PREFATORY NOTE. THE principal Essay in this volume originally appeared in a work entitled 'The Land of Burns, a Series of Landscapes and Portraits illustrative of the Life and Writings of THE SCOTTISH POET, with descriptive letterpress, by Professor Wilson and Robert Chambers, Esq.-Blackie & Sons, Glasgow, 1841." For the convenience of the general reader, the following short chronicle of the more prominent dates in the career of the illustrious Poet has been subjoined. Robert Burns was born at Alloway, near Ayr, on the 25th of January 1759 His father and family removed to the neighbouring farm of Mount Oliphant 1766 They removed to the farm of Lochlea, parish of Tarbolton, Ayrshire 1777 Burns and his brother Gilbert took the farm of Mossgiel, parish of Mauchline, Ayrshire 1784 The father of Burns died 1784 Burns's first publication 1786 He entertained the intention of emigrating to the West Indies 1786 1786 The second edition of his Poems 1787 He made a tour of the south of Scotland and the Highlands 1787 He contributed songs to Thomson's Scottish Melodies 1792-96 1795 He died 21st July 1796 |