In that is seventeen its superfluous. 1818, years after first had several songs lying by him, which he introduced in appearance, he had it set to music by and character for this cantata or that Bishop, published ; he wrote several duplicates it on his own account in a mutilated condition. On on very experiment, and selected the most appropriate. When to Lumsden's fac-simile, of which two of this selection was referring copies made, the rejected copies would be preserved different dates with an of (one engraving Allan's celebrated and otherwise made use of. One of with a varia- " " these, slight picture of the to are now before tion of the and Beggars prefixed it) us, chorus, with another verse to begin, with we find the statement in the : one verse also following preface omitted, but in all other respects the same, "The was the Poet to manuscript given by himself Mr. appeared in the "Museum," vol. III. See Poetical Works, " David at that time factor to M'Adam of For a' Woodburn, Craig- p. 140, that and a' that." This, our readers may and Mr. to Mr. " engillan, by Woodburn Eobert M'Limont, be well assured, was the original form of the Bard's" first merchant in from whom it into the in the " " Glasgow, passed posses- song Jolly Beggars written and thrown aside, as sion of Mr. Smith of Greenock, who gave it to the present not quite appropriate for the occasion. In like manner, we possessor," [Mr. Stewart.] have no doubt, there was also a choice of songs for the No the reader will is here made to "Tinker." reference, observe, any By comparing Poetical Works, p. 174, "Merry on Dr. Currie's of this document. Had it hae I been teethin a " knowledge part heckle" with My bonnie lass, I work been submitted to him of its for in our readers will by any possessors approval, brass," have no great difficulty in per- and it at least rejected, was highly probable such a circum- ceiving that it was only a choice between these, as to which

stance would have been alluded to ; and as this was the was most of the for only appropriate two the drama ; and that the copy in existence, we may safely conclude that the accom- most appropriate of the two was chosen, there can be no Doctor plished never saw the work, and therefore could not doubt. With the exception, therefore, of the songs attributed it. The omission of that in to the and the reject by him passage Burns's sweep sailor, which may have been lost, all the own letter to to (30) Thomson, referring it, might indeed be original materials out of which the "Jolly Beggars" was construed him but that omission can be much more are before and against ; composed now us, the very manner of its easily explained on the contrary supposition that he was composition indicated. On the perfection and beauty of the entirely ignorant of what the Poet alluded to, and did not work itself, all commentary is superfluous. How the Poet choose to perplex his readers by inserting what he could not himself should have undervalued it, nobody can tell. His explain. The passage itself refers to a great deal more than mother and brother are said not to have approved of it, for of the cantata, which Cuvrie considered irrelevant, and expressly which they might have reasons their own ; and their dis- informs us that only what "was of any importance was pre- approval might induce him to throw it aside, or present it to sented to the reader." What related to the cantata, therefore, some more appreciating friend. It is, in fact, one of his very was like the rest, of no importance in his opinion, obviously finest works, both morally and artistically, as a poet. It is a " because he had never seen the cantata. On the same principle, natural supplement to the Cotter's Saturday Night," and he omits also that other passage in letter (50) to Thomson, presents human nature in a different, but equally truthful, relating to the miniature of 1795, because he could not com- point of view. It is a perfect moral counterpart to the " itself to it contains the rudimental idea of Man's prehend it, never having seen the portrait which Holy Fair," "A ' is a allusion so pointed is made. [Compare Kerry Miniatures' a Man for a that," and rival in many ways to "Tarn " no farther as o' himself. It is the sort of drama Burns Appendix, p, Ixvii.] Thus far distinctly, but Shanter only ever and is the most finished of its are yet, are we able to trace the history of the celebrated cantata. wrote, specimen kind, we to be met with The composition of this remarkable work, however, is an now bold enough to affirm, in any language. a with the entirely different question. According to tradition, it seems Being very early composition, contemporaneous 432 LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

" The Cotter's Saturday Night," it indicates both the variety and Clerk Gavin Hamilton, Esq., of Mauchline. Davie Bluster Rev. Mr. Grant, Ochiltree. perfection of the Author's and remains also one of the gifts, Jamy Goose Rev. Mr. Young, Cumnock. of " clearest proofs of his own unconsciousness of the greatness Poet Willie Rev. Mr., afterwards Dr., Peebles, Ayr : his Liberty's Chain," was an awkward poetical figure which occurred in some poem of his on the his own genius. Every word in the descriptive portions is centenary of the Revolution. He would have been a poet and a wit, if he could. and in the dramatic. The " pictorial, every syllable songs very Andro Gouk Rev. Dr. Andrew Mitchell, Monkton : Gouk," in every sense of the it should in his love of and he be a first sentence word, appear, except money ; might too. Yet he was not of soul and is said to When leaves bestrew the gouk there, incapable laughter, poor ; lyart yird, " have that after all. was a droll fellow." Vide Or, wavering like the hauckie-bird, acknowledged Burns, Chambers, vol. 49. Bedim cauld Boreas' blast, III., p. Barr Steenie Rev. Stephen Young, Barr. " surpasses in richness and effect the finest landscape ever Irvine Side Rev. George Smith, Galston. Compare Holy Fair." Muirland Jock Rev. John Shepherd, Muirkirk. drawn ; whilst those few words of comfort alone, in relation Holy Will Elder, William Fisher" Holy Willie." to the poor sorrowful drab to whom they are addressed, This poem, in consequence of its importance, precedes the Let me to that ryke up dight tear, others in Stewart's edition, but it was not written till 1789. An' wi' and be dear go me, my ; 358: THE TWA HERDS : which was a An* then your every care an' fear p. very early pro- whistle owre the May lave o't, duction, dates from 1786, and refers to a personal, which by degrees grew to be a public quarrel, between two of the most contain more than whole volumes of ordinary ethics, or ser- distinguished evangelical of the district, Messrs. mons either, on such topics as love and charity. In a word, clergy Moody and Eussell, Kilmamock. For particulars of this ridiculous through all its wild license and profligacy, the strength, the and the of Nature herself and contemptible brawl, vide Chambers, vol. 1., p. 124. freedom, reliability predominates, " 360. JOHN GOUDIE, Terror o' the was in in the midst of all its uproar and blasphemy, notes of the p. Whigs," an and man. a Kil- utmost tenderness and truth are to be heard. many respects original gifted He was mamock tradesman, much addicted to scientific speculation, a In the manuscript copy, and in Stewart's edition also, the little, or perhaps a good deal, inclined to and following notes by the Author are to be found, which look as scepticism, pub- lished more than one treatise invalidating the authority of if he had originally intended it for publication, although, for which him into account of reasons which can be he aban- Scripture, brought disrepute. An only conjectured, ultimately " his life may be found in Paton's Contemporaries of Burns," doned the design. Edinburgh, 1840, with a portrait affixed, which indicates both p. 352, c. 1. Bauckie-bird The old Scotch name for the Bat. benevolence, imagination, and a very decided individuality. p. 355, c. 2. Kilbaigie A peculiar sort of whisky so called : a great favorite with Poosie Nansie's clubs. The first edition of his essays appeared in Glasgow, in three p. 355, c. 2. A wight of Homer's craft Homer is allowed to be the eldest about the volumes, year 1780 ; a second edition in 1785, to ballad singer on record. which this letter refers; and in consequence of this letter a p. 357. THE KIRK'S ALARM, we need hardly inform our strong friendship originated between Goudie and the Poet, in readers, refers to the violent ecclesiastical controversy which which our Author received most valuable assistance from the at that date was raging in the west of Scotland on the reputed benevolent latitudinarian, being introduced by him to all the heresy of Dr. M'Gill, one of the ministers of Ayr. In this gentry of Kilmamock, including the Town-Clerk, Mr. Pater- controversy our Author was as keenly involved as any clerical son, Dr. Hamilton, Major Parker, Dr. William Moore, Mr. enthusiast of them but on the side of and Eobert and others whose all, mercy liberality ; Muir, subsequent friendly relations a position which, unfortunately, did himself little good as it to our Author are well known. Goudie died 1809, at the scarcely ever does any man good, when the Church herself advanced age of ninety-two. At his death, a numerous " inclines to the other. Of the Kirk's Alarm" there were two collection of manuscripts, poems and letters by Burns, were copies: the original draft will be found at^p. 390, which the found among his papers, but these most unfortunately have reader may compare. The dramatis personce, in the present all been made away with, or destroyed. are as instance, follows p. 360. HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER : one of the boldest and most effective satires on hypocrisy and unconscious Dr. Mac. Rev. Dr. M'Gill, junior collegiate minister of Ayr. Dr. M'Gill' s blasphemy " celebrated essay, published 1786, was entitled A Practical Essay on the Death ever written. It is a purely dramatic performance, and im- of Jesus in Two the Christ, Parts; containing, 1, History; 2, the Doctrine of His on the writer's plies no irreverence whatever part ; but on Death." It was denounced as Socinian by Dr. Peebles, of Newton-upon-Ayr, in his Revolution 1788 and the contrary, manifests his own profoundest detestation of, centenary discourse, ; defended by its author in another publication, April, 1789. This brought the question into the ecclesiastical courts and contempt for, every variety of imposture in the name for discussion, and agitated the whole world in the west religious of Scotland. of The would indeed be blas- Dr. M'Gill and recanted. It religion. language employed apologised was in this discussion the Poet took part. Dr. M'Gill died March in the in other view of it but as it stands in 30, 1807, 76th year of his age, and 46th of his phemous enough any ; ministry. Vide Murray's Literary History of also Paton's Galloway ; Contem- the mouth of such a worshipper, it is the most characteristic poraries of Burns. embodiment ever of the and Town of Ayr The Magistrates of Ayr took part on Dr. M'Gill's behalf. imagined unspoken thoughts " " " Provost John John Ballantine, Esq., provost of Ayr. desires of the flesh and of the mind in one who was by Orator Bob Robert Aiken, Esq., writer, Ayr. " nature a child of even as others." Woe unto Mild Rev. Dr. William wrath, you, D'rymple Dalrymple, senior minister of the collegiate charge in Ayr a man conspicuous for benevolence and worth. scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devour widows' " Rumble John Rev. John Russell celebrated in the Holy Fair." and for a make therefore " houses, pretence long prayers, ye Simper James Rev. James M'Kinlay, Kilmamock, hero of the Ordination." " shall receive the damnation." The Singet Sawnie Rev. Alexander Moodie, of Ricarton, one of the Twa Herds." greater unhappy subject Auld Rev. Mr. of Mauchline. of it is was % Daddy Auld, this satire, said, ultimately detected in some x AND HISTORICAL.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 433

malversation of the funds ; if we are poor's and, correctly p. 364-5. THE PROLOGUE, THE ELEGY, and THE TOAST informed, was found dead in a ditch the the which by way-side conclude this subdivision, do not seem to require any result of intoxication. special commentary. There seem to have been several copies of this satire in the Author's own CROSIEK'S EDITION. handwriting extant. One of these, in posses- sion of Dr. J. Dickson, Dumfries, we have had the Robert privilege Hartley Cromek, born at Hull, 1770, was originally of examining. It is prefaced with the quotation from intended for the Pope, law, but his sympathetic feelings, outraged which we have to Stewart's edition prefixed ; and it in the of presents practice it, prevented his pursuit of that profession. also a few minor verbal variations, which could be a hardly Having decided predilection for literature and art, he began " " indicated without the entire : giving poem over thus ruler the study of engraving at Manchester, which he afterwards for "buckler" and for "elder;" "sax thousand" for "five completed at under the celebrated Bartolozzi culti- " London, thousand ; and in the last verse but instead of two, vating literature at the same time as an amateur. Early in 1808 he appeared as the publisher of "Blair's Grave," with While he, wi' hingin lips and snakin Held up his head. magnificent engravings by Schiavonetti from the celebrated the is reading designs of Blake. Immediately after this, he was induced While Auld wi' hingin lip gaed sneakin, to a And hid his head. pay visit to Scotland for the benefit of his health; and being a most devoted admirer of our Author's, he made which seems to be an the of the whole oversight, application what may be called a literary pedestrian tour through the verse in the to Aiken and not to original being evidently whole region rendered sacred by his life and genius, from the Auld. the we are to Upon whole, disposed prefer Stewart's Cottage where he was born to the churchyard of Dumfries edition to other we have seen. " In of any Compare Name where his remains are deposited. On this excursion he was the iii. also to Nine," Appendix, p. ; Epistle M'Math. accompanied by James M'Clure as a guide, the humble but p. 362. THE EPITAPH : which follows, is by no means affectionate attendant of the Poet's death-bed, and faithful in or in to the " equal spirit humour, Prayer." friend of the family, by whom he was enabled to visit many p. 362. ADDRESS TO AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD : had, in remote scenes that would otherwise have been inaccessible to original manuscript, a much broader and plainer title. This him, and to collect many valuable fragments he would never address is a in some a bold, respects daring, but manly avowal else have seen. His additions thus made to the correspon- of tenderness in a case where parental pain and shame must dence of Burns were most important, consisting of no fewer have and where atonement for offence had largely mingled ; than sixty-two letters, besides commonplace books, journals, been made in the usual scandalous and degrading fashion of &c., and the fragments of poetry collected by him were also the time, more likely to provoke than to restrain it. On of great value, although several pieces included in that collec- behalf of this child the Poet made a legal assignment of his tion had been published before unknown to him from other of works in prospect leaving the country Appendix, p. xii. copies, and a few ascribed by him to Burns were not Burns's at She was both kindly cared for and educated at Mossgiel; she all. These will be found distinguished in their places Poeti- " subsequently became the wife of Mr. John Bishop, overseer cal Works, pp. 425-26. This volume, called the Reliques," at Polkemmet, and died, December, 1816, aged thirty-two. was published by him in 1808, uniform with Currie's edition, This child, it is universally admitted, had a most astonishing and was intended as a supplementary tribute of honour to the " resemblance to her father. The reader, on this subject, may Poet's genius another stone on the CAIRN of a great and compare Original Eeminiscences, 2, Appendix p. xxvii. : also lamented chief." From this edition the following pieces, first Memoranda by Mrs. Burns, p. xxi. presented to the public by Cromek, are derived. J. the Third and p. 363. THE INVENTORY : a true enough, although doubt- p. 365. To LAPRAIK; Last Epistle: " less a laughable, account of the hail stock and plenishing" of remarkable for the extremely broad vernacular in which it is in most inferior to the a moorland farm in our Author's early days; and incidentally, written ; although respects poetically of moorland life and habits addressed, as our readers will other Epistles addressed to the same correspondent. observe, to his friend Mr. Aiken, who was surveyor for the p. 366. To THE REV. JOHN M'MATH: an admirable, district. The "Inventory," as a portion of our Author's vigorous, and powerful production, containing many of the Posthumous Works, is remarkable for having been published manliest sentiments and truest confessions possible for such sentiments and confes- first by Dr. Currie in a mutilated form such passages as he an Author on the subject of religion in into It seems to judged improper having been omitted. It was re-published sions which have, fact, passed proverbs. a of to a for from the Stewart, complete, and this mutilation, have been intended as sort apology clergyman original by " " but is indeed the discovered by him, may have led him to suspect that Dr. such a satire as Holy Willie's Prayer; " of it. It is dated two after the Currie had deliberately excluded the Jolly Beggars" alto- clearest vindication only days in editions to and contains a curious incidental gether on the same principle. In Currie, and foregoing epistle Lapraik, for of that A little from him, the well-known designations meteorological record the autumn year. copied ploughman's " with bitter blaudin for certain horses, lan'-afore and lan'-ahin, that is, the two sunshine, interrupted frequent show'rs," of north wind the into horses .which go one before the other on the left or landward and strong gusts driving reapers seems to have characterised the middle of side of the plough, are strangely misprinted han'-afore and shelter, September, 1 785 which intervals of storm, however, the Poet han'-ahin a misreading of the manuscript, doubtless. ; during 3R 434 LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

was not idle, for both these were written under cover his it should had at epistles politics, appear ; presided some dangerous at the as learn from Mr. moment. M'Math, we Chambers, mob-meeting in Edinburgh, &c., and was absolutely displaced was of then assistant and successor to Eev. Peter Wodrow, by a Tory majority of 123 to 38, the successful antagonist Tarbolton; was an excellent preacher, but not very successful; being Mr. Eobert Dundas, Lord-Advocate. This took place " fell into low spirits in consequence of his dependent situa- January 12th, 1796. It is stated by Mr. Chambers, on the tion," and died in obscurity at Eossul, in the Isle of Mull, authority of a Mr. Bertram, late of Edinburgh, that Mr. " December, 1825. Compare The Twa Herds," p. 359, c. 2, Erskine's mortification was so great at this loss of honour, a. 5 also verse of the that he ' ' ; concluding poem. went that very night to his own door, and hewed a p, 367. To GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ., recommending boy: off with a coal-axe the brass-plate which expressed his for- " is an epistle admirable in every way, socially, morally, and feited dignity ! Our Author, like most of the other liberals religiously both as a business communication and as a throughout the country, deeply sympathised with the hon- " satire. We have every reason to believe that Master ourable gentleman in this insult; and besides that, was Tootie," celebrated for his knavery in cow-dealing, and not animated with a private grudge against Mr. Dundas for the John Wilson, printer, Kilmarnock, was the real subject of insolent neglect he had experienced at his hands in reference to Wee Johnny's epitaph. Compare note on Epitaphs infra. an elegy on his relative the late President see p. 386.

368. To of : p. MR. M'AcAM, Craigengillan affords some p. 374. ON CESSNOCK BANKS : p. 376. MONTGOMERY'S " " hint as to how the Jolly Beggars might come into Mr. PEGGY : see Heroines of Burns.

Woodburn's hands, who was then factor to M'Adam. p. 376. EOBIN : This remarkable poetico-prophetic effusion p. 369. WILLIE'S AWA : written during the Border Tour, is commonly dated about the beginning or middle of the year on occasion of Creech's visit to London at that time see 1784; and if so, that being prior to any outward indications of letter (1) to him, p. 120. Our readers have only to compare coming popularity, and even prior to his own most im- this quasi lament, in its amazing exuberance of friendship portant Authorship, it must be accepted as a very singular and of compliment, with the SKETCH which follows, p. 371, and truthful anticipation of his own future greatness. Ac- to understand with what complicated feelings of dissatisfac- cording to Mr. Chambers, there was some rumour, but with- tion and uncertainty our Author regarded this important out foundation, that a wayfaring woman who chanced to be personage. The relations which actually subsisted between present at the birth, and in whose hands the new-born infant him and his publisher, and whether justice was ever rendered was placed, had actually announced such prophecies concern- to him in the way of a final settlement, all documents relating ing him. Be this as it may, the prophecies, conjectural or to the subject having been destroyed, it is impossible for us to real, were true. The accident alluded to, of the falling in of a of the determine. Compare note on letter (2) to Creech, p. 120. portion the cottage gable on night of the birth, did Of the various miscellaneous pieces which follow, only a few not occur, according to Gilbert's statement, until nine or ten require to be specially commented on. For some information days afterwards, and was attributable partly to the storm concerning TERRAUGHTY, p. 370, the reader may turn to and partly to the previous accidental settling down unequally xxxi. the Mil. of the itself the of the but Appendix, p. ; SUTHEELAND, p. 372, for whom gable jambs chimney being firm, our Author wrote more than one prologue, is mentioned the walls adjacent comparatively loose. As for the song it is in all characteristic and of with commendation in letter (2) to Gilbert Burns; and the itself, respects worthy him; in its unmutilated and history of PEG NICHOLSON'S demise, in letter (4) to. Nicol. and original, simple, uninterpolated This animal, as our readers may conjecture, was named for form, as hero quoted from Cromek, is a perfect prophetic and life The omitted some from the mad woman who attempted George III.'s ; as the pictorial idyl. concluding verse, by Poet's own favourite, "Jenny Geddes," was for our zealous motives of delicacy, and improved "by others from motives the it in old Presbyterian matron who protested against the Liturgy very reverse, when printed honestly as stands its own in St. Giles's. original, contains nothing whatever seriously reprehensible. the it an of p. 371. ON THE DEATH OF EGBERT BTTISSEATJX, our On contrary, presents absolutely perfect picture readers need hardly be informed, contains a play on his own an aged sibyl addressing an unconscious male child, not very in as affords a of the of her own sex, as such name French ; and, they perceive, very strong regardful dignity personages and natural indication of his own pride in self-acquired scho- rarely are, yet saying nothing to provoke any undue or pain- lastic accomplishments. Burns was a great reader, and prided ful licence at their expense. Quid I himself on being a first-rate writer; and in the mere penman- faith, quo' scho, doubt you, Sir, " ship of his letters evinced the greatest scholarly care. This little title of Sir" from the withered crone to the puling But tell him, he was learn'd and clark, infant, and the omission of all complimentary terms to persons

Ye roos'd him than I of the other sex, make the essential dramatic difference. But

to c. 2 the is not so it be and so Compare Epistle Lapraik, p. 365, rhyme good, may objected ; much for that. The crone of An' took my jocteleg an' whatt it, the better thought nothing rhyme, Like ony clark. but of womanly homage only. On the other hand, the picture

p. 373. THE DEAN OF FACULTY : refers to a ridiculously is better, and the moral sense complete which was the thing all to bitter contest, originating in political animosities, to displace in Burns's eye, above other things, be attended to. All Henry Erskine from the Deanship of Faculty. Mr. Erskine, attempts to decorate or to enrich this verse, as we find in Cun- although a great favourite, had become a little too liberal in ningham's edition, with better rhymes and worse sense, not AND HISTORICAL.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 435

its truth- only vitiate its moral integrity, but destroy pictorial find by comparing Chambers's edition of the Election Ballads in and debase it. That Cromek's with the same as in fulness ; a word, vulgarise poems they appear Cunningham. of a edition is the correct edition there cannot be the shadow p. 382. To JOHN KENNEDY : Compare letters to, p. 142.

and it should be restored and accordingly. 382. ADDRESS OF BEELZEBUB : it doubt ; preserved p. although appeared FORTUNE'S WITHERING BLAST.: com- for the first we the collected works of p. 377. O RAGING time, believe, among 71. BANK AND Burns in had been to the world pare letter to Eobert Eiddel, Esq., p. Now Cunningham's edition, given

ascribed to Burns seems before that in the of 1818 ; to BRAE : on Cromek's sole authority, ; Edinburgh Magazine, February, reference our Author editor it was a who received it to be genuine; and contains the only by whose conveyed by gentleman to the Girvan Water, which flows through a beautiful, very from Rankine of Adamhill. It was one of our Author's early to us. in and the follow- beautiful valley, long and intimately well known compositions, dating 1786, was prefaced by

OP : first note of the occasion. p. 378. THE BANKS BOON original draft, pub- ing explanatory to John " Address of Beelzebub to the Honourable the Earl of Breadalbane, lished by Cromek. See letter (4) Ballantine, Esq. Right President of the Right Honourable and Honourable the Highland Society, which 378. HERE'S A HEALTH TO THEM THAT'S AWA: The p. met on the 23d of May last, at the Shakspeare, Covent Garden, to concert ways concluding verse of this song was left incomplete by Cromek, to frustrate the designs of five hundred Highlanders who, as the Society were informed Mr. M'Kenzie of were so audacious as to attempt an from motives of anxiety, doubtless, for the welfare of the Poet's by Applecross, escape from their lawful lords and masters whose property they were, by emi- still be on political in family, whose prospects might dependent grating from the lands of Mr. M'Donald of Glengarry to the wilds of Canada, it was then made Cunningham on chance, search of that fantastic thing LIBERTY." patronage ; up by as a mere chorus, and remained in this unfinished state until Our Author's own love of liberty inclined him, perhaps, to

: vide 409. the completed in Chambers' s edition infra, p. exaggerate a little for the worse the object Highland TO DUMOURIER : more Dum- had in view for M'Kenzie of whom it p. 379. ADDRESS properly Society ; Applecross, by one of the most a who did ouriez, Charles Fra^ois was distinguished was suggested, was liberal-minded, patriotic man, Revolution. He an im- the condition of his early Generals of the French gained much to improve tenantry. * * Austrians at ; which was and A s were portant victory over the Gemappe Faith, you right. Applecross. Nether- of the whole Austrian : is the next in order followed by the subjugation p. 385. EPISTLE TO MAJOR LOGAN of Louis XVI. alienated this accom- note and is remarkable in lands. The execution which calls for special ; many ways he to the Revolutionary its force and its plished soldier, and became suspect for its great poetic excellence, beauty, pictorial decreed to from date at Government. His arrest was then ; escape touches and its moral allusions, as an epistle. The to the Austrians. His career that it written after which he fled for protection Mossgiel, October 30th, 1786, implies was that of an exile, in which character he visited death and the reference to Jean, afterwards was Mary Campbell's ; passionate in 1804 " several countries in Europe. He came to England wha was a dear ane," but by whom he had been injured, allowed him the British her for such treat- where a liberal pension was by implies also that his indignation against 1823. Government and died near Henley-on-Thames, March, ment was still rankling very painfully in his breast. Compare occasioned our It was his defection to the Austrians which Heroines of Burns Mary Campbell. Major Logan, as the like to who, a musician ; he was also a Author's contemptuous "Address" him, many Epistle informs us, was great great at the did not a in his mouth. At his resi- other friends of national progress moment, give punster died, in fact, with jest or as a the Dumouriez credit for sincerity either as a soldier poli- dence of Park, near Ayr, he was occasionally visited by house for him. tician. Compare Epigram, p. 426. Poet. His mother and unmarried sister kept

: a of vicarious courtship, died a bachelor. p. 381. WILLIE CHALMERS piece The Major lived and for which our Author was well intended to be written under a Noble Earl's a sort of special pleading p. 386. LINES often was written are were submitted to and in which he was employed, Picture : our readers probably aware, qualified, " " one of the writer chiels Earl of one of our Author's most to oblige his friend Mr. Chalmers, his Lordship, the Glencairn, is be did him service ; and the an earnest that at Ayr, who also occasionally generous patrons, with request they might to Burns's Posthumous which his however, only addition made by LOCKHART published with his sanction; Lordship, his declined. Works. without assigning any reason for refusal, of 386. ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT DUNDAS, ESQ., EDITION. p. CUNNINGHAM'S written at the of Charles Hay, Arniston, &c. ; was suggestion was land-steward on the letter to him. Wo find the following Allan Cunningham, whose father Esq., advocate compare intercourse with Burns on the : Dalswinton estate, and had frequent note by Cunningham subject of the Poet's, of the in an interleaved copy of his who himself also was a younger contemporary I found it inserted in the handwriting poet, the of col- which he presented to Dr. Geddes, accompanied by following surly often saw him had admirable opportunities poems, and many " has some tolerable lines in it, but the incurable Cromek. note : The foregoing poem overlooked Currie and to or even it. I sent a copy lecting the poetic remains by wound of my pride will not suffer me correct, peruse contains a con- letter to the son of the great man, the theme of the piece, His therefore, as might be expected, of it with my best prose edition, : men in God's Alexander Wood, surgeon not hitherto by the hands of one of the noblest world, siderable number of pieces which had appeared. however, were not the Whether the copies discovered by him, attention to the text was less care- or whether his own to whose soon best, Dundas was the elder brother of that Lord Melville hands, that a Robert it is certain great many all the in Scotland was con- ful than it should have been, after these lines were written, government patronage the wine to of the collected by and when the name of Burns was mentioned, pushed Pitt, variations and corrections on some pieces fided, who, was first by me, in 1834. of which the reader will and said nothing. The poem printed him have since been made examples 430 LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

We to the use of the word in the above 390. : at 432 also object "surly" p. KIRK'S ALARM compare note on, p. ; remarks. Burns's note was nothing more than the honest letters to Logan. expression of natural indignation at unprovoked and inex- p. 392. LADDIES BY THE BANKS o' NITH; THE FIVE cusable for services not of " insolence in return complimentary CARLINS ; and other Election Ballads," have been made the his own designing. On this subject, the reader may compare subject of so much commentary by persons who may be pre- in and to see that such sumed far better able to was Phrenological Summary Appendix ; judge than the Author himself treatment was not soon forgotten, may compare also "The of their propriety at the moment, that we must decline to do Dean of Faculty," p. 373, with note on. more than refer our readers to his own explanation of his p. 387. EPISTLE TO HUGH PARKER : one of the Author's motives as these have been recorded by himself in his letter Kilmarnock friends, contains not only a most graphic picture to Mr. Heron of Heron, Prose Works, p. 197. We shall con- of the Poet's situation at Ellisland see Mrs. Burns's Memo- tent ourselves, therefore, with merely indicating in the usual randa in Appendix but poetically some of the most extra- manner, the occasions and the personages referred to. ordinary figures and ideas ever introduced on familiar topics. p. 392. LADDIES BY THE BANKS o' NITH, we may mention, Homer's idea of Orion chasing the Bear round the pole is although quoted by us here from Cunningham's edition, to " " nothing to that of Jenny Geddes on the zodiac ! preserve the connection entire, was first printed by Mr. Eobert p. 388. LETTER TO JAMES TENNANT : of a later date, is Chambers. It refers contemptuously to the Duke of Queens- in so the the same style, although not quite exuberant. Of berry's change of political party, and his desertion of the be family mentioned in it, several members came to persons King's cause during his alarming illness, and support of the " " of some influence and distinction. Preacher Willie was Prince of Wales's unconstitutional claims, in 1788. The op- well for his of Hindostan and subsequently known History ; posing candidates were Sir James Johnston of Westerhall, " Wabster Charlie" became the founder of the extensive and Captain Miller, younger of Dalswinton. world-celebrated Chemical Works of St. Eollox, Glasgow. Whistlebirk Alexander Birtwhistle, Esq., provost of Kirkcudbright. These gentlemen were full brothers to one another, but only p. 392. FIVE CARLINS refers to the same contest : com- half brothers to the James Tennant to whom this letter of pare letter (6) to Graham. The Burghs represented are our Author's is addressed. the o' Nith Dumfries Maggy by Banks ; 389. To JOHN TAYLOR : relates to a bona incident o' p. fide Marjory the Monie Lochs Lochmaben ; Blinkin Bess of Annandale Annan in the Poet's life, when his horse, being in danger on the ; Whiskey Jean Kirkcudbright ; had its shoes or a slippeiy roads, "frosted," sharpened, by Black Joan frae Crichton Peel Sanquhar. very busy blacksmith, at the earnest request of Mr. Taylor, to Personages whom the verses were addressed by Burns, and endorsed by Prince of Wales. Auld guidman the King ; Young guidman his friend and fellow-traveller Mr. Sloan, stating the circum- 394. EPISTLE TO EGBERT : continued stances. The incident occurred at Wanlockhead, and may be p. GRAHAM, Esq. reference to the same letter as before. found detailed in Cunningham. In addition to payment and subject ; compare to, M'Murdo Factor to his poetry, the smith was very cordially regaled at Ramage's, of Drumlanrig Queensberry ; Grace; of Glenriddel Riddel of Friars Carse which he lived afterwards to boast. Craigdarroch Fergusson, ; ; long Mr. Sheriff Staig Provost, of Dumfries ; Welsh ; 390. DELIA, AN ODE : said some to have been done in p. by Lawson a wine merchant Dumfries ; " " I. wore a mask. in rivalry of the so-called Delia Cruscan School of Poetry a Muffled Murtherer of Charles Executioner of Charles Lord Dundee Graham of Montrose. sort of sentimental introduced certain Scrimgeour ; Marquis exaggerated style, by " Stewart, bold as Hector "Stewart of Hillside. fantastic English copyists from Italy, and then very fashion- 395. HERON BALLADS refer to the contested election able about but is in fact a fine unconscious p. ; London ; very for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in which the candidates parallel to the best specimens of Hebrew poetry, in which the were Mr. Heron, of Heron and on the Liberal, same or a similar idea is repeated in every stanza, in different Kerroughtree, and Mr. Gordon of Balmaghie, on the Tory party. Balmaghie words and with different figures, to illustrate or enforce it. was a man of moderate but supported the influ- The occasion of writing this ode is said to have been a chal- property* by ence of his uncle, of Broughton, of the Earl lenge by some acquaintance at Brownhill, who had a news- Murray and^also of John Bushby of Tinwald Downs, an object of paper in his hand with a specimen of the popular poetry on Galloway. to Burns, was a most officious party on Gordon's side. its pages. The verses by Burns in competition were written contempt 395. BALLAD FIRST no note, except that the almost extemporaneously, and were afterwards sent by him p. requires reference to the Earl of Selkirk is not directed against his for publication to The Star newspaper, accompanied by the but against his coalition in this case following note Lordship personally, with the Earl of Galloway, whose son, Lord Garlics, had done all in his to keep the election back on pretence of a Mr. Printer, If the productions of a simple ploughman can power snowstorm 1 795. merit a place in the same paper with Sylvester Otway, and the SECOND : to the and in the of of the muses who illuminate the Star p. 396. BALLAD tune, style other favourites with the " the rude old Scottish ballad Fy, let us a' to the Bridal." lustre of genius, your insertion of the enclosed trifle will be

of Gordon of ; succeeded by future communications from yours, &c., Murray Broughton ; Balmaghie Johnnie John of Tinwald Downs ; E. Blacklippecl Bushby, Esq., BURNS. brother to John Kempleton's birkie William, Bushby ; Ellisland. near Dumfries ; 18th May, 1789 New Sheriff Bushy Maitland, fon to John. A.ND HISTORICAL.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 437

Cardoness Maxwell, of; Doug-lasses of Orchardtown and Castle-Douglas ; assemble a Kenmure of afterwards lodge, to promote the initiation of brethren. He Gordon, by restoration, Viscount of; Redcastle W. S. was himself Lawrie, of; Muirhead Rev. Mr., of Urr; admitted to the craft by St. James's Lodge, Tar- Buitle Rev. G. of Folk St. Maxwell, ; from Mary's Earl of Selkirk's family ; bolton, 1783, soon after he came to reside at Lochlea. That Young Richard of Auchencruive Collieston Oswald, ; Copland, of; then assembled in a Stamp Office Johnnie John Syme, Esq.; Quintin M'Adam. of lodge small thatched public-house kept Craigengillan ; Cassencarrie Mr. , of; Colonel Tarn Colonel Goldie, of Goldie Lea one near the ; by Manson, toll, where many extraordinary re- Kerroughtree Mr. Heron, of; Auld Major Heron, his brother ; unions doubtless took under the Kilkerran Sir Adam of place Poet's auspices. The Fergusson, ; Birtwhistle Mr. A., Kirkcudbright ; " Johnnie John of has since been to " Maxwell, Terraughty ; lodge removed a more commodious Tent Geordie of Carruchan George Maxwell, ; Walie Wellwood the Maxwell, Esq. ; opposite church, where the books and used the M'Dowall Colonel M'Dowall of insignia by Logan Logan whose treatment of the lady " Poet are still and shown to gave occasion for the beautiful lyric of Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonie Doon." religiously preserved, strangers Blair of under the strict Gunpowder Dunskey ; Broughton Murray, of; guardianship of two warders. On his first are visit to in the end of 1786, he was We indebted for certain of the above particulars to Cun- Edinburgh, speedily recog- nised as a ningham and Chambers. brother by all the leading representatives of the order there; was assumed a member of the Kil- p. 397. BALLAD THIRD : was written on another contest Canongate 1st winning, 1787 ; and was elected Poet-Laureate which followed soon after the preceding, between Heron and February, the Hon. to that lodge, March 1st this honour Montgomery Stewart, a son of the Earl of Galloway. distinguished being Heron was but was conferred upon him by Mr. Fergusson of Craigdarroch, then successful, unseated on Petition ; which of so Master the Lodge. For full particulars of these proceed- affected his health and spirits that he shortly afterwards ings our readers are referred to "A Winter with Eobert died. For personages referred to, compare as above. 398. Burns," Edinburgh, 1846. During his Border Tour he was p. THE FETE CHAMPETRE : refers to an expensive admitted, with much honour and free of all a pic-nic given by Mr. Cunningham of Enterkine and Annbank, charge, Eoyal Arch Mason of St. Abb's Eyemouth, 19th, 1787. with political objects in view, when a general election was May On his removal to Dumfriesshire, he was assumed a member thought imminent. The ostensible object was to celebrate Mr. of the St. Andrew's Lodge there, December 27th, 1788. He Cunningham's accession to his property, and great re- was respectively elected Steward and Senior Warden of that joicings were organised on the occasion; which may have been Lodge, whose meetings he attended pretty regularly till all that was really intended, for Mr. Cunningham did not within a few months of his death his last attendance being appear as a candidate. But that party favour was contem- April 14th, 1796. This Lodge, it appears, existed forty-one plated seems to have been generally believed, or no such years the minute-book, the masonic mallet, and the apron ballad as this would have been thought of. The entertain- " belonging to and worn by Eobert Burns being now in posses- ment took place in the summer of 1788. Ursa Major," our sion of our esteemed and most obliging correspondent, Thomas readers need hardly be reminded, refers to Dr. Samuel John- in house we had the Thorburn, Esq. , Eyedale ; whose have son, who was contemptuously so designated by old Boswell of pleasure of examining them, and from whom these particulars Auchinleck, in reply to his son's boast that the Doctor was a " are obtained. great luminary, quite a constellation." CHAMBERS'S EDITION. p. 399. EPISTLE FROM ESOPUS TO MARIA : the most Mr. Eobert whose researches have objectionable lampoon by our Author at Mrs. Eiddel's ex- Chambers, indefatigable resulted in discoveries, to which, pense, during their quarrel. The "Esopus" here represented many biographical directly or not ourselves but all editors was one James Williamson, manager of a small theatrical indirectly, only succeeding the credit also of which at have been deeply indebted, has having company occasionally played Dumfries ; and the to several productions of point of the satire seems to be that this actor, who had been a brought light posthumous poetical our Author. these are conspicuous good deal patronised by Mrs. Eiddel, and even invited to Among 401-2. THE TARBOLTON LASSES, EONALDS OF BEN- festivities at Woodley Park, had been shortly after with his pp. NALS, To Miss FERRIER, THE BONNY LASS OF ALBANY: whole company imprisoned by the Earl (commonly called the under several of which heads, we must refer our readers to "bad Earl") of Lonsdale, he and they together, as a set of Heroines of Burns, Appendix. vagrants. This occurring during our Author's own alienation 404. THE TREE OF LIBERTY : known to, but rejected from Mrs. Eiddel's favour, was ground enough for the in- p. Allan on internal evidence, as not Burns. of his satirical by, Cunningham by dulgence vengeance. " It was first printed in People's edition of Burns, 1840, from I see her face the first of Ireland's sons a certain Captain Gillespie. of Mr. James The crafty Colonel M'Dowal of Logan, already distinguished for his bad a manuscript in possession Duncan, Mosesfield, " Banks o' Doon." morality compare Glasgow." Chambers. The poem is admitted to be in our is and well written is The satire, as a satire, very powerfully ; Author's handwriting, but this, we have already seen, by but it is of course to be regretted it was ever written at all. no means decisive evidence. On the whole, although we do

p. 400. THE SONS OF OLD KILLIE : one of several masonic not doubt the genuineness of the authorship in this case, we brother of * effusions by our Author, who was a devout the frankly admit that it is by no means in Burns's own style. craft. here Mr. William Parker The "Willie" specified, was * in his In justice to Cunningham, we are glad now to state, that edition of of the " O'Neil 426 which he ascribes of Kilmarnock, at that date president lodge there, and 1842, he distinctly rejects Shelah "compare p. to Sir Alexander Boswell. This fact, which escaped our notice at the moment, an esteemed friend of the Poet's. Burns, as we have said, confirms our own judgment concerning that song, although on other grounds. a enthusiastic and sometimes even held was most Mason, In Hiackie's edition, the song appears on Cunningham's authority; it should now, meetings in his own house, when he could not elsewhere therefore, be entirely dismissed. 438 LIFE AND WORKS [NOTES CRITICAL

p. 405. VERSES ON THE DESTRUCTION OF WOODS NEAR, About its genuineness there can be no doubt. The only re-

DRUMLANRIG : the wholesale sylvan devastation here com- ferences which require explanation seem to be- memorated with deserved scorn, is said to have been committed That Young Man great in Issachar Pitt in the Commons. The burden tribe. by his Grace of Queensberry to provide a dower for the Countess bearing The Judge that's mighty in thy law, of Yarmouth, on the supposition that she was his daughter. The man that fears thy name.** His Grace's estates of Neidpath, Peeblesshire, were devastated * Either Thurlow, whose habit of profane swearing may be glanced at, as the by him at the same time and for the same The Inverness Courier or object. lady supposes ; possibly, claimed other parentage, and is said even to have had another Old Mansfield, who writes like the Bible, more 'tis a the more 'tis a libel. 417. fortune left her by another supposed father. Such was the Says the truth, Sir, p. state of morals then in court ran the and country ; yet Burns FRAGMENTS, INSCRIPTIONS, EPIGRAMS, &C. risk of social ruin for daring to denounce a man like this and " of of as his political associates Behold thy gods, O Israel !" These minor pieces, some which are special interest, Mr. Chambers informs us that the verses were inscribed they illustrate our Author's history, we have collected from " on the back of a window shutter in an inn or toll-house, various sources in one or two cases original and have " near the scene of the devastation which may probably be grouped together, as far as possible, in such a manner as to the case but were in district rehearsal indicate the and manner of their ; but as a ; they well known the by time, composition long before they were published. From, a gentleman Mr. few words of explanation additional with respect to some of Cuthbert of Burnock Holms, Ochiltree to whom they were them may perhaps be required, we subjoin the following : thus 413. FOR PRINCE CHARLES BIRTH-DAY: familiar, we receive the following variations : p. EDWARD'S

c. written for a of celebrated that 1, s. 1. As on the banks o' wandering Nith wimpling Nith was company gentlemen who

c. s. 2. occasion in but as it 2, Amang his eaves, the sigh he gave his caves, Edinburgh ; contained some sentiments

c. 2, s. 4. read as follows which politically might have been injurious to the interests An raise its reek peacefu' ingle of the Poet's family, Dr. Currie suppressed the bulk of it. That slowly curling clamb the hill The so far as we can does not seem to have been But now the cot is bare and cauld, ode, judge, Its leafy shelter tint and gane &c. in the Author's best style by any means.

" " < " c. s. 5. Alas ! said I 2, Alas ! quoth I p. 414. INSCRIPTION ON BLANK LEAF OF A WORK BY Has stripp'd the deeding o' your braes aff braes. your HANNAH MORE : compare letter (1) to Aiken, p. 145. c. 2, s. 6. It blew na here sae fierce and fell It blaws na here. p. 415. ADDRESS TO THE SHADE OF THOMSON : origi- All which we believe to be either the true readings, or at least nal draft. From an exact copy of the original now before us, that this great improvements on the text as now commonly accepted. we are disposed to believe was not so much a sepa- p. 406. EXTEMPORE on some Commemorations of the POET rate draft, written and laid aside, as only a rough draft THOMSON and to out. (Earl Buchan's demonstrations) : was accompanied corrected, afterwards, according correction, copied with the following note to Mrs. Graham of Fintry In proof of this we may state, that the so-called original draft has all the corrections in itself, and contains the fourth To Mrs. Graham of Fintry, this little poem, written in verse entire without correction. At this point the Poet seems haste on the spur of the occasion, and therefore inaccurate, to have paused and laid the corrected copy aside; for the but a sincere compliment to that sex the MOST AMIABLE OF concluding verse is awanting. Compare finished copy, p. 123. THE WORKS OF GOD is most respectfully presented by p. 416. ON Miss JEAN SCOTT : according to Stewart, who THE AUTHOR. first this refers to a Miss Jean Scott of printed epigram, Ayr ; p, 406. JOHN BUSHBY'S LAMENTATION: John Bushby, although it seems quite as likely to have had reference to Esq., of Tinwald Downs, originally a solicitor, afterwards a some young lady of that name on the Borders, to whom our banker, had acquired much wealth and influence in both pro- Author was introduced on his travels in that part of Scotland. fessions, and became a country squire in consequence. He is p. 416. LINES ON WINDOW PANE AT INVERARY: Dr. described by Mr. Chambers, on the authority of those who Grierson's version, Prose Works, p. 205. In our note on this knew as a man of intellectual at intimated that the Dr. him, great parts ; but he seems version page quoted, we Grierson also to have been without much heart or sincerity. He must by whom it was preserved, and who accompanied Burns on have been essentially a vulgar man. He affected to patronise the West Highland Tour, was unknown to us at the time. Burns, and had him occasionally at his house to dine; but con- In Sir Walter Scott's letter quoted by Lockhart we find the trived to put insults or practical jokes upon him there, which following statement [Life of Burns, p. 113] "Mr. Thomas resulted in the Poet's implacable resentment. This monied Grierson was at that time a clerk of my father's. He knew mammon- worshipper and ill-bred man is known to the world Burns and promised to ask him to his lodgings to dinner, but now the notice with which an no to his word I only through contemptuous had opportunity keep ; otherwise, might exciseman thus honoured him. have seen more of this distinguished man." Dr. Grierson, we 407. VARIOUS READINGS of Election little must p. Ballads ; ADDI- have now doubt, have been some relative, most TIONAL STANZAS TO VISION, &c. which follow in Mr. Cham- probably a brother, of this Mr. Thomas Grierson's, clerk to bers's edition, must be allowed to explain themselves. Sir Walter's father. The reader may further compare High- p. 411. NEW PSALMODY: communicated to us by our land Tour Appendix, top of p. ix., c. 2. friend esteemed and correspondent, Mr. Manners of Croydon. p. 418. IN DEFENCE OF A LADY: the "glow'rin spectre" -&&

AND HISTORICAL.] OF ROBERT BURNS. 439

thus addressed, is said by Mr. Chambers to have been a CONCLUSION. certain Lord of Session then on Circuit, who in a state of We have now reached the limit of our critical commentary on the partial inebriety, entering drawing-room at Dalswin- on these wonderful and in " poetical productions, concluding ton, inquired what howlet-faced one of the our thing" young remarks, we think it particularly worthy of observation ladies there was, whom he did not to 1. That there is happen recognise. not, from beginning to end, in poem, verse, 418. To A GENTLEMAN HE HAD OFFENDED : or p. addressed line, a single trace of what is commonly called sensational to Mr. Walter Eiddel, after the unpleasant scene at in form Woodley writing any ; nothing that appeals to the faculty of and EXTEMPORE, PINNED ON A LADY'S COACH with mere or Park; empty wonder, to the nervous susceptibilities of our reference to Mrs. Eiddel' s indiscreet habit of talking. constitution ; horrible Compare nothing ; nothing extravagant or fan- note on Sonnet on the Death of Eobert 428. Eiddel, Esq., p. tastic; nothing false; all, on the contrary, supremely natural, 419. WRITTEN ON A &c. : this which within the p. TUMBLER, tumbler, bounds of possibility, of probability, of fact so that a a was purchased for shilling by gentleman present, and their universal popularity must be founded on their invariable carried off as a came afterwards into the of prize, possession harmony with nature in her most universal attributes, in and is at the Sir Walter Scott, now Abbotsford, among most pathos, in humour, in beauty, in tenderness, and in truth. relics there. 2. It precious is worthy of particular notice also, that in poems or p. 422. AT THE INN AT BKOWNHILL : the landlord, whose songs of a certain class, from which offence in most cases seems to have been a friend of our name was Bacon, great must inevitably arise, and in which want of taste, actual Author's for at the sale of his effects after his a com- ; death, grossness, or indecency most commonly prevails, there is a mon snuff-mill a horn mounted with silver and presented to singular absence of every offensive element in Burns. There him the Poet the Poet's name was it no fewer than by having inscribed, are, app|jrs, twenty-six instances in which found. It realized o. The Poet seems to have had several such subjects of masculine transgression and of feminine of these compare letter (2) to James Smith. misfortune or disgrace have been treated by him, or referred to, directly or indirectly, either in or EPITAPHS. original compositions, revision and of ancient and by remodelling songs ; although The most of these, as our readers perceive, are humorous some of these are by no means either suited or intended for and highly characteristic in which respect they need no indiscriminate reading, yet there is only one, or at the most commentary, except that they are pre-eminently and indubi- two cases, in which passion or imagination borders on impro- of Eobert Burns. but himself could and one in which for tably the work Nobody priety ; only indignation personal wrong " " have written either such epigrams or such epitaphs, nor could as in Holy Willie's Prayer deepens into indecent they be imitated with success by any other writer. With scorn. When we farther state, that in the above list we " " respect to one epitaph, however, which has already appeared include such pieces as Ye Banks and Braes o' bonie Boon from the Kilmarnock edition in an earlier part of this work, on the one hand, and certain songs in the "Jolly Beggars" " the celebrated epitaph on Wee Johnie," p. 79, we take this, on the other, our readers may be able to judge for themselves the first opportunity, since we were ourselves aware, of in- whether we affirm too much, when we say that this painful forming our readers that it was never intended, as commonly topic, so frequently suggested both by the manners of the the traditions of their and his supposed, for John Wilson, printer, Kilmarnock. On the late people and by literature, by own was ever treated with so Mrs. Begg's authority, which is indisputable, the real object individual experience, great variety of from the to the of this celebrated epitaph was a certain insignificant, ill-con- style, ranging deepest pathos highest " ditioned warld's-worm" of a cowfeeder at Mauchline, whose scorn, or invested with so much popular dramatic interest in handled with so taste residence was on the road to Mossgiel. By this man's sense- mere fragments, or much delicacy of and with so little moral of and less impertinences our Author was occasionally annoyed on impropriety any kind, always some moral of and or of his way, coming or going; but attributing these to want of with compensation repentance regret, for one intellect or littleness of soul, as was doubtless the case, he actual atonement made injury attendant, by any commemorated them, and immortalised him, accordingly. writer in prose or poetry who ever lived. 3. And that the Author himself has been This person's name we have not distinctly ascertained, but lastly, although con- much for and condemned as the are much disposed to believe that he was the same reproached intemperance, described as "Master Tootie" in the writer of bacchanalian songs, it appears that there are only temptible personage " is a ten in all Scotch Drink," which is not Epistle to Gavin Hamilton, p. 367. This, however, pieces (including bacchanalian but dedicated to ; matter of secondary importance. We are chiefly anxious to only descriptive) conviviality one of these associated or made con- vindicate our Author's own consistency in such a case, and and not directly with, in itself other kind of When the to relieve the name of JOHN WILSON, printer, Kilmarnock, ducive to, any immorality. extent and of Eobert Burns's miscellaneous, from an unjust and unaccountable reproach, so long and so great variety of Eobert and of his is taken into account, the universally attached to it. Let the first printer especially song, writing multitude of his the violence of Burns, therefore, with unsullied tombstone, now rest in peace. temptations, acknowledged and the universal licence of at the His Author never intended to insult him in an epitaph of his his own passions, society a total to him time these statistical facts, which we have carefully own printing, and was most probably stranger simple more for his self-control, for his good at the time when that epitaph was written. verified, speak personal than taste, and the delicacy of his moral intuitions, probably 440 LIFE AND WORKS [END OF NOTES.

one in a thousand of his readers at first believe any would ; Le temps et le chance ne sont qu' une maree, and the for supply best, indeed the only, answer required Ah ! ah ! etc. those who seem to have special delight in ignorantly and L' amour dedaigne est dur a supporter, his persistently impeaching morality as an author. Ah ! ah ! etc.

Irai-je, comme un sot, dit il, Mourir pour une pecore hautaine ? According to Mr. M'Kie's (of Kilmarnock) catalogue, which Elle peut aller en France pour moi ! is not yet finished, it appears that of the Life and Works of Ah! ah! etc. Eobert Burns, more or less complete, Eeliques, Fragments, and there been no fewer than two hun- separate pieces, have Comment cela se fait, que les docteurs le disent, dred and editions in Great Britain fourteen in twenty-two ; Ah ! ah ! etc.

America ; and four in : besides three German trans- Germany Meg devint malade a mesure qu' il devint bien lations, and at least two French. Of separate lives, memoirs", Ah ! ah ! etc. [portant, commentaries, critiques, essays, lectures, sermons, letters, &c., Quelque chose la blesse au coour, on himself or on connected with subjects immediately him, Pour se soulager elle pousse un soupir, there have been whilst of and dedi- sixty-six ; speeches poems Et, Dieu ! ses yeux, ils disaient tant de choses ! cated to his in all of the civilized the memory parts world, Ah ! ah ! etc. number may fairly be stated as beyond calculation. Duncan etait un The rapidly increasing value of Burns's MSS., even the garon compatissant ; Ah! ah! etc. smallest fragments, is attested by the fact that in one of the L' etat de etait best London catalogues their prices are second only to those Maggie piteux, Ah! ah! etc. of the Great Napoleon's the comparative scarcity of whose Duncan ne la remains in this country gives them additional interest; whilst pouvait pas tuer, La etouffa sa rancune the commercial value of our Author's own original edition is pitie grandissant ; Maintenant ils sont contents et tous les deux. regularly rising with every new sale from five to ten, and in joyeux

Ah ! ah ! cour ! some cases from three to thirteen guineas. Shakespear alone, quelle in this is a with Burns but respect, competitor ; Shakespear's antiquity and consequent rarity has more than two hun- dred years additional in its favour. The following translation into the Gaelic language, which From a literal Translation of our Author's "Works into we have been assured is almost literal, of the two first stanzas French by M. Leon de Wailly, politely forwarded to us by of our Author's sublime Ode to Mary in Heaven, has been Dr. Andrew Eanken, Lochside, New Cumnock, we extract the communicated by an esteemed clerical friend in the West following specimen, which, from its very literality, is amusing. Highlands, and may prove interesting to our Celtic readers.

U0 Jttharie air

DUNCAN GRAY vint ici faire sa cour, A' Eeul shuileach Mhaiseach, led ghath'n tladh,

Ah ! ah ! quelle cour ! Le mian bhi coimhd na Maduinn mhoch, Le joyeux soir de Noel que nous etions gris; A ris tha toirt a steach ann la

Ah ! ah ! quelle cour ! San dugadh mo Mhairi om chridh an sprochd. bien Maggie leva haut la tete, O Mhairi ghraidh ! a chaochail gnuis ! Eegarda de travers et tres-fierement, Cait nios bheil t'ionad taimh an sith ? Et forca le pauvre Duncan de se tenir a distance. Am faic thu iosal fear do ghraidh ? Ah ! ah ! quelle cour ! An cluinn thu na h'osnaigh tha renbadh a chridh ?

Duncan supplia, et Duncan pria, Nuair Naomh sin ne gun di-chuimhn mis, Ah! ah! etc. Ne gun di-chuimhm mis 'choille Naomh, Meg fut aussi sourde qu' Ailsa Craig, Far taobh n' Ayr lubach choinnich sin,

! ah ! etc. Ah Tigh'n beo fad la am builsgean a ghaoil ! Duncan soupira en dehors et en dedans, Cha dean tim qu Siorr' dubh' amach Pleura a se troubler et a se la oibhneas chaidh seach perdre vue, Cuimhneachain graidh'n ; Parla de sauter dans une chute nuair sin san ach d'eau; T'iomhaigh bha comhladh ;

! ah ! etc. ! Ah Ah ! sbeag shaoil sin gu' be nuair mach

END OF POETICAL WORKS.