"gracious sovereign " R. B. writes-"Whom Junius calls ye best of Princes, a man whose Wisdom is only to be equalled by his Virtue, and we do not know wch of his Virtues we should admire most, his humanity, contempt of money, or love of peace. The clergy may truely say y1 he has a saving knowledge." After the Preface, on a blank page, the Poet has written "Thou lousy Pedant, let thy Awkward muse With censures praise wt flatterers abuse. To lash and not be felt in thee's an Art, Thou ne'er mad'st any but thy Schoolboys smart. If . . .* immortal works thou wouldst descry (sic) * Franklin (?) Then follow 2 lines scrawled thro', but appear to read :— "Alas he never had verse in pretence Or loved commended mimic sence (sic)." At p. 10, "I. S." 304, and at p. 50: "They swear I am so good I hug them till I squeeze their blood." SWIFT. (Probably referred to as plagiarisms from the writings of Swift.) At end R. B. writes:-"The poor Author expected he would at least be made a Commissioner of Excise for writing this excellent Poem. He died on the 18th of Febry 1786 (without obtaining either place or pension) at Eight in the Evening of a Consumption. Almost the whole Impression was found by him unsold, and was disposed of to a Snuff Shop. This copy may very well be looked on as a curiosity. There is not I believe another extant. Autogh at beginning of Book :- -“Laing, Edin', 1819—5th— 743." Tall copy in clean good condition, £8 10.-1777. There is no reference to this Canongate Schoolmaster in Burns's correspondence, nor in any of the biographies, but it will be observed he died fully ten months before the Poet's appearance in Edinburgh. The adverse judgment of the "two eminent firms," one of which is known to us as having considerable experience in Burns manuscripts, is certainly not assuring, but it is impossible to express any opinion as to the authenticity of the notes till the volume itself is accessible. Prima facie, Mr. Wake's opinion, based as it is on "the style of expression in the MS. notes," will appeal to many as not entirely without justification. We trust this notice may lead to the re-discovery of the volume in America, and thereby to material for authoritative judgment. Mr. Wake obligingly quotes the following from another of his Catalogues issued in September, 1879. These Burns items were bought from a dealer in Keswick when Mr. Wake resided at Cockermouth. They were sold by him to a Mr. Machon for a Burns Museum in Ayrshire, so far as Mr. Wake's memory serves him. We do not recollect ever having heard of them. Cat. 27, 29/9/79.-"21. Burns (the Poet). The original Excise Book of Robert Burns, containing 2 pages and a fragment of the original Glossary appended to his Works, in his handwriting. It is a small oblong Account Book bound in limp parchment with the Government Excise Stamp on each leaf. Also a fine colored view of Edinburgh by Robert Riddell and engraved by A. Robertson. It is in nice condition, being in the original Frame of black and gold abt 1 inch deep and 20 ins. by 17 ins. in size, glazed. At the back is the following inscription :- 'One of Twelve presented by R. A. Riddell to the Poet Burns.'-'Mrs. Burns to J. Bogie, 1826.' The Excise B. also has in the same handwriting 'Jas. Bogie His Book, 1824.' Both articles were bot at the Sale of the late Dr. Bogie's effects at Fruid's Park, Annan, 5/5/79. Burns's handwriting is attested by 'J. Syme.' Rare and interesting. Together £10 10." D. M'NAUGHT. A NOTABLE BURNS MS. 'HE manuscript which we here present in the form of a facsimile in print is the property of David Wilson, Esq., M.D., Paddock, Huddersfield, a native of Dreghorn, Ayrshire, who purchased it about seventeen years ago from Messrs. Kerr & Richardson, Glasgow. The sheet is a single one, 9 inches by 8, written on both sides, the three epitaphs being inscribed on one page and the "Epithalamium" (which leaves the impression of a fragment), in darker ink, evidently of later date, on the reverse. Of its genuineness there is not the slightest doubt, and the wonder is that it has escaped so long the lynx-eyed editors of new and improved editions. The epitaph on "Squire Hugh" we do not give in its entirety, the language being rather free for presentation to the general. Who this individual was we have not yet been able to ascertain, but doubtless the records of Mauchline will throw some light on his identity. The dramatis persona of the epithalamium (bridal song) are not indicated in any way, but perhaps some tradition of the auspicious event still lingers in Mauchline. We do not recollect of ever having seen these two pieces in print. The existence of the MS. was known to the late James M'Kie as far back as 1883, and we have been informed that he made an offer for it while in Kerr & Richardson's possession. It will be observed that "Wee Johnie" is written in full—“Wee Johnie Wilson "—the descriptive line immediately above being cancelled by the pen. This nevertheless leaves the question of his identity precisely where it was. Whether he was a shopkeeper in Mauchline, as suggested by Dr. William Wallace, or a cowfeeder in the vicinity, as stated by Mrs. Begg, it is scarcely credible that Burns so gratuitously lampooned his Kilmarnock publisher on a sheet which was bound to pass through his press, just as his business connection with him was beginning, and perhaps before he had any proper knowledge of his character. The heading of the third epitaph proves that Burns had "turned him to his Latin again to some purpose. It also relieves the memory of James Smith from the burden of a century's growth of left-handed fame, the jeu d'esprit being universally believed to have been pointed at him as the veritable "Wag in Mauchline," as some editors prefer to head the piece. "Fuscus" is the Latin for "brown," hence "John Brown, quondam maker of clocks in Mauchline" authoritatively settles the identity of the individual in whose honour the epitaph was composed. He is the "Clockie Brown" and “Jock Brown" so mercilessly castigated in the "Court of Equity," of which facetious tribunal James Smith, the poet's special friend, was the "trusty Fiscal." Brown is the first culprit called. And his sentence is of the severest sort. "For you, Jock Brown, sae black your fau't is, Acknowledge Jean's and your acquaintance, Our beagles to the Cross will tak' ye, And there shall mither-naked mak ye, &c." A grandfather's clock in the writer's possession, which has a beautifully engraved brass dial, bears upon its face that it was made by "John Brown, Machline," but there is no clue as to the date. The word "quondam” would seem to intimate that he had left Mauchline or had engaged himself in some other calling previous to the writing of the epitaph. It will thus be seen that Dr. Wilson's MS. is an exceptionally valuable one. We will be glad to answer any communication addressed to us bearing on its authenticity or subject-matter. EPITAPH for H L Esq. of L Here lyes Squire Hugh-ye harlot crew, I'm sure that he weel pleas'd would be * Printed for "Private Circulation by the Caledonian Publishing Co., Glasgow.-1899." |