SECOND COMMONPLACE-BOOK. 67 In this memorable spring Burns commenced a second Commonplace-book, of which several entries near the beginning alone fulfil the design with which he starts. The remainder appear to be merely copies of pithy expressions which he had introduced into private letters. 'EDINBURGH, April 9, 1787. 'As I have seen a good deal of human life in Edinburgh, a great many characters which are new to one bred up in the shades of life as I have been, I am determined to take down my remarks on the spot. Gray observes, in a letter to Mr Palgrave, that "half a word fixed upon, or near the spot, is worth a cart-load of recollection." I don't know how it is with the world in general, but with me, making my remarks is by no means a solitary pleasure. I want some one to laugh with me, some one to be grave with me, some one to please me and help my discrimination, with his or her own remark, and at times, no doubt, to admire my acuteness and penetration. The world are so busied with selfish pursuits, ambition, vanity, interest, or pleasure, that very few think it worth their while to make any observation on what passes around them, except where that observation is a sucker, or branch of the darling plant they are rearing in their fancy. Nor am I sure, notwithstanding all the sentimental flights of novel-writers, and the sage philosophy of moralists, whether we are capable of so intimate and cordial a coalition of friendship, as that one man may pour out his bosom, his every thought and floating fancy, his very inmost soul, with unreserved confidence to another, without hazard of losing part of that respect which man deserves from man; or, from the unavoidable imperfections attending human nature, of one day repenting his confidence. 'For these reasons, I am determined to make these pages my confidant. I will sketch every character that anyway strikes me, to the best of my power, with unshrinking justice. I will insert anecdotes, and take down remarks, in the old law-phrase, without feud or favour. Where I hit on anything clever, my own applause will in some measure feast my vanity; and, begging Patroclus' and Achates' pardon, I think a lock and key a security at least equal to the bosom of any friend whatever. My own private story likewise, my love-adventures, my rambles; the frowns and smiles of fortune on my bardship; my poems and fragments, that must never see the light-shall be occasionally in from the town, which its visitors (notwithstanding its internal comforts) chose to call, for that reason, Kamtschatka.'-Quart. Review, xxxvi., 197. This house forms part of a street called the Sheens, from its proximity to the remains of an ancient monastery dedicated to St Catherine of Sienna. It stands at the south end of the street, on the east side, with its gable facing along a lane. It was in this house, in a room up stairs, now used as a bedroom, that Burns met Scott. The copy of the print which so greatly affected Burns remains in its original state in the possession of Sir Adam Ferguson. Somewhat oddly, the name 'LANGHORNE' is quoted at the bottom of the lines, but in so small a character, that the poet might well fail to read it. serted. In short, never did four shillings purchase so much friendship, since confidence went first to market, or honesty was set up to sale. 'To these seemingly invidious, but too just ideas of human friendship, I would cheerfully make one exception-the connection between two persons of different sexes, when their interests are united and absorbed by the tie of love "When thought meets thought, ere from the lips it part, And each warm wish springs mutual from the heart." There confidence, confidence that exalts them the more in one another's opinion, that endears them the more to each other's hearts, unreservedly" reigns and revels." But this is not my lot; and, in my situation, if I am wise (which, by the by, I have no great chance of being), my fate should be cast with the Psalmist's sparrow, " to watch alone on the house-tops." Oh the pity! There are few of the sore evils under the sun give me more uneasiness and chagrin than the comparison how a man of genius, nay, of avowed worth, is received everywhere, with the reception which a mere ordinary character, decorated with the trappings and futile distinctions of fortune, meets. I imagine a man of abilities, his breast glowing with honest pride, conscious that men are born equal, still giving honour to whom honour is due; he meets at a great man's table a Squire something, or a Sir somebody; he knows the noble landlord, at heart, gives the bard, or whatever he is, a share of his good wishes, beyond, perhaps, any one at table; yet how will it mortify him to see a fellow whose abilities would scarcely have made an eightpenny tailor, and whose heart is not worth three farthings, meet with attention and notice, that are withheld from the son of genius and poverty! 'The noble Glencairn has wounded me to the soul here, because I dearly esteem, respect, and love him. He shewed so much attention, engrossing attention, one day, to the only blockhead at table (the whole company consisted of his lordship, dunderpate, and myself), that I was within half a point of throwing down my gage of contemptuous defiance; but he shook my hand, and looked so benevolently good at parting. God bless him! though I should never see him more, I shall love him until my dying day! I am pleased to think I am so capable of the throes of gratitude, as I am miserably deficient in some other virtues. 'With Dr Blair I am more at my ease. I never respect him with humble veneration; but when he kindly interests himself in my welfare, or, still more, when he descends from his pinnacle, and meets me on equal ground in conversation, my heart overflows with what is called liking. When he neglects me for the mere carcass of greatness, or when his eye measures the difference of our points of PROLOGUE FOR MR WOODS. 69 elevation, I say to myself, with scarcely any emotion, what do I care for him or his pomp either?' He afterwards presents the following estimate of Dr Blair :— 'It is not easy forming an exact judgment of any one; but, in my opinion, Dr Blair is merely an astonishing proof of what industry and application can do. Natural parts like his are frequently to be met with; his vanity is proverbially known among his acquaintance; but he is justly at the head of what may be called fine writing; and a critic of the first, the very first rank in prose; even in poetry, a bard of Nature's making can only take the pas of him. He has a heart not of the very finest water, but far from being an ordinary one. In short, he is truly a worthy and most respectable character.' Amongst the men whom Burns had met and liked at the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, was Joseph Woods, a respectable member of the Edinburgh corps dramatique, and the more likely to be endeared to the Ayrshire poet, that he had been an intimate friend of poor Fergusson. This explains a PROLOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR WOODS ON HIS BENEFIT NIGHT, Monday, 16th April 1787. When by a generous Public's kind acclaim, Poor is the task to please a barbarous throng, Here holds her search by heaven-taught Reason's beam; The tide of Empire's fluctuating course; Here Douglas forms wild Shakspeare into plan, 1 And Harley rouses all the god in man, 1 The Man of Feeling,' written by Mr Mackenzie. When well-formed taste and sparkling wit unite Oh thou dread Power! whose empire-giving hand Bold may she brave grim Danger's loudest roar, The new edition of the Poems appeared on the 21st April, in a handsome octavo at five shillings. Creech's advertisement contained the following note:- 'As the book is published for the sole benefit of the author, it is requested that subscribers will send for their copies, and none will be delivered without money.' The Kilmarnock Preface was now abandoned, and in its stead appeared a Dedication TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CALEDONIAN HUNT: MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN-A Scottish bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his country's service-where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land, those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their ancestors? The poetic genius of my country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha, at the plough, and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue. I tuned my wild, artless notes, as she inspired. whispered me to come to this ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my songs under your honoured protection. I now obey her dictates. She Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours; that path is so hackneyed by prostituted learning, EDINBURGH EDITION OF THE POEMS. 71 that honest rusticity is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this address with the venal soul of a servile author, looking for a continuation of those favours-I was bred to the plough, and am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish name with you, my illustrious countrymen, and to tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my country that the blood of her ancient heroes still runs uncontaminated, and that from your courage, knowledge, and public spirit, she may expect protection, wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the great fountain of honour, the Monarch of the Universe, for your welfare and happiness. When you go forth to waken the echoes, in the ancient and favourite amusement of your forefathers, may pleasure ever be of your party, and may social joy await your return! When harassed in courts or camps with the justlings of bad men and bad measures, may the honest consciousness of injured worth attend your return to your native seats and may domestic happiness, with a smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May corruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance; and may tyranny in the ruler, and licentiousness in the people, equally find you an inexorable foe! I have the honour to be, with the sincerest gratitude and highest respect, my Lords and Gentlemen, your most devoted, humble servant, ROBERT BURNS. EDINBURGH, 4th April 1787. The volume contained another document most remarkable-a list of subscribers extending over thirty-eight pages. Several of Burns's friends had been very active in promoting this subscription, and the high terms in which he had been spoken of in various publications, had disposed the public to extend its patronage liberally. The consequence was, the extraordinary number of fifteen hundred subscribers, engaging for two thousand eight hundred copies. The Caledonian Hunt stood at the head of the list for a hundred, for each of which, as we have already seen, a guinea was paid. Mr Creech appeared as subscribing for five hundred. Many of the nobility and gentry, and a great number of the most distinguished members of Scottish society in general, are presented in the list; in many instances, two, four, or five copies are taken; in some even a larger number. The Earl of Glencairn takes eight copies, the Countess sixteen, and Lady Betty Cunningham four. The Duchess of Gordon takes twentyone, and the Earl of Eglintoun forty-two. Mr Robert Muir of Kilmarnock, who had taken seventy-two copies of the provincial edition, is now a subscriber for forty; and Mr Archibald Prentice, farmer at Covington Mill, is put down for twenty. Mingled with the names of individuals occur, the Scots College at Valladolid, the Scots College at Douay, the Scots College at Paris, the Scots Bene |