war-songs, Bruce to his troops, and the Song|ing proof of the strength of Burns's genius, than of Death. These last are of a description of the general circulation of his poems in England, which we have no other in our language. The notwithstanding the dialect in which the greatmartial songs of our nation are not military, but er part are written, and which might be supnaval. If we were to seek a comparison of posed to render them here uncouth or obscure. these songs of Burns with others of a similar In some instances he has used this dialect on nature, we must have recourse to the poetry of subjects of a sublime nature; but in general he ancient Greece, or of modern Gaul. confines it to sentiments or description of a Burns has made an important addition to the tender or humorous kind; and, where he rises songs of Scotland. In his compositions, the into elevation of thought, he assumes a purer poetry equals and sometimes surpasses the mu- English style. The singular faculty he possic. He has enlarged the poetical scenery of his sessed of mingling in the same poem humorous country. Many of her rivers and mountains, sentiments and descriptions, with imagery of a formerly unknown to the muse, are now conse-sublime and terrific nature, enabled him to use crated by his immortal verse. The Doon, the this variety of dialect on some occasions with Lugar, the Ayr, the Nith, and the Cluden, will striking effect. His poem of Tam o' Shanter in future, like the Yarrow, the Tweed, and the affords an instance of this. There he passes Tay, be considered as classic streams, and their from a scene of the lowest humour, to situations borders will be trode with new and superior of the most awful and terrible kind. He is a emotions. musician that runs from the lowest to the The greater part of the songs of Burns were highest of his keys; and the use of the Scottish written after he removed into the county of dialect enables him to add two additional notes Dumfries. Influenced, perhaps, by habits to the bottom of his scale. formed in early life, he usually composed while walking in the open air. When engaged in writing these songs, his favourite walks were on the banks of the Nith, or of the Cluden, particularly near the ruins of Lincluden Abbey; and this beautiful scenery he has very happily described under various aspects, as it appears during the softness and serenity of evening, and during the stillness and solemnity of the moonlight night.

Great efforts have been made by the inhabi tants of Scotland, of the superior ranks, to approximate in their speech to the pure English standard; and this has made it difficult to write in the Scottish dialect, without exciting in them some feelings of disgust, which in England are scarcely felt. An Englishman who understands the meaning of the Scottish words, is not offended, nay, on certain subjects, he is perhaps pleased with the rustic dialect, as he may be There is no species of poetry, the productions with the Doric Greek of Theocritus. of the drama not excepted, so much calculated But a Scotchman inhabiting his own counto influence the morals, as well as the happiness try, if a man of education, and more especially of a people, as those popular verses which are if a literary character, has banished such words associated with the national airs, and which from his writings, and has attempted to banish being learnt in the years of infancy, make a them from his speech; and being accustomed deep impression on the heart before the evolu- to hear them from the vulgar daily, does not tion of the powers of the understanding. The easily admit of their use in poetry, which re compositions of Burns, of this kind, now pre- quires a style elevated and ornamental. A dissented in a collected form to the world, make a like of this kind is, however, accidental, not namost important addition to the popular songs of tural. It is of the species of disgust which we his nation. Like all his other writings, they feel at seeing a female of high birth in the dress exhibit independence of sentiment; they are of a rustic; which, if she be really young and peculiarly calculated to increase those ties which beautiful, a little habit will enable us to overbind generous hearts to their native soil, and to come. A lady who assumes such a dress puts the domestic circle of their infancy: and to her beauty, indeed, to a severer trial. She recherish those sensibilities which, under due re-jects-she, indeed, opposes the influence of fastriction, form the purest happiness of our na-shion; she, possibly, abandons the grace of ture. If in his unguarded moments he com- elegant and flowing drapery; but her native posed some songs on which this praise cannot charms remain, the more striking, perhaps, bebe bestowed, let us hope that they will speedily cause the less adorned; and to these she trusts be forgotten. In several instances, where Scot- for fixing her empire on those affections over tish airs were allied to words objectionable in which fashion has no sway. If she succeeds, a point of delicacy, Burns has substituted others new association arises. The dress of the beauof a purer character. On such occasions, with- tiful rustic becomes itself beautiful, and estab out changing the subject, he has changed the lishes a new fashion for the young and the gay. sentiments. A proof of this may be seen in the And when, in after ages, the contemplative obair of John Anderson my Joe, which is now server shall view her picture in the gallery that united to words that breathe a strain of conjugal contains the portraits of the beauties of succestenderness, that is as highly moral as it is ex-sive centuries, each in the dress of her respecquisitely affecting. tive day, her drapery will not deviate, more Few circumstances could afford a more strik-than that of her rivals, from the standard of his

taste, and he will give the palm to her who ex- | earning his subsistence by daily labour, has cels in the lineaments of nature.

ease; he is superior to them both, in whom both these qualities are united. Of Homer himself it may be said, that like his own Achilles, he surpasses his competitors in mobility as well as strength.

written verses which have attracted and reBurns wrote professedly for the peasantry of tained universal attention, and which are likely his country, and by them their native dialect is to give the author a permanent and distinguishuniversally relished. To a numerous class of ed place among the followers of the muses. the natives of Scotland of another description, he is deficient in grace, he is distinguished for it may also be considered as attractive in a dif- ease as well as energy; and these are indicaferent point of view. Estranged from their tions of the higher order of genius. The father native soil, and spread over foreign lands, the of epic poetry exhibits one of his heroes as exidiom of their country unites with the senti- celling in strength, another in swiftness-to ments and the descriptions on which it is em-form his perfect warrior, these attributes are ployed, to recall to their minds the interesting combined. Every species of intellectual supescenes of infancy and youth-to awaken many riority admits, perhaps, of a similar arrangepleasing, many tender recollections. Literary ment. One writer excels in force-another in men, residing at Edinburgh or Aberdeen, cannot judge on this point for one hundred and fifty thousand of their expatriated countrymen. To the use of the Scottish dialect in one species of poetry, the composition of songs, the taste of the public has been for some time reconciled. The force of Burns lay in the powers of his The dialect in question excels, as has already understanding, and in the sensibility of his been observed, in the copiousness and exactness heart; and these will be found to infuse the of its terms for natural objects; and in pastoral living principle into all the works of genius or rural songs, it gives a Doric simplicity, which which seem destined to immortality. His senis very generally approved. Neither does the sibility had an uncommon range. He was aregret seem well founded which some persons of live to every species of emotion. He is one taste have expressed, that Burns used this dia- of the few poets that can be mentioned, who lect in so many other of his compositions. His have at once excelled in humour, in tenderness, declared purpose was to paint the manners of and in sublimity; a praise unknown to the anrustic life among his "humble compeers," and cients, and which in modern times is only due it is not easy to conceive, that this could have to Ariosto, to Shakspeare, and perhaps to Volbeen done with equal humour and effect, if he taire. To compare the writings of the Scottish had not adopted their idiom. There are some, peasant with the works of these giants in literindeed, who will think the subject too low for ature, might appear presumptuous; yet it may poetry. Persons of this sickly taste will find be asserted that he has displayed the foot of their delicacies consulted in many a polite and Hercules. How near he might have approachlearned author; let them not seek for gratifica- ed them by proper culture, with lengthened tion in the rough and vigorous lines, in the un-years, and under happier auspices, it is not for bridled humour, or in the overpowering sensibility of this bard of nature.

To determine the comparative merit of Burns would be no easy task. Many persons afterwards distinguished in literature, have been born in as humble a situation of life; but it would be difficult to find any other who while

us to calculate. But while we run over the melancholy story of his life, it is impossible not to heave a sigh at the asperity of his fortune; and as we survey the records of his mind, it is easy to see, that out of such materials have been reared the fairest and the most durable of the monuments of genius.

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THE SONGS.

THE poetry of Burns has been referred to as one of the causes which prevented the Scottish language from falling into disuse. It was beginning to be discontinued as vulgar, even as the medium of oral communication; and an obvious consequence of that state of the public taste was, that the Scottish songs, sweetly pathetic and expressive as many of them are, were not fashionable, but rather studiously avoided. The publication of his poetry changed this taste. Burns, followed by Scott, not merely revived the use of their native tongue in their own country, but gave it a currency in the polite world generally; an effect which was greatly assisted by Burns's songs, and not a little by what he did for the songs of his predecessors. He was a most devoted admirer of the lyrical effusions of the olden time, and became a diligent collector of the ancient words, as well as of the sets of the music. His remarks, historical and anecdotic, upon the several songs, are amusing and instructive; and where there were blanks to be supplied, he was ready as powerful at a refit. To do all this, and at same time to double the stock of Scottish songs, was no small task; and so well has it been executed, that in place of forming the amusement and delight of the Scots only, they have become a part, nay, have taken the lead, of the lyrical compositions used, and in fashion, throughout the British dominions. It is because of their intrinsic worth, as a branch of elegant amusement, that we have given the whole here, presented in two distinct parts:-The first part contains the songs before Burns, with the remarks, by which he has so felicitously illustrated them.-The second part is formed of his own songs, and which are now brought together, in place of being scattered over, and mixed with the prose pieces, as heretofore. The whole forming a complete collection of select Scottish Songs, such as cannot fail to be acceptable to the lovers of good taste, and innocent amusement in every country.

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SCOTTISH SONGS.