BURNS AND "TULLOCHGORUM." HOUGH Robert Burns had his detractors in the ranks THC of the clergy, it must not be inferred they were solid in their denunciation of him, and that to them his name spelled anathema. The National Poet had several good friends amongst the ministers of his day, two of whom we shall mention here, viz., the Rev. John Skinner, the author of "Tullochgorum," and the father of Bishop Skinner, of Aberdeen, a well known and influential cleric of his time; and the Rev. Dr Lawrie, of Loudon. The name of Skinner is not so well known as that of Dr Lawrie, especially to Ayrshire and south-west of Scotland people of the present day. Although Burns and Skinner never met, they engaged in correspondence and also exchanged rhyming wares. Burns had a high opinion of the clerical poet of the north, and went the length of describing “Tullochgorum as the best Scots song Scotland ever saw while Skinner was a warm admirer of Coila's Bard, and never ceased to sing his praises. In thinking of Buins and admiring his contributions to the literature of the country, many of us are apt to forget the lesser poetical lights, of whom Skinner Burns lives, and Skinner lives. The latter was Episcopal clergyman at Longside, Aberdeenshire, and it was in the beautiful churchyard of that sequestered spot that his remains were interred within a few yards of the grave of the parish minister. Skinner said they had been good friends in this world, and that he preferred to be buried as near as possible to his confrère. He also remarked that he did not want a better neighbour in the next world. was one. As Skinner is best known on account of his authorship of "Tullochgorum," some reference to the origin of the song may be excusable. On the occasion of a meeting of Scottish clergymen at Ellon, then a small village in the county of Aberdeen, but now a thriving town and a police burgh, Skinner had gone to spend the day with some others at the house of a Mrs Montgomery. After dinner, says the late Sir Hugh Gilzean Reid (an Aberdeenshire man and a former northcountry reporter and editor), a warm dispute of a political nature arose, during which the lady expressed to Mr Skinner -who was taking little part in it-her surprise that no appropriate words had been composed to the fine old Strathspey called "The Reel of Tullochgorum," and having asked for a song, he at once gratified her wishes, and, as Burns has observed, the wishes of every lover of Scottish song, in this most excellent ballad." Dr Chambers, who did so much to cultivate a love of Scottish and other literature, says something of a national as well as a patriotic character may be claimed for it, and there is a great deal of truth in the observation. It was, it is believed, Skinner's "Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn that inspired Burns to write the elegy on his pet ewe, and the connection between the two will be seen from the following: 66 Skinner says— : "But thus, poor thing! to lose her life Aneath a bleedy villain's knife, I'm really fleyt that our guidwife Burns says 66 Stown frae's, and fell'd, and a'." Oh, a' ye bards on bonnie Doon, An' wha on Ayr your chanters tune, His heart will never get aboon- During his pilgrimage to the north of Scotland in 1787 Burns spent a short time in the Granite City, and was introduced to Bishop Skinner at the printing office of Mr Chalmers of the Aberdeen Journal, a newspaper that had a report of the battle of Culloden, and flourishes still on the gospel of Conservatism. It is related that with the worthy son of "Tullochgorum" the National Poet spent a most agreeable hour. Did not your father write The Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn?' "" asked Burns. "Yes," was the answer. Oh, that I had the loun that did it! Burns continued, in a rapture of praise ; "but tell him how I love, and esteem, and venerate his truly Scottish muse.' 66 When Burns learned that during his journey from Gordon Castle to Aberdeen he had been within a few miles of "Tullochgorum's" dwelling, he was deeply grieved at having missed the opportunity of seeing one for whom he entertained so sincere a regard, and whom he delighted to honour as a brother poet. His parting message to Bishop Skinner was- Well, I am happy in having seen you, and thereby conveying my long-harboured sentiments of regard for your worthy sire. Assure him of it in the heartiest manner, and that never did a devotee of the Virgin Mary go to Loretto with more fervour than I would have approached his dwelling, and worshipped at his shrine." 66 of age. 66 Tullochgorum was at the time about seventy years When his son conveyed to him Burns's message he was highly gratified at the compliments bestowed, and also sincerely sorry that he had missed seeing the famous Ploughman Poet. He at once indited an epistle to Burns, which contained the following verses :— 'Wae's my auld heart I wasna wi' you, Though worth your while I couldna gie you; When ye was North; I'm bauld to send my service to you, Hyne o'er the Forth. Sae prood's I am that ye hae heard O' my attempts to be a bard, And think my muse nae that ill-fawrd, I wadna wish for mair reward Then your guid grace. Burns responded to Skinner's epistle, which he described as the best poetical compliment he had ever received, but he did not couch his thoughts in rhyme; he preferred "plain, dull prose." The letters that passed between the two poets have been preserved, and they certainly do credit to both. 66 In the course of his first letter to Skinner, Burns says: 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 your best abilities in your other capacity would be ill able to lay. I regret, and, while I live, shall regret, that when I was in the north I had not the pleasure of paying a younger brother's dutiful respect to the 6 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, 'Oh that mine adversary had written a book! '—let them try. There is a certain something in the old Scotch songs -a wild happiness of thought and expression-which peculiarly marks them, not only from English songs, but also from the modern efforts of song-wrights, in our native manner and language. 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 very great source of amusement and happiness, independent of that world." Burns concluded by asking Skinner's aid in connection with Johnson's Miscellany, and informed him that three of his pieces-" Tullochgorum," "John o' Badenyon," and "The Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn "--would be published. 66 Tullochgorum," in replying, said, inter alia, that Burns had overrated his "rhyming excursions." Proceeding, he observed "The difference between our two tracks 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 sustain the justice of its prior claim to applause. Do not sheath your own proper and piercing weapon. From what I have seen of yours already, I am inclined to hope for much good. One lesson of virtue and morality delivered in your amusing style, and from such as you, will operate more than dozens would do from such as me, who shall be told it is our employment, |