Charlotte was exactly Dr. Donne's mistress:-"Her pure and eloquent blood

Spoke in her cheeks, and so distinctly wrought
That one would almost say her body thought."

Her eyes are fascinating; at once expressive of good sense, tenderness, and a noble mind.§

I do not give you all this account, my good Sir, to flatter you. I mean it to reproach you. Such relations the first peer in the realm might own with pride; then why do you not keep up more correspondence with these so amiable young folks? I had a thousand questions to answer about you. I had to describe the little ones with the minuteness of anatomy. They were highly delighted when I told them that John was so good a boy, and so fine a scholar, and that Willie was going on still very pretty; but I have it in commission to tell her from them that beauty is a poor silly bauble without she be good. Miss Chalmers I had left in Edinburgh, but I had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Chalmers, only Lady Mackenzie being rather a little alarmingly ill of a sore throat, somewhat marred our enjoyment.

I shall not be in Ayr-shire for four weeks. My most respectful compliments to Mrs. Hamilton, Miss Kennedy, and Doctor Mackenzie. I shall probably write him from some stage or other.

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 half-hour I spent at Bruar. I do not mean it was extempore, for I have endeavoured to brush it up as well as Mr. Nicol'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.

for them very sincerely to-day at the Fall of Fyers. I shall never forget the fine familypiece I saw at Blair; the amiable, the truly noble duchess, 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. Graham of Fintray's charms of conversation-Sir W. Murray's friendship. In short, the recollection of all that polite, agreeable company raises an honest glow in my bosom.

R. B.

[Mr. Walker, to whom this letter is addressed, was Tutor to the children of the Duke of Athol. He afterwards became Professor of Humanity (Classical Literature) in the University of Glasgow. He was a native of Ayrshire, and an accomplished scholar and gentleman. Happening to be in Edinburgh when Burns made his first appearance there, he sought his acquaintance, and was his frequent companion at the tables of Blair and Stewart. On his third and last excursion into the Highlands, the Poet found Walker an useful and prudent friend. With considerable tact he separated Burns from Nicol; and, having provided the latter with a fishing-rod and some choice wine to drink by the secluded pools of the Bruar, carried the bard into the company of the ladies of the house of Athole, and made him acquainted with Graham of Fintray. He visited him, too, at Dumfries, and, when the copyright of Currie's edition had expired, he wrote, with considerable taste and feeling, his life anew, and edited his poems. All that passed under his own eye the Professor related with dramatic truth and ease: his account of Burns at the table of Dr. Blair, and of his two days conversation with him in 1795, are fine specimens of his talents. He died in 1831.– CUNNINGHAM.]

No. LXX.

TO MR. GILBERT BURNS

Edinburgh, 17th September, 1787.

MY DEAR BROTHER:

I ARRIVED here safe yesterday evening, after

[Jane, daughter of Charles, ninth Lord Cathcart. The "little angel band" consisted of Lady Charlotte Murray, aged twelve, afterwards the wife of Sir Johu Menzies of Castle-Menzies; Lady Amelia, aged seven, now Viscountess Strathallan; and Lady Elizabeth, an infant of five months, now Lady Macgregor Murray of Lanrick.]

pose you know he is a clergyman. It is by far the finest poetic compliment I ever got. I will send you a copy of it.

I go on Thursday or Friday to Dumfries, to wait on Mr. Miller about his farms. Do tell that to Lady Mackenzie, that she may give me credit for a little wisdom. "I wisdom dwell with Prudence." What a blessed fire-side!How happy should I be to pass a winter evening under their venerable roof! and smoke a pipe of tobacco, or drink water-gruel with them! What solemn, lengthened, laughterquashing gravity of phiz! What sage remarks on the good-for-nothing sons and daughters of indiscretion and folly! And what frugal lessons, as we straitened the fire-side circle, on the uses of the poker and tongs!

Miss N. is very well, and begs to be remembered in the old way to you. I used all my eloquence, all the persuasive flourishes of the hand, and heart-melting modulation of periods in my power, to urge her out of Harvieston, but all in vain. My rhetoric seems quite to have lost its effect on the lovely half of mankind.I have seen the day-but that is a "tale of other years."-In my conscience I believe that my heart has been so oft on fire that it is absolutely vitrified. I look on the sex with something like the admiration with which I regard the starry sky in a frosty December night. I admire the beauty of the Creator's workmanship; I am charmed with the wild but graceful eccentricity of their motions, and wish them good night. I mean this with respect to a certain passion dont j'ai eu l'honneur d'etre un miserable esclave: as for friendship, you and Charlotte have given me pleasure, permanent pleasure, "which the world cannot give, nor take away," I hope; and which will outlast the heavens and the earth.

No. LXXII.

TO THE SAME.

R. B.

Without date.

I HAVE been at Dumfries, and at one visit more shall be decided about a farm in that country. I am rather hopeless in it; but as my brother is an excellent farmer, and is, besides, an exceedingly prudent, sober man (qualities which are only a younger brother's fortune in our family), I am determined, if my Dumfries business fail me, to return into partnership with him, and at our leisure take another farm in the neighbourhood.

I assure you I look for high compliments from you and Charlotte on this very sage instance of my unfathomable, incomprehensible wisdom. Talking of Charlotte, I must tell her that I have, to the best of my power, paid her

a poetic compliment, now completed. The air is admirable: true old Highland. It was the tune of a Gaelic song, which an Inverness lady sang me when I was there; and I was so charmed with it that I begged her to write me a set of it from her singing; for it had never been set before. I am fixed that it shall go in Johnson's next number; so Charlotte and you need not spend your precious time in contradicting me. I won't say the poetry is firstrate; though I am convinced it is very well; and, what is not always the case with compliments to ladies, it is not only sincere, but just. [Here follows the song of "The Banks of the Devon."See page 368.]

I will defend my conduct in giving you this trouble, on the best of Christian principles"Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even unto them."-I shall certainly, among my legacies, leave my latest curse on that unlucky predicament which hurried-tore me away from Castle Gordon. May that obstinate son of Latin prose [Nicol] be curst to Scotch mile periods, and damned to seven league paragraphs; while Declension and Conjugation, Gender, Number, and Time, under the ragged banners of Dissonance and Disarrangement, eternally rank against him in hostile array.

Allow me, Sir, to strengthen the small claim I have to your acquaintance, by the following request. An engraver, James Johnson, in Edinburgh, has, not from mercenary views, but from an honest Scotch enthusiasm, set about, collecting all our native songs and setting them to music; particularly those that have never been set before. Clarke, the well known musician, presides over the musical arrangement, and Drs. Beattie and Blacklock, Mr. Tytler of Woodhouselee, and your humble servant to the utmost of his small power, assist in collecting the old poetry, or sometimes for a fine air make a stanza, when it has no words. The brats, too tedious to mention, claim a parental pang from my bardship. I suppose it will appear in Johnson's second number-the first was published before my acquaintance with him. My request is "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen" is one intended for this number, and I beg a copy of his Grace of Gordon's words to

it, which you were so kind as to repeat to me.* You may be sure we won't prefix the author's name, except you like, though I look on it as no small merit to this work that the names of many of the authors of our old Scotch songs, names almost forgotten, will be inserted. I do not well know where to write to you-I rather write at you; but if you will be so obliging, immediately on receipt of this, as to write me a few lines, I shall perhaps pay you in kind, though not in quality. Johnson's terms are:each number a handsome pocket volume, to consist at least of a hundred Scotch songs, with basses for the harpsichord, &c. The price to subscribers, 58.; to non-subscribers 6s. He

will have three numbers, I conjecture.

My direction for two or three weeks will be at Mr. William Cruikshank's, St. James'ssquare, New-town Edinburgh.

I am

Sir,

Your's to command,

R. B.

cover, it will likewise come free; that is, as long as the Duke is in this country.

I am, Sir, yours sincerely,
JAMES HOY.]

No. LXXIV.
TO REV. JOHN SKINNER.
Edinburgh, October 25, 1787.

REVEREND AND VENERABLE SIR: ACCEPT, in plain dull prose, my most sincere thanks for the best poetical compliment I ever received. I assure you, Sir, as a poet, you have conjured up an airy demon of vanity in my fancy, which the best abilities in your other

capacity would be ill able to lay. I regret, and while I live I shall regret, that, when I was in the north, I had not the pleasure of paying a younger brother's dutiful respect to the author of the best Scotch song ever Scotland saw-"Tullochgorum's my delight!" The world may think slightingly of the craft of song-making, if they please, but, as Job says "O! that mine adversary had written a book!"-let them try. There is a certain something in the old Scotch songs, a wild hap

[SIR:

Gordon Castle, October 31st, 1787.

If you were not sensible of your fault as well as of your loss, in leaving this place so suddenly, I should condemn you to starve upon cauld hail for ae towmont at least; and as for Dick Latine [Mr. Nicol], your travelling companion, without banning him wi' a' the curses contained in your letter (which he'll no value a bawbee) I should give him nought but Stra' bogie castocks to chew for sax ouks, or aye until he was as sensible of his error as you seem to be of yours.

*

Your song [Bonnie Castle Gordon] I shewed without producing the author; and it was judged by the Duchess to be the production of Dr. Beattie. I sent a copy of it by her Grace's desire to a Mrs. M'Pherson, in Badenoch, who sings Morag, and all other Gaelic songs, in great perfection. I have recorded it likewise, by Lady Charlotte's desire, in a book belonging to her Ladyship; where it is in company with a great many other poems and verses, some of the writers of which are no less eminent for their political than for their poetical abilities. When the Duchess was informed that you were the author, she wished you had written the

verses in Scotch.

Any letter directed to me here will come to hand safely; and, if sent under the Duke's

*

[Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon, who entertained

Burns at Gordon Castle, possessed considerable abilities for

liarly marks them, not only from English songs, but also from the modern efforts of songwrights, in our native manner and language. The only remains of this enchantment, these spells of the imagination, rest with you. Our true brother, Ross of Lochlea, was likewise "owre cannie"-a "wild warlock" but now he sings among the " sons of the morning."

I have often wished, and will certainly endeavour, to form a kind of common acquaintance among all the genuine sons of Caledonian song. The world, busy in low prosaic pursuits, | may overlook most of us; but "reverence thyself." The world is not our peers, so we challenge the jury. We can lash that world, and find ourselves a great very source of amusement and happiness independent of that

world.

There is a work going on in Edinburgh, just now, which claims your best assistance. An engraver in this town has set about collecting and publishing all the Scotch songs, with the music, that can be found. Songs in the English language, if by Scotchmen, are admitted, but the music must all be Scotch. Drs. Beattie and Blacklock are lending a hand, and the first musician in town presides over that department. I have been absolutely crazed about it, collecting old stanzas, and every information remaining respecting their origin, authors, &c. &c. This last is but a very frag ment business; but at the end of his second number-the first is already published-a small lic. The song alluded to by Burns seems to have been ob tained from Mr. Hoy, as it appears in the second volume of

I was

account will be given of the authors, particularly to preserve those of latter times. Your three songs, "Tullochgorum," "John of Badenyon, and "Ewie wi' the crookit Horn," go in this second number. determined, before I got your letter, to write you, begging that you would let me know where the editions of these pieces may be found, as you would wish them to continue in future times; and if you would be so kind to this undertaking as send any songs, of your own or others, that you would think proper to publish, your name will be inserted among the other authors,-" Nill ye, will ye." One half of Scotland already give your songs to other authors. Paper is done. I beg to hear from

* [The Poet summoned almost all the Bards of Caledonia to aid him in providing words for the Scottish airs in Johnson's Musical Museum. The songs of "Tullochgorum" and "John of Badenyon" have made the name of Skinner dear to all the lovers of Scottish poetry. He was a man cheerful and pious, and performed his duties as episcopal pastor of Longside for nearly sixty-five years. Burns met his son, afterwards Bishop of Aberdeen, during his last tour in the north, and lamented that he did not know where Linshart-his father's residence-lay, as he would have gone twenty miles out of his way to have seen the author of "Tullochgorum." The poetical works of Skinner were collected soon after his death, on the 16th of June, 1807, and published in Edinburgh. He was a wit as well as a priest and poet. His grandson, John, paid less regard to his lessons than he wished: he suddenly desisted from instructing him, and said -"Oh! I forgot the old prophecy-Thomas the Rhymer has settled the matter-I shall trouble myself no farther." The boy turned to his grandfather, and said, "What has he said of me, grandpapa?"-" O! more than I like; ye shall hear

"The world shall four John Skinners see,
The first shall teach a school;
The other two shall parsons be,
The fourth shall be a fool." יי

John Skinner the fourth flew to his task, and became a learned man. -CUNNINGHAM.

The following is Mr. Skinner's reply to Burns:

SIR,

Linshart, November 14th, 1787.

YOUR kind letter, without date, but of post-mark October 25th, came to hand only this day; and, to testify my punctuality to my poetic engagement, I sit down immediately to answer it in kind.

Your acknowledgment of my poor but just encomiums on your surprising genius, and your opinion of my rhyming excursions, are both, I think, by far too high. The difference between our two tracts of education and ways of life is entirely in your favour, and gives you the preference every manner of way. I know a classical education will not create a versifying taste, but it mightily improves and assists it;and though, where both these meet, there may sometimes be ground for approbation, yet where taste appears single, as it were, and neither cramped nor supported by acquisition, I will always sustain the justice of its prior claim to applause. A small portion of taste, this way, I have had almost from childhood, especially in the old Scottish dialect; and it is as old a thing as I remember, my fondness for "Christ's-kirk on the green," which I had by heart ere I was twelve years of age, and which some years ago I attempted to turn into Latin verse. While I was young, I dabbled a good deal in these things: but on getting the black gown I gave it pretty much over, 'till my daughters grew up, who, being all good singers, plagued me for words to some of their favourite tunes, and so extorted these effusions, which have made a public appearance beyond my expectations, and contrary to my intentions, at the same time that I hope there is nothing to be found in them uncharacteristic, or unbecoming the cloth, which I would always wish to see respected.

As to the assistance you propose from me in the undertaking you are engaged in [his collection of Scottish songs], I am sorry I cannot give it so far as I could wish, and you,