"I thank you very much for what you so obligingly say of Burns's life. Considering all my disadvantages, it will not, I hope, disappoint reasonable expectation: but what I wish particularly to know, is the impression I have made on you as to the general effect, and as to the prudence and propriety of my delineations ; and as to their correctness. Have I touched the Bard with a

rough, or a lenient hand?

Many things which might have been said I have been compelled to omit by the circumstances of the times, and by the consideration that I was publishing the Life for the benefit of the widow and children. When you are at leisure, I will expect you to read the volumes with the pen in your hand, and to make your remarks on my errors ; or, in fact, on any point that strikes you. And as the booksellers say a second edition will be required early, I wish you to do this as soon as is convenient."

JOHN SYME TO DR CURRIE.

"3rd September, 1800.

Now, what can I say respecting Burns's publications? I confess with sorrow that you have had that universe on your shoulders from first to last, and little or no aid have you received. I felt, and I feel so; but it has been, and continues to be, impracticable to move-and my time is engrossed with such various and desultory attentions that I cannot stick closer to the business. I have the high pleasure of receiving from every quarter the most grateful attestations of the merit of your production. I enclose you one, which is worth a thousand. With regard to the impression which your biographical work has made on me and Mr William Dunbar (Inspector-General of Stamp Duties for Scotland), it is such as we cannot easily describe. I declare to you we never read a piece of writing that does more credit to the author. The meanest fellow here sounds its praise, and that is perhaps a stronger testimony than the trumpet of the literati.“ . . . “I have noted some matters and explanations on the margin of the rough copy first sent me ; and Gilbert Burns, who is to breakfast with me to-morrow, is to furnish more."

DR CURRIE TO JOHN SYME.

"10th October, 1800.

"MY DEAR SYME,-Having on another sheet of paper discussed my own private affairs, I sit down to say a few words on Burns.

"The very kind manner in which you express your opinion of the execution of the task you assigned me, is in a high degree pleasing to me. I pay much deference to your taste, and to your moral feelings; I have entire confidence in your sincerity; and setting aside the partial influence which our friendship may produce on your judgment, you are better qualified to decide on the Life of Burns than any man now alive. That the portrait I have drawn has considerable power and interest, strangers to the subject may perceive; and this, indeed, the world seems disposed to allow. But how far it resembles the original-the most important point in regard to every portrait-those only can judge to whom the original was known; and in this respect your decision, whatever it may be, admits of no appeal. That it is favourable, I am led to infer from your sentiments of general approbation. I am led to presume it, also, from having had the assistance of your observations in the character I formed of Burns. Yet, I wish you to speak to this point particularly—and with your wonted sincerity. The praise of fine composition, if I might aspire to it, strikes my ear but faintly; but to be able to exhibit to the world the exact lineaments of this great and original genius, is an object of ambition which a greater artist than I am might be proud to attain.

"So much for yourself. Let me thank you also in a particular manner for the letter of Mr Anderson, to whose superior character I am no stranger, and of whose extraordinary attainments I have before heard. The high opinion he expresses of the letters of Burns is, I find, very generally entertained by the best judges. I doubt if English literature contains any compositions of the same nature equal to them. This sentiment has been expressed to me by Dr Aikin, perhaps the best of our living critics. Dr Aikin had prepared a Life of Burns for his biographical work; but he writes to me that, since he saw our work, he has thrown his intended article aside, and is preparing another more worthy of our Poet. Nothing can be more flattering than the very high estimation of Aikin for the genius of Burns, and his entire assent to the character we have given of it. I have received from a great variety of other quartersfrom Dugald Stewart, Fraser Tytler, Alison at Edinburgh, from Lady E. Cunningham, &c., very obliging communications; from Moore, Mackintosh, Percival, Ferriar, Sharp, Smyth, Wishaw, Scarlett, and a great number of others in England and Ireland, and though last, not least, from Messrs Cadell and Davies, warm commendations. I am quite satiated with this species of gratification of which, however, from proper quarters, no one can have a better relish. Some of the letters of the persons I mention, and of others, contain general criticisms and valuable reflections. could send you a selection, along with the excellent letter of Mr

I

Anderson, but that your time would scarcely permit you to read them. Among others, I have a valuable communication from Mr Ramsay of Ochtertyre. I will arrange a parcel of these, and send them for your winter evenings' amusement. I have mentioned to you before, the great sale in Liverpool,and indeed over England in general. If I am right in my supposition, our works are likely to get better through the British Critic than I suspected they would. Except the Critical Review, no other periodical work has noticed them. The Critical seems disposed to assign them a large space. Two numbers are occupied by the Life alone-and the critical observations are not touched yet, nor a word said of the writings themselves.

“I am scribbling to you at a late hour of the night-I grow obscure-sleep steals upon me. I must not, however, conclude without acknowledging the very kind interest you take in my son. He is better, and I hope likely to recover.

"I will write again to-morrow. In the meantime, adieu.Yours very affectionately,

66 JAMES CURRIE."

SOME ADDENDA TO THE CROMEK

CORRESPONDENCE.

N the Burns Chronicle (Nos. VII. and VIII., 1898-99) we gave the text of a series of letters by the editor of the Reliques and others, which formed part of the "Earnock MSS.," then in the possession of Sir John Watson, Bart., and which shed much new light on Currie's edition of 1800, and Cromek's Reliques published in 1808. Through the courtesy of Mr W. K. Bixby, one of the leading members of the St. Louis Burns Club, whose property they are, we are enabled to lay before our readers another series of Cromek letters of almost equal value, which have never been published till now, so far as our knowledge goes. They are addressed to Wm. Creech, Burns's Edinburgh publisher, and were written when the Reliques was passing through the press. So much has come to light within recent years regarding Cromek's peculiar methods of procuring and preparing the material for his publication that the Bixby contribution is sure to be perused with as much amusement as Burnsian interest. The correspondence makes it plain that his object was to get as much from Creech as he could on the easiest terms. Having undoubted proof in his hands that Burns was far from being satisfied with the financial aspect of his dealings with Creech, he skilfully plays this off against Creech's well-known predilection to keep a tight hold of everything from which money might be extracted, by offering to delete all damaging references to him in the Poet's letters already in his possession, for the which good offices he expected a satisfactory quid pro quo. His appeal to the vanity of Creech by vague promises of personal puffing in the projected volume will not be lost upon the reader.

We also give other three letters from Mr Bixby's collection containing some interesting Burnsiana. The

letter from Mr Scott Douglas to an unknown correspondent contains his opinion of the Laing, Train, or Richmond papers (they have been referred to under one or other of these titles) bequeathed to the Edinburgh University Library by David Laing. That opinion has been endorsed

by every Burns student who has given them any consideration. The Greenfield referred to is the Rev. Wm. Greenfield, of St. Andrew's Church, Edinburgh, and Professor of Rhetoric in the University there. Burns had a good opinion of him, but flagrant reports regarding his conduct having got into currency, he demitted his charge and subsequently died in the north of England under an assumed name. He is mentioned in one of the preceding Cromek letters.

The accepted reading of the line quoted from the "Jolly Beggars is :

"Wha used at trysts and fairs to driddle."

Cromek to Wm. Creech.

14th March, 1808.

SIR,I take the liberty of repeating the request I made to you when in Edinburgh respecting the letters of Burns in your possession, to be substituted instead of those which I could wish to suppress.

As you promised me them so seriously, I have, of course, been looking for them by every mail. As the book is gone to press, this delay is of the greatest consequence to the volume--this I need not point out to you.

I hope to have the pleasure of a line from you forwarding the manuscripts in a post or two at the farthest. A compliance with my request will serve the interests of literature, and very much oblige Sir, Your obedient and humble Servant,

DEAR SIR,-I was busily employed in correcting the fourth sheet of the forthcoming volume when your letter reached me.