you for the kindness, patronage, and friendship you have shown me. I often felt the embarrassment of my singular situation; drawn forth from the veriest shades of life to the glare of remark; and honoured by the notice of those illustrious names of my country, whose works, while they are applauded to the end of time, will ever instruct and mend the heart. However the meteor-like novelty of my appearance in the world might attract notice, and honour me with the acquaintance of the permanent lights of genius and literature, those who are truly benefactors of the immortal nature of man; I knew very well that my utmost merit was far unequal to the task of preserving that character when once the novelty was over. I have made up my mind, that abuse, or almost even neglect, will not surprise me in my quarters. I have sent you a proof impression of Beugo's work for me, done on Indian paper, as a trifling but sincere testimony with what heart-warm gratitude I am,&c. No. XXVII. FROM DR. BLAIR. all at once from the shades of deepest privacy, to so great a share of public notice and observation, you had to stand a severe trial. I am happy that you have stood it so well; and, as far as I have known or heard, though in the midst of many temptations, without reproach to your character and behaviour. You are now, I presume, to retire to a more private walk of life; and, I trust, will conduct yourself there, with industry, prudence, and honour. You have laid the foundation for just public esteem. In the midst of those employments, which your situation will render proper, you will not, I hope, neglect to promote that esteem, by cultivating your genius, and attending to such productions of it as may raise your character still higher. At the same time, be not in too great a haste to come forward. Take time and leisure to improve and mature your talents; for on any second production you give the world, your fate, as a poet, will very much depend. There is, no doubt, a gloss of novelty which time wears off. As you very properly hint yourself, you are not to be surprised, if, in your rural retreat, you do not find yourself surrounded with that glare of notice and applause which here shone upon you. No man can be a good poet, without being somewhat of a philo Argyle-Square, Edinburgh, 4th May. sopher. He must lay his account, that DEAR SIR, I WAS favoured this forenoon with your very obliging letter, together with an impression of your portrait, for which I return you my best thanks. The success you have met with I do not think was beyond your merits; and if I have had any small hand in contributing to it, it gives me great pleasure. I know no way in which literary persons, who are advanced in years, can do more service to the world, than in forwarding the efforts of rising genius, or bringing forth unknown merit from obscurity. I was the first person who brought out to the notice of the world, the poems of Ossian: first, by the Fragments of Ancient Poetry which I published, and afterwards by my setting on foot the undertaking for collecting and publishing the Works of Ossian; and I have always considered this as a meritorious action of my life. Your situation, as you say, was indeed very singular; and, in being brought out any one, who exposes himself to public observation, will occasionally meet with the attacks of illiberal censure, which it is always best to overlook and despise. He will be inclined sometimes to court retreat, and to disappear from public view. He will not affect to shine always, that he may at proper seasons come forth with more advantage and energy. He will not think himself neglected, if he be not always praised. I have taken the liberty, you see, of an old man, to give advice and make reflections which your own good sense will, I dare say, render unnecessary. As you mention your being just about to leave town, you are going, I should suppose, to Dumfries-shire, to look at some of Mr. Miller's farms. I heartily wish the offers to be made you there may answer, as I am persuaded you will not easily find a more generous and betterhearted proprietor to live under, than Mr. Miller. When you return, if you come this way, I will be happy to see you, and to know concerning your future plans of that, limit the number of your admirers to those who understand the Scottish, when you can extend it to all persons of taste who understand the English language? In my opinion you should plan some larger work than any you have as yet attempted. I mean, reflect upon some prope subject, and arrange the plan in your mind, without beginning to execute any part of it till you have studied most of the best English poets, and read a little more of history. The Greek and Roman stories you can read in some abridgment, and soon become master of the most brilliant facts, which must highly delight a poetical mind. You should also, and very soon may, become master of the heathen mythology, to which there are everlasting allusions in all the poets, and which in itself is charmingly fanciful. What will require to be studied with more attention, is modern history; that is, the history of France and Great Britain, from the beginning of Henry the Seventh's reign. I of attaining knowledge by a shorter proknow very well you have a mind capable cess than is commonly used, and I am ceryou are capable of making a better use of it, when attained, than is generaldone. tain I HAD the pleasure of your letter by Mr. Creech, and soon after he sent me the new edition of your poems. You seem to think it incumbent on you to send to each subscriber a number of copies proportionate to his subscription-money; but you may depend upon it, few subscribers expect more than one copy, whatever they subscribed. I must inform you, however, that I took twelve copies for those sub-ly scribers for whose money you were so accurate as to send me a receipt; and Lord Eglinton told me he had sent for SIX copies for himself, as he wished to give five of them as presents. I beg you will not give yourself the trouble of writing to me when it is incondo write, for having postponed it; be asvenient, and make no apology when you sured of this, however, that I shall always be happy to hear from you. I think my friend, Mr. told me that you had some poems in manuscript by you, of a satirical and humorous nature (in which, by the way, I think you very strong,) which your prudent friends prevailed on you to omit; particularly one called Somebody's Confession; if you will intrust me with a sight of any of these, I will pawn my word to give no copies, and will be obliged to you for a perusal of them. Some of the poems you have added in this last edition are very beautiful, particularly the Winter Night, the Address to Edinburgh, Green grow the Rashes, and the two songs immediately following; the latter of which is exquisite. By the way, I imagine you have a peculiar talent for such compositions, which you ought to indulge.* No kind of poetry demands more delicacy or higher polishing. Horace is more admired on account of his Odes than all his other writings. But nothing now added is equal to your Vision, and make the useful and respectable busiI understand you intend to take a farm, and Cotter's Saturday Night. In these are united fine imagery, natural and ness of husbandry your chief occupation; pathetic description, with sublimity of lan- this, I hope, will not prevent your making guage and thought. It is evident that occasional addresses to the nine ladies you already possess a great variety of exwho have shown you such favour, one of pression and command of the English whom visited you in the auld clay biggin. language, you ought, therefore to deal Virgil, before you, proved to the world, more sparingly for the future in the pro-husbandry inimical to poetry; and I sin that there is nothing in the business of vincial dialect: why should you, by using cerely hope that you may afford an ex✦ The poems subsequently composed will bear testi- ample of a good poet being a successful mony to the accuracy of Dr. Moore's judgment. E. farmer. I fear it will not be in my power I HAVE just time to write the foregoing, and to tell you that it was (at least most part of it,) the effusion of a halfhour I spent at Bruar. I do not mean it was extempore, for I have endeavoured to brush it up as well as Mr. N- -'s chat, and the jogging of the chaise, would allow. It eases my heart a good deal, as rhyme is the coin with which a poet pays his debts of honour or gratitude. What I owe to the noble family of Athole, of the first kind, I shall ever proudly boast; what I owe of the last, so help me God in my hour of need! I shall never forget. The "little angel band!" I declare I prayed for them very sincerely to-day at the Fall of Fyers. I shall never forget the fine family-piece I saw at Blair; the amiable, the truly noble Dutchess, with her smiling little seraph in her lap, at the head of the table; the lovely "olive plants," as the Hebrew bard finely says, round the happy mother; the beautiful Mrs. G-; the lovely, sweet Miss C., &c. I wish I had the powers of Guido to do them justice. My Lord Duke's kind hospitality-markedly kind indeed! Mr. G. of F-'s charms of conversation-Sir W. M's friendship. In short the recollection of all that polite, agreeable company, raises an honest glow in my bosom. The humble Petition of Bruar-Water to the Duke of Athole. See Poems, p. 72. No. XXX. TO MR. GILBERT BURNS. Edinburgh, 17th Sept. 1787. MY DEAR BROTHER, I ARRIVED here safe yesterday evening, after a tour of twenty-two days, and travelling near six hundred miles, windings included. My farthest stretch was about ten miles beyond Inverness. I went through the heart of the Highlands, by Crieff, Taymouth, the famous seat of the Lord Breadalbane, down the Tay, among cascades and Druidical circles of stones, to Dunkeld, a seat of the Duke of Athole; thence cross Tay, and up one of his tributary streams to Blair of Athole, another of the Duke's seats, where I had the honour of spending nearly two days with his Grace and family; thence many miles through a wild country, among cliffs gray with eternal snows, and gioomy savage glens, till I crossed Spey and went down the stream through Strathspey, so famous in Scottish music, Badenoch, &c. till I reached Grant Castle, where I spent half a day with Sir James Grant and family; and then crossed the country for Fort George, but called by the way at Cawdor, the ancient seat of Macbeth; there I saw the identical bed in which, tradition says, King Duncan was murdered; lastly, from Fort George to Inverness. I returned by the coast, through Nairn, Forres, and so on, to Aberdeen; thence to Stonehive, where James Burness, from Montrose, met me, by appointment. I spent two days among our relations, and found our aunts, Jean and Isabel, still alive, and hale old women. John Caird, though born the same year with our father, walks as vigorously as I can; they have had several letters from his son in New-York. William Brand is likewise a stout old fellow; but further particulars I delay till I see you, which will be in two or three weeks. The rest of my stages are not worth rehearsing; warm as I was from Ossian's country, where I had seen his very grave, what cared I for fishing towns or fertile carses? I slept at the famous Brodie of Brodie's one night, and dined at Gordon Castle next day with the Duke, Dutchess, and family. I am thinking to cause my old mare to meet me, by means of John Ronald, at Glasgow: but you shall hear far ther from me before I leave Edinburgh My duty, and many compliments, from the north, to my mother, and my brotherly compliments to the rest. I have been trying for a birth for William, but am not likely to be successful.-Farewell! SIR, No. XXXI. FROM MR. R*****. "Twas only yesterday I got Colonel Edmondstoune's answer, that neither the words of Down the Burn Davie, nor Daintie Davie, (I forgot which you mentioned,) were written by Colonel G. Crawford. Next time I meet him, I will inquire about his cousin's poetical talents. can give you better hints, as to your present plan than he. Receive also Omeron Cameron, which seemed to make such a deep impression on your imagination, that I am not without hopes it will beget something to delight the public in due time and, no doubt, the circumstances of this little tale might be varied or extended, so as to make part of a pastoral comedy. Age or wounds might have kept Omeron at home, whilst his coun * * Ochtertyre, 22d October, 1787. trymen were in the field. His station Enclosed are the inscriptions you requested, and a letter to Mr. Young, whose company and musical talents will, I am persuaded, be a feast to you.* Nobody • These Inscriptions, so much admired by Burns, are as follows: WRITTEN IN 1768. FOR THE SALICTUM AT OCHTERTYRE. Paludem olim infidam, Hic, si faxit Deus opt. max. Cum quodam juventutis amico superstite, Evique paululum supersit, Valete, diuque lætamini! ENGLISHED. To improve both air and soil, I drain and decorate this plantation of willows, Here, far from noise and strife, I love to wander, Now fondly marking the progress of my trees, Salictum-Grove of Willows. Willow-ground. There must be love in the plot, and a happy discovery; and peace and pardon may be the reward of hospitality, and ho Contented with a competency, And happy with my lot. ABOVE THY DOOR OF THE HOUSE. Mihi meisque utinam conting ENGLISHED. On the banks of the Teith, In the small but sweet inheritance Of my fathers, May I and mine live in peace, And die in joyful hope! These inscriptions, and the translations, are in the hand writing of Mr. Ramsay. concur in their views of morals. Yor will forgive me for these hints. nest attachment to misguided principles. When you have once thought of a plot, and brought the story into form, Doctor Blacklock, or Mr. H. Mackenzie, may be Well! what think you of good lady useful in dividing it into acts and scenes; Clackmannan ?* It is a pity she is so for in these matters one must pay some deaf, and speaks so indistinctly. Her attention to certain rules of the drama. | house is a specimen of the mansions of These you could afterwards fill up at your our gentry of the last age, when hospileisure. But, whilst I presume to give a tality and elevation of mind were conspifew well-meant hints, let me advise you cuous amidst plain fare and plain furnito study the spirit of my namesake's dia- ture. I shall be glad to hear from you at logue, which is natural without being times, if it were no more than to show low; and, under the trammels of verse, is that you take the effusions of an obscure such as country-people, in these situa- man like me in good part. I beg my best tions, speak every day. You have only respects to Dr. and Mrs. Blacklock.f to bring down your strain a very little. A And am, Sir, great plan, such as this, would concentre all your ideas, which facilitates the execution, and makes it a part of one's pleasure. Your most obedient, humble servant, * Mrs. Bruce of Clackmannan. E. I approve of your plan of retiring from din and dissipation to a farm of very mo- In one of the wars betwixt the crown of Scotland derate size, sufficient to find exercise for and the Lords of the Isles, Alexander Stewart, Earl of mind and body, but not so great as to ab- Mar (a distinguished character in the fifteenth centusorb better things. And if some intellec-ry,) and Donald Stewart, Earl of Caithness, had the tual pursuit be well chosen and steadily pursued, it will be more lucrative than most farms, in this age of rapid improvement. Upon this subject, as your well-wisher and admirer, permit me to go a step further. Let those bright talents which the Almighty has bestowed on you, be henceforth employed to the noble purpose of supporting the cause of truth and virtue. An imagination so varied and forcible as yours, may do this in many different modes: nor is it necessary to be always serious, which you have to good purpose; good morals may be recommended in a comedy, or even in a song. Great allowances are due to the heat and inexperience of youth;-and few poets can boast, like Thomson, of never having written a line, which, dying, they would wish to blot. In particular I wish you to keep clear of the thorny walks of satire, which makes a man a hundred enemies for one friend, and is doubly dangerous when one is supposed to extend the slips and weaknesses of individuals to their sect or party. About modes of faith, serious and excellent men have always differed; and there are certain curious questions, which may afford scope to men of metaphysical heads, but seldom mend the heart or temper. Whilst these points are beyond human ken, it is sufficient that all our sects command of the royal army. They marched into Lochaber, with a view of attacking a body of the M'Donalds, commanded by Donald Balloch, and posted upon an arm of the sea which intersects that country. Having timely intelligence of their approach, the insurgents got off precipitately to the opposite shore in their curraghs, or boats covered with skins. The king's troops encamped in full security; but the M'Donalds, returning about midnight, surprised them, killed the Earl of Caithness, and destroyed or dispersed the whole army. The Earl of Mar escaped in the dark, without any attendants, and made for the more hilly part of the country. In the course of his flight he came to the house of a poor man, whose name was Omeron Cameron. The landlord welcomed his guest with the utmost kindness; but, as there was no meat in the house, he told his wife he would directly kill Maol Adhar,* to feed the stranger. "Kill our only cow!" said she, "our own and our little children's principal support!" More attentive, however, to the present call for hospitality than to the remonstrances of his wife, or the future exigencies of his family, he killed the cow. The best and tenderest parts were immediately roasted before the fire, and plenty of innirich, or Highland soup, prepared to conclude their meal. The whole family, and their guest ate heartily, and the evening was spent, as usual, in telling tales and singing songs beside a cheerful fire. Bed-time came; Omeron brushed the hearth, spread the cow-hide upon it, and desired the stranger to lie down. The earl wrapped his plaid about him, and slept soundly on the hide, whilst the family betook themselves to rest in a corner of the same room. Next morning they had a plentiful breakfast, and at his departure his guest asked Cameron, if he knew whom he had entertained? "You may probably," answered he, "be one of the king's officers; but wh> ever you are, you came here in distress, and here t * Maol Odhar, 1. e. the brown, hummil cow. |