THE

Matthew Stewart-born 1717, died 23rd January 1785-Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, through VISION his marriage with Margaret, daughter of Archibald Stewart, Writer to the Signet; and here he spent the last years of his life. The 'son,' Professor Dugald Stewart-born 22nd November 1753, died 11th June 1828-the well-known metaphysician, usually spent a part of the summer at Catrine, and there Burns made his acquaintance. 5. 'That all its source and end to draw,' Ms. at Castlemilk. 6. This, to adore,' Ms. at Castlemilk.

STANZA XXII. LINE 1. Brydone's brave ward I well could spy':' Colonel Fullarton' (R. B.). Colonel William Fullarton was descended from an Ayrshire family, which for five centuries had possessed the barony of Fullarton, near Irvine; born 12th January 1754; educated at Edinburgh University; spent some time in foreign travel under the care of Patrick Brydone, author of a Tour in Sicily; in 1780 proposed an expedition to Mexico against the Spaniards; raised for this purpose the 98th Regiment, of which he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel; was sent to the Cape of Good Hopeon account of the outbreak of the Dutch war-and thence to India, where in 1783 he was appointed to the command of the Southern army; published in 1787 A View of the English Interests in India, and in 1793 an Account of the Agriculture of the County of Ayr; raised the 23rd or Fullarton's Dragoons in 1794, and the 101st Regiment in 1802; appointed in April 1803 First Commissioner of Trinidad; died 13th February 1808. In 1791 Fullarton introduced himself to Burns, who afterwards corresponded with him, and sent him verses in Ms. In his Account of Agriculture he notes that the method of dishorning cattle therein recommended was suggested by Mr. Robert Burns, whose general talents are no less conspicuous than the poetic powers which have done so much honour to the country in which he was born.'

DUAN II

STANZA III. LINE 6. Their labours ply,' 1787 (2) and 1794.

STANZA IV. LINE 2. Some fire the Sodger on to dare,' 1786.

THE VISION

STANZA VI. This Stanza was added in the '87 Edition.

STANZA VII. LINE 1. Hence, Fullarton, the brave and young':-See Note to LINE I of STANZA XXII. of Duan 1. 2. Hence, Dempster's zeal-inspired tongue': — George Dempster of Dunnichen, M.P. See Note to The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer (STANZA XIII. LINE I, p. 325). STANZA XII. LINE 2. And this district as mine I claim':The district of Kyle. 3. 'Where once the Campbells, chiefs of fame':-The Campbells of Loudoun, descended originally from Sir Duncan Campbell, of the house of Lochow, who in the reign of Robert 1. married Sussanah Crawford, heiress of Loudoun. In 1620 Sir James Campbell of Lawers married Margaret Campbell, Baroness of Loudoun, and on 12th May 1633 he was created Earl of Loudoun and Baron of Tarrinzean and Mauchline.

STANZA XVIII. LINE 2. Wild send thee Pleasure's devious way,' 1787 (2), 1793 and 1794.

STANZA XX. LINE I. 'Thou can'st not learn, nor I can show,' 1786, 1787 (1), 1787 (2), and 1793. 2. To paint with Thomson's landscape-glow,' 1786 and 1787 (1).

HALLOWEEN

A Halloween by John Mayne, author of the Siller Gun, appeared in Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine in November 1780. It is written in the six-line stave in rime couée of The Piper of Kilbarchan (see ante, pp. 336, 345), and suggested little to Burns except, perhaps, his theme. Burns prefaces his verses thus:-"The following poem will, by many readers, be well enough understood; but for the sake of those who are unacquainted with the manners and traditions of the country where the scene is cast, notes are added, to give some account of the principal charms and spells of that night, so big with prophecy to the peasantry in the west of Scotland. The passion of prying into futurity makes a striking part of the history of human nature in its rude state, in all ages and nations ; and it may be some entertainment to a philosophic mind,

EEN

if any such should honour the author with a perusal, to HALLOWsee the remains of it among the more unenlightened in our own.' He also supplies the following note on the title, Halloween :— Is thought to be a night when witches, devils, and other mischief-making beings are all abroad on their baneful, midnight errands; particularly those aerial people, the fairies, are said, on that night, to hold a grand anniversary.' Cf. Montgomerie, Flyting (lines 274-9):

'In the hinder end of haruest on Alhallow euen,

When our good neighbours doe ryd, gif I read right,' etc. For an account of the stave, see ante, p. 328, the Prefatory Note to The Holy Fair. A portion of Halloween, beginning with the last seven lines of the seventeenth stanza, is included in the book purchased by the Kilmarnock Committee.

STANZA I. LINE 2. 'On Cassilis Downans dance':-'Certain little, romantic, rocky, green hills, in the neighbourhood of the ancient seat of the Earls of Cassilis' (R. B.). Cassilis, now a seat of the Marquis of Ailsa, who is also Earl of Cassilis, is the scene of the ballad of Johnnie Faa. 7. 'There, up the Cove, to stray and rove' :-'A noted cavern near Colean House, called the Cove of Colean; which, as well as Cassilis Downans, is famed, in country story, for being a favourite haunt of Fairies' (R. B.). Colean House, now known as Colzean Castle, is the principal seat of the Marquis of Ailsa. Of the Coves, Sir William Brereton in his Travels relates that there was to be seen in them in 1634 'either a notable imposture, or most strange and much-to-be-admired footsteps and impressions' of 'men, children, dogs, coneys, and divers other creatures,' which were 'here conceived to be spirits.'

STANZA II. LINE I. 'Amang the bony winding banks,' 1794. 3. 'Where Bruce aince ruled the martial ranks,' 1787 (2):— 'The famous family of that name, the ancestors of Robert, the great deliverer of his country, were Earls of Carrick' (R. B.). 8. An' had their Halloween,' 1787 (2).

STANZA III. LINES 3 and 4. In all editions a comma is

HALLOW- placed before ‘fu' and after 'kythe'; but the true reading seems to be ours.

EEN

STANZA IV. LINE 2. "Their "stocks" maun a' be sought aince' 1787(2):-'The first ceremony of Halloween is, pulling each a "stock," or plant of kail. They must go out, hand in hand, with eyes shut, and pull the first they meet with : its being big or little, straight or crooked, is prophetic of the size and shape of the grand object of all their spells-the husband or wife. If any "yird,” or earth, stick to the root, that is “tocher,” or fortune; and the taste of the "custoc," that is, the heart of the stem, is indicative of the natural temper and disposition. Lastly, the stems, or, to give them their ordinary appellation, the "runts," are placed somewhere above the head of the door; and the Christian names of people whom chance brings into the house are, according to the priority of placing the "runts," the names in question' (R. B.). 7. ‘An' pou't, for want o' better shift,' 1787 (2).

STANZA VI. LINE 2. To pou their stalks o' corn' :-' They go to the barnyard, and pull each, at three several times, a stalk of oats. If the third stalk wants the "tap-pickle," that is, the grain at the top of the stalk, the party in question will come to the marriage-bed anything but a maid' (R. B.). 8. Whan kiutlin in the fause-house' :-'When the corn is in a doubtful state, by being too green or wet, the stackbuilder, by means of old timber, etc., makes a large apartment in his stack, with an opening in the side which is fairest exposed to the wind: this he calls a "fause-house" (R. B.).

STANZA VII. LINE I. 'The auld guid-wife's weel-hoordet nits':-'Burning the nuts is a favourite charm. They name the lad and lass to each particular nut, as they lay them in the fire; and according as they burn quietly together, or start from beside one another, the course and issue of the courtship will be' (R. B.).

STANZA X. LINE 7. 'Rob, stownlins, pried her bonny mou,' 1787 (2).

STANZA XI. LINE 8. And in the blue-clue throws then ':'Whoever would, with success, try this spell, must strictly observe these directions: Steal out, all alone, to the kiln, and, darkling, throw into the "pot" a clue of blue yarn; wind it in a new clue off the old one; and, towards the latter end, some

thing will hold the thread: demand, "Wha hauds?" i.e. who HALLOWholds? and answer will be returned from the kiln-pot, by EEN naming the Christian and surname of your future spouse'

(R. B.).

STANZA XIII. LINE 3. 'I'll eat the apple at the glass':'Take a candle and go alone to a looking-glass; eat an apple before it, and some traditions say, you should comb your hair all the time; the face of your conjugal companion, to be, will be seen in the glass, as if peeping over your shoulder' (R. B.). STANZA XIV. LINE I. Ye little skelpie-limmer's-face !' :— 'A technical term in female scolding' (R. B.).

STANZA XVI. LINE 5. 'He gat hemp-seed, I mind it weel' : -'Steal out, unperceived, and sow a handful of hemp-seed, harrowing it with anything you can conveniently draw after you. Repeat, now and then-" Hemp-seed I saw thee, hempseed I saw thee; and him (or her) that is to be my true love, come after me and pou thee." Look over your left shoulder, and you will see the appearance of the person invoked, in the attitude of pulling hemp. Some traditions say, "Come after me and shaw thee," that is, show thyself; in which case, it simply appears. Others omit the harrowing, and say, "Come after me and harrow thee "' (R. B.).

STANZA XVIII. LINE 9. As fast that night,' 1787 (2). STANZA XXI. LINE 2. To winn three wechts o' naething': -‘This charm must likewise be performed unperceived and alone. You go to the barn, and open both doors, taking them off the hinges, if possible; for there is danger that the being about to appear, may shut the doors, and do you some mischief. Then take that instrument used in winnowing the corn, which in our country dialect we call a "wecht," and go through all the attitudes of letting down corn against the wind. Repeat it three times, and the third time, an apparition will pass through the barn, in at the windy door, and out at the other, having both the figure in question, and the appearance or retinue, marking the employment or station in life' (R. B.). A 'wecht' was a close sieve: i.e. the bottom was covered with leather.

STANZA XXII. LINE 7. Midden-hole ':-'A gutter at the bottom of the dunghill' (R. B. in Glossary). 8. And pray'd wi' zeal an' fervour,' 1787 (2).