the present article is to notice the zealous, though, it must be confessed, tardy exertions that have lately been made, or are now making, to raise a monument to the memory of this gifted individual.

But before entering on any detail, it may not be improper to try to counteract an unfavorable impression that some have attempted to make on the public mind. Much invective has been poured out against the ingratitude of his countrymen, and more especially the opulent inhabitants of the district where he closed his days. Men have at all times delighted in inconsiderate censure of those who have the means of patronage. Juvenal is loud in his lamentations over the unrewarded genius of Statius; and the names of Otway and Chatterton have inspired many a pathetic, many a pointed and satirical verse. Far be it from us to attempt either to abate the general sympathy felt for the miseries of genius, or to excuse the hard-hearted disregard of dignified sufferings which the opulent could often relieve. But upon an impartial examination of the present case, there will, we think, be found more reason to lament the unhappy misconduct of Burns himself, than to blame his patrons for any want of munificence. The subscription to his works was liberal; it placed him in a situation which might be considered as comparative opulence; and the situation which his friends procured him at Dumfries would, had he conducted himself with prudence, have yielded him a comfortable subsistence, and in all probability have led the way to future advancement. For any higher active employment he was unfit. He had been unsuccessful in the situation in which his zealous friend and patron, Mr. Millar, of Dalswinton, had placed him. He was too far advanced in years to acquire the knowledge of a profession; and had he been placed in any more elevated station, his indiscretions would have rendered his misfortunes more pungent. We again repeat, that from our actual knowledge of the particulars of the case, Burns was not neglected by the opulent of the neighbourhood in which he lived, and where his ashes now rest. Let it be remembered, that an undiscriminating generosity would have taken away the few restraints imposed on his faults by the fear of poverty, and ill have deserved the name of patronage. The patron, who points out any road to success but that of prudence and regularity of conduct, will find his liberality not, in the whole, beneficial, but destructive to an inconsiderate man of talent. The laws of nature have given no man a dispensation from the necessity of regulating his conduct by the established

rules of society, and of learning to rely chiefly on his own

exertions.

The

But we proceed to the contents of this little volume. Monday, the 5th of June, was chosen to lay the foundation-stone of the mausoleum to be erected over the remains of Burns. poet had belonged to the order of free-masons, and accordingly a procession was formed by the various lodges of the brethren, and of the gentlemen and magistrates of the place. They repaired to the grave of Burns, escorted by the Dumfries yeomanry cavalry, and preceded by bands of music, among which the native tones of the bag-pipe were not the least audible.

"On the arrival of the procession at the church-yard, the different lodges halted, and opened to the right and left, making way for the provincial grand lodge to pass to the front. The foundation was then laid in due form by William Millar, Esq. the provincial grand master, who performed the ceremonies usual on such occasions, and deposited in the hollow of the stone two glass bottles, the one containing gold and silver coins of the kingdom; the other the Latin inscription, written upon vellum, as quoted below; a copy of a small edition of the poems of Burns; the resolutions of the committee, with the names of the members, and some of the newspapers of the day. After this Mr. Millar addressed the spectators in an elegant and appropriate speech to the following effect:

"Gentlemen and Brethren,-Having performed a duty resulting from the situation which I have the honour to hold, under the most worshipful the grand lodge of Scotland, it will probably be deemed incumbent upon me, in my official capacity of provincial grand master, to offer a few remarks on the nature and duties of the masonic institution, especially upon those in which we have now been more immediately employed. But, if bound to perform this task, I feel too deeply sensible of my own inability, not to confine my observations within the narrowest possible limits.

"There are, gentlemen, many and important secrets, of which the masonic body has long been considered as the only safe and lawful depository; these must for ever remain a mystery to all but initiated brethren. Many of the more prominent features, however, of our ancient and ho norable institution appear unveiled to every eye, and with modest and becoming aspect court the affections of every sound and honest heart. Of these, truth, charity, and forbearance, form the most prominent and conspicuous; and as the principles of free masonry have been widely diffused over all nations, and eagerly embraced by all sects, and by every persuasion, we, as masons, without arrogating too much to our own labours, may indulge a reasonable hope that we have been neither idle, nor altogether unsuccessful, in promoting the object and in extending the sphere, at least, of practical Christianity.

"It is the peculiar province of free masons, wher it is required of them, to give their advice and assistance on all occasions, calculated to advance the progress of the arts, or to promote the general interest and welfare of society.

"You, gentlemen, have this day been engaged in performing a solemn duty at the grave of your favourite and laniented Bard, who, having long devoted his extraordinary talents to adorn the literature of an ad

miring country, has now bequeathed his fame and reputation to the tutelage of an enlightened posterity. We, gentlemen, as masons, while we have been occupied in the discharge of a duty prescribed to us by our own professions, have, at the same time, been rendering a last tribute of respect to the memory of an illustrious brother. Illustrious-not from birth, nor from those brilliant achievements which lead to speedy wealth and certain honours, but from an assemblage of those rare and splendid endowments which Nature, in her partial moods, bestows but on her favoured few. The language of truth compels us to confess that Burns was not without his trailties; but what man, alas! is free from every fault? The rigid critic, and the stern moralist, in the vigilant exercise of their faculties, may, while pondering over his manifold beauties, discover and select passages not altogether unexceptionable or blameless. Yet, if they temper their severity with justice, though they may find something to reprove, they will find much to applaud, almost every thing to admire.

"It is equally foreign to my intentions, as it would be repugnant to your feelings, to breathe a censure, however light, which might disturb the slumbers of the peaceful grave; and it will not be expected of me, and in this place, where every heart in silent eloquence offers to his me mory the homage of its admiration, it cannot surely be necessary to pronounce the eulogium of the much lamented but unfortunate Burns-yet indulge me, gentlemen, with a single observation.

"In the natural course of events we may rest persuaded, that the mausoleum of which we have this day laid the foundation-stone, will successfully resist, for ages yet to come, every attack which may be made upon it, by the dilapidating hand of time. It needs not, however, I think, the gift of prophecy to foretel, that when the labors of our hands shall have mouldered into decay, Burns, in the effusions of his vigorous mind, and powerful and energetic fancy, will still be found to have reared a monument to his own glory, which will endure while taste and genius hold their empire over the human mind. In an age of Roman sincerity, well might he have applied to his own labours the language of the illustrious Roinan poet,

Exegi monumentum are perennius.

"Although the committee of management connected with the business of this day has not yet received any monumental inscription commemorative of the character and writings of Burns, yet, while the genius and liberality of a Campbell, a Scott, or a Byron, continue to support and illustrate the annals of our literature, it need not fear the want of some appropriate memorial, at once redounding to the honour of the dead and of the living poet, and which will serve to communicate to after times a feeling of the refined and polished taste, which so eminently distinguishes the remarkable ara in which it is our lot to live.' "

The ceremony was closed by the provincial grand chaplain with the following prayer:

"Almighty God, Father of Lights, from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift! we thank thee that thou hast cast our lot in an age so enlightened, and in a country where useful learning and the means of moral and religious improvement are placed within the reach of the lowest of the people. We intreat thee to bless all our endeavours in promoting the best interests of society, and especially to grant that the tribute we now pay to departed genius may be the means of exciting and

fostering the talents and mental powers with which thou hast endowed thy rational creatures, and of directing them to the advancement of all that is great, and noble, and excellent in human nature. Above all things we pray that thou mayst cause these powers and talents to unite in promoting the interests of pure and undefiled religion; and that thou mayst hasten the happy time, when all mankind shall consider the accomplishments of genius and learning as only valuable, in so far as they may con tribute to the glory of thy holy name, the interests of thy son's kingdom, and the eternal happiness of the human race."

After this, the following poem, composed by Mr. W. Joseph Walter, was recited by him, and received with enthusiastic applause.

Hail to the day! that sees, though long delayed,
To Coila's bard the rites of duty paid;-

That sees the pious zeal, which stands confest
In every eye, and glows in every breast;
To bush the stranger's keen reproach, and raise
A fond memorial to the Poet's praise.

Hail to the day! that sees those honours done,
Which he conferred on hapless Fergusson;
E'en now I see him, fir'd with generous shame,
To find no stone record a brother's fame--
No votive verse to mark the sacred spot
From vulgar earth, which honour halloweth not;
E'en now I view him, from his scanty store,
Wiling each day some pious pittance more,
Till thro' his generous zeal, and his alone,
Dunedin's Bard no longer sleeps unknown.

Nor shalt thou sleep unknown! O Burns, thy zeal
Has taught each heart a kindred warmth to feel.-
To thee the votive tablet shall arise,-

For thee the Mausoleum seek the skies;
With growing years to bid thy memory grow,
Till nature cease to charin, or Nith to flow.
Then ages hence--when still encreasing fame
Shall make each clime familiar with thy name-
Full many a pious pilgrim shall repair

To drink fresh draughts of inspiration there :
For still thy grave poetic warmth inspires,
"Still in thine ashes live their wonted fires!'
Tho' mute the lyre, the music from whose string
Was soft as gales that fan the waking spring;
Tho' mouldered into dust the tuneful tongue
Whose notes thro' Clouden's bowers so sweetly rung,
Yet, not unconscious of these honours paid,
Still hovers round the spot thy gentle shade,
To aid this noble cause-see every hand

With pious prodigality expand!

The parent whose fond breast has glow'd when led
To view the scene that marks his Cottar's shed;

Where the good sire, with lyart haffets bare,'

Spreads the ha'-bible' wide, and pours the artless prayer.

The warrior, whose fierce pulse has kindled high
When Wallace call'd to death or victory-
(For 'tis the poet's magic verse must shed
Glory's bright halo round the hero's head :)
The love sick maid, who, o'er his varied lay,
Entranced, has charmed the wintry gloom away,
Smiled at his wit, or shed the tender tear,
When wept his verse o'er Highland Mary's bier;
All-all with pious ardour shall combine,
And heap their tribute on the Poet's shrine.
"Nor yet is Nature mute the while, I ween,
But fondly sympathises in the scene,
Well pleased to see the grateful temple rise
To him, the warmest of her votaries.

How burst thro' clouds and gloom this morning's ray!
How evening lingers on yon heathery brae !'

What gleams of more than common radiance shone
On Queensbro's height, and Criffel's mountain throne!
The merle and mavis, sporting on the spray,

New plum'd their wings, and trill'd a livelier lay;
The glad Nith wafted from his passing wave
A sweeter murmur to the Poet's grave;
While every conscious daisy on his side

Flush'd with new bloom, and spread her starry pride.
Perchance 'twas fancy all!-for she, forsooth,
Oft decks her witcheries in the hues of truth.

"Nor be you last to meet desery'd applause,
You who stand foremost in the pious cause;
You who the memory of the Bard revere,-
Who hold his genius and his merits dear;-
Who to his fame, as to your country's, just,
Plan the proud dome and honorary bust.-
Had I one spark of his immortal flame,

The verse should flow and give the deed to Fame.-
Enough a nation's gratitude will pay
The deed that marks this memorable day;
Enough--your generous efforts will afford
A proud, a conscious, and a full reward.

Well have ye fix'd our Sovereign's natal day,

This debt to genius and the muse to pay;
Tho' now, alas! in darkness 'tis his doom,
To sit, and bear the mind's more chilling gloom,
Yet he has ever been ti.e Muse's friend,

First to reward, to cherish, to defeud.

The arts have flourished in our happy isle,

And genius bloom'd beneath his fostering smile:

To him the Muse this humble tribute brings;

THE BEST OF PATRONS, AS THE BEST OF KINGS.

Then let us gratefully his worth proclaim,

And call fresh blessings down on George's honoured name."

A chaste and elegant design has been chosen by the Committee, which is to be executed in marble, and is intended to

'The ceremony took place in the evening.

NO. VII.

Aug. Rev.

VOL. I.

3 C