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Readers are asked to report all cases of books marked or muti- lated. Do not deface books by marks and writing. Cornell University Library PR4331.T94 The heritage of Burns. 3 1924 013 447 630 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013447630 THE HERITAGE OF BURNS Thro' busiest street and loneliest glen Are felt theflaslies of his pen : He rules, 'midwinter snows, and when Beesfill their hives ; Deep in the genial heart of men His power survives. —Wordsworth. THE HERITAGE OF BURNS WILLIAM ROBERTSON TURNBULL Ingvnin stat sine morte deals r HADDINGTON : William Sinclair, 63 Market Street 1896 All Rights Reserved — To Harrie ; I have is. I is being part 'What done yours ; what have to do yours ; in all I have devoted yours.' — — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. IN PRAISE AND BLAME. I. Introductory—Petrarca and Burns: Points of contact and affinity —A case for the resuscitation of the Scottish Laureate-ship Reasons against it —The Poet of Democracy—The Founder and Martyr of the Reformation in Eighteenth-Century Scotland II. Method of Inquiry—Conflict of Opinion—Carlyle and Wilson, Currie and Cromek—Attempt to readjust the balance of Criticism —Heron's Memoir of 1797—Commentators from 1800 to 1896 Abundance of Materials for studying Burns— Rival Criticisms of Praise and Blame— Painful and profitless Controversies Burns personifies Scottish Genius in his Century—The function of Criticism is to demonstrate this— III. Overstrained comments of Mr Le Gallienne— Retrograde criticism of Mr Henley Crotchets and Crudities— Historical Parallels : Voltaire and Rousseau, Pope and Swift, Shelley and Byron— Poets of Revolt IV. Bases of Rational Criticism—Complexity of the Subject To Mary in Heaven—The Poetry of Burns a living organism False theories and distorted facts—Lord Jeffrey's notice {1809) of Burns examined—What it led to— Fantastic developments in 1889—An Oxford estimate of 1790—Matthew Arnold's strictures — Influence of the Arnoldian dicta on French critics—Pseudo- puritanism of the Parisian School—Burns injured as much by — — — — — viii. CONTENTS. over-admiration as by wholesale depreciation—V. Absurd en- deavour to separate aesthetic from scientific criticism —Present aspect of Burns literature—The old race of Commentators uneclipsed—Lockhart, Wilson, Carlyle—Examination, of their Its clos- work—Carlyle's Essay of 1828 : its merits and defects— ing words gave a new temper to the Criticism of Burns. ..pp. 1-104 CHAPTER II. POLITICS AND POETRY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I. Lessons to be drawn from preceding Inquiry—Spirit in which the Study of Burns should be undertaken— II. The Problem for Criticism— In History— In Poetry—Law of Artistic Evolution Burns not a Prodigy—Necessary to master his historical relation- ships and study contemporary writings—Burns consumes his own times—He is representative and participant, original aud imitative —The Era of George III. —Burns represents his Age and Nation — III. The European Revolution—The Poet's revolutionary- creed—Sympathy with France—An insurgent against the dogmas of religion and social life accepted in Scotland A Man's a Man for a' that—Gift to the French Convention The Tree of Liberty —His republican and humanitarian sentiments— Political indis- cretions— Modifications of moral and intellectual temper between 1789 and 1795—The Poet of the Future—His primary aim the regeneration of the body social —Patriotism—IV. Sentimental Jacobitism The Union—His Radicalism has its origin in per- sonal discontent—The ailment of the time—His Jacobitism and Jacobinism have no solid foundation—Vehemence of the revolu- tionary spirit gradually subsides—A Constitutionalist in the final phase of his thought—Letter to Graham of Fintry—Confession of Political Faith—Letter to Erskine of Mar Epistle from — — CONTENTS. ix. Esopus to Maria—V. Burns influenced by first triumphs of Liberalism in America and France—Does not belong to the Destructives—The Dundas regime—Whiggism A Dream—The Spokesman of Hunianity—VJ. The Revolution not an isolated phenomenon—Changes in Literature— Period of creative impulse and achievement—VII. The Augustan Age—The Classical School —The Critical Spirit—Philosophy and Theology—Chronological view of English Poetry from 1600 to 1780—VIII, Characteristics of Eighteenth-Century Poetry—Four stages of Evolution— Illus- trative Examples—IX. Liberation of Art from the trammels of traditionalism and conventionality—Cowper's Task—The Artistic Revolt—The master-note of the New Poetry—Three Things claimed for Burns—X. The Beginnings of the Naturalistic Move- ment—Dyer and Thomson —Collins, Gray, and Goldsmith Beattie—Chatterton and the New Romantic School—Ramsay and Shenstone, Cowper and Crabbe— Influence on Burns—He pre- pares the way for Wordsworth—XI. The Eighteenth Century an Era of Reconstruction— It provided a safe Mode of Transition from the ideas and manners of Medieval times to those of Modern Society—Specific Qualities of Burns's Poetry— Its importance in educating the People—In stimulatiug Patriotism—In promoting a deeper interest in the Animal World— Ethics and Religion Connecting Links between Old and New Poetry—Eighteenth- Century Literature a Literature of Tradition— Dunbar, Ramsay, and Burns pp. 105-229 CHAPTER III. THE SCOTTISH RENAISSANCE. I. The Poet is Heir of all the Ages—Sources of Inspiration —Ramsay and Burns the intellectual Continuators of Dunbar and Douglas — —— x. CONTENTS. —II. Reciprocal Relationship of Creative Artists—All Originality merely relative—'III. Burns and his Precursors : James I., Henry- son, Dunbar, Douglas, Montgomerie—Seventeenth-Century Court Poets : Sir Robert Aytoun, Earl of Stirling, Drummond of Hawthornden— Poets of the Modern Period Delitia Poelarum Scotorum—The Medley of the Age—Ramsay and Fergusson Resemblances in Structure and Imagery— Burns and Old Scottish Art—His Poetry an organism compact of many organisms Poetry of the Stuart Era contained the germ of the new type of Art supplied by Burns—Examples—Burns as an Imitator of Fergusson— IV. Lyrical Poetry—Song-writing between 1603 and 1725—Burns's Tribute to Ramsay— Pastoralism—V. Burns not the Creator of Scottish Song—The Improvisation-theory of -Poetry —Indebtedness to the old • Song-writers—His Versatility—Deter- mination of the Romantic Species—VI. Burns's Place in the History of Scottish Poetry—Critical Blunders : Carlyle, Taine, Lowell, Le Gallienne —Goethe on Burns—The re-discovery of Scottish Songs and Ballads—Allan Ramsay and the Scottish School of Modern Romance—VlL Burns the best exponent of the Scots World and the mouthpiece of Renascent Humanity —Opportuneness of his Poetry—Cowper and Mackenzie as Critics of it —The day' of small men' and small achievements— Cowper and Blake notable exceptions—Pinkerton on the Eighteenth- Century Song-writers—The Realism of Burns—His models and prototypes pp. 230-293 CHAPTER IV. THE DAWN OF NATURALISM : FROM RAMSAY TO BURNS. I. Scottish Literature from 1603 to 1707—Epoch of Decadence Characteristics—Jacobite Songs—The National Lyric Movement — — CONTENTS. xi. —Ramsay and his Scholars The Tea-Table Miscellany and The Evergreen—-IT. Intimations of pure Pastoralism —Hamilton of Gilbertfield— Allan Ramsay's Work—Our Scottish Tottle— III. Academic Conventionalities set aside—Traces of Artificiality of Sentiment— The Gentle Shepherd—Vernacular Truth— Insight into Human Nature— Descriptive Power— IV. Ramsay's Style " His Dramatic Genius—The Hogarth of Eighteenth-Century Art —V. Scott on Ramsay—His Merits and Defects —Did the Modern Mind start from Imitation ?—Ramsay as an Editor of the Old Minstrelsy—His Lyrics—His highest point as Artist—VI. His Place in Literature—VII. From Ramsay to Fergusson—Relapse of Scottish Poetry between 1758 and 1773—VI 1 1 . Robert Fergus- son—His Elegy on the Death of Scots Music— IX. Detailed Criticism of his Poems—City Lyrics—Descriptions of External Nature—X. Characteristics and Place in Literature—A Know- ledge of Fergusson absolutely necessary as an introduction to the complete study of Burns—XI. He marks an Epoch in Scottish Poetry—The Immediate Effect of his Work—Episode—Points of contact and affinity between Fergusson and Burns pp. 294-358 CHAPTER V. THE NEW ERA : BURNS. I. From the first Burns trod in the footsteps of Ramsay and Fergusson —The Poet of the New Era—His Consciousness of his Vocation First discovers his true Destiny in 1784—His Hopes and Aims expressed in his Commonplace Book in August 1784—In the Epistle to William Simpson of 1785—Development from a Provincial to a World-Poet—Epistle to the Gude Wife of Wauchope House of 1787— Letter to Mrs Dunlop of 22nd March 1787—The Singer of Man to Men— II. His Characteristic and — — — — CONTENTS. Revealing Work Epistle to John Lafraik of 1785—Burns's Ideal Point of View—His Work of Revival and Reform the result of deliberate purpose—Objections to this Theory discussed— State of Scotland when he appeared—Changes effected by him— III.