you deserve it. Many a merry meeting this quarters, and riding. The deuce of the matter publication has given us, and possible it may is this; when an exciseman is off duty, his sagive us more, though, alas! I fear it. This lary is reduced to £35 instead of £50-What protracting, slow, consuming illness which way, in the name of thrift, shall I maintain myhangs over me, will, I doubt much, my ever self and keep a horse in country quarters-with dear friend, arrest my sun before he has well a wife and five children at home, on £35? I reached his middle career, and will turn over mention this, because I had intended to beg your the poet to far other and more important con- utmost interest, and that of all the friends you cerns than studying the brilliancy of wit, or the can muster, to move our Commissoners of Expathos of sentiment! However, hope is the cise to grant me the full salary. I dare say you cordial of the human heart, and I endeavour to know them all personally. If they do not grant cherish it as well as I can. it me, I must lay my account with an exit truly en poete-if I die not of disease, I must perish with hunger. Let me hear from you as soon as convenient. -Your work is a great one; and now that it is near finished, I see, if we were to begin again, two or three things that might be inended; yet I will venture to prophecy, that to future ages your publication will be the text book and standard of Scottish song and music. I am ashamed to ask another favour of you, because you have been so very good already; but my wife has a very particular friend of hers, a young lady who sings well, to whom she wishes to present the Scots Musical Museum. If you have a spare copy, will you be so obliging as to send it by the very first Fly, as I am anxious to have it soon. Yours ever, I have sent you one of the songs; the other my memory does not serve me with, and I have no copy here; but I shall be at home soon, when I will send it you. Apropos to being at home, Mrs. Burns threatens in a week or two to add one more to my paternal charge, which, if of the right gender, I intend shall be introduced to the world by the respectable designation of Alexander Cunningham Burns: My last was James Glencairn; so you can have no objec. tion to the company of nobility. Farewell. No. CCXIV. TO MR. CUNNINGHAM. Brow, Sea-bathing Quarters, 7th July, 1796. MY DEAR CUNNINGHAM, I RECEIVED yours here this moment, and am indeed highly flattered with the approbation of the literary circle you mention; a literary circle inferior to none in the two kingdoms. Alas! my friend, I fear the voice of the bard will soon be heard among you no more! for these eight or ten months I have been ailing, sometimes bedfast and sometimes not; but these last three months I have been tortured with an excruciating rheumatism, which has reduced me to nearly the last stage. You actually would not know me if you saw me. Pale, emaciated, and so feeble, as occasionally to need help from my chair -my spirits fled! fled !-but I can no more on the subject-only the medical folks tell me that any last and only chance is bathing and country In this humble and delicate manner did poor Burns ask for a copy of a work of which he was principally the founder, and to which he had contributed, gratuitously, not less than 181 original, altered, and collected songs! The Editor has seen 180 transcribed by his own hand, for the Museum. This letter was written on the 4th of July,-the poet died on the 21st No other letters of this interesting period have been discovered, except one addressed to Mrs. Dunlop, of the 12th of July, which Dr. Currie very properly supposes to be the last production of the dying bard.-CROMER. No. CCXV. MY DEAREST LOVE, Brow, Thursday. I DELAYED Writing until I could tell you what effect sea-bathing was likely to produce. It would be injustice to deny that it has eased my pains, and I think has strengthened me; but my appetite is still extremely bad. No flesh nor fish can I swallow; porridge and milk are the only thing I can taste. I am very happy to hear, by Miss Jess Lewars, that you are well. My very best and kindest compliments to her and to all the children. I will see you on Sunday. Your affectionate husband, R. B. 12th July, 1796. I HAVE Written you so often, without receiving any answer, that I would not trouble you again, but for the circumstances in which I am. An illness which has long hung about me, in all probability will speedily send me beyond that burne whence no traveller returns. Your friendship, with which for many years you hoYour conversation, and especially your corre noured me, was a friendship dearest to my soul. spondence, were at once highly entertaining and instructive. With what pleasure did I use to break up the seal! The remembrance yet adds one pulse more to my poor palpitating heart. I widow and children; an assurance that has beens Farewell!!! ¡ amply fulfilled. R. B. THX above is supposed to be the last production of ROBERT Buans, who died on the 21st of the month, nine days afterwards. He had, however, the pleasure of receiving a satisfactory explanation of his friend's silence, and an assurance of the continuance of her friendship to his It is probable that the greater part of her letters to him were destroyed by our bard about the time that this last was written. He did not foresee that his own letters to her were to appear in print, nor conceive the disappoint. ment that will be felt, that a few of this excellent lady's have not served to enrich and adorn the collection. THE POET'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. GEORGE THOMSON. THE Poet, besides his ample contributions to the Musical Museum, published by Johnson, eu« gaged in the somewhat similar, but far more extended undertaking of Mr. George Thomson, entitled Select Melodies of Scotland,-a Work more systematically planned, and scientifically executed, as to the Music-and more chastened in the composition and sentiment of the Songs, than any of its precursors; and which still maintains its superiority over all other collections as the National Repertory of Scottish Song, both as to the poetry and music. The following Correspondence shews the rise and progress, with much of the interesting details of our Poet's contributions to Mr. Thomson's Work No. I. MR. THOMSON TO THE POET, SOLICITING HIS CO-OPERATION. A will esteem your poetical assistance a particular Edinburgh, September 1792. For some years past, I have, with a friend or two, employed many leisure hours in selecting and collating the most favourite of our national melodies for publication. We have engaged Pleyel, the most agreeable composer living, to put accompaniments to these, and also to com. pose an instrumental prelude and conclusion to each air, the better to fit them for concerts, both public and private. To render this work perfect, we are desirous to have the poetry improved, wherever it seems unworthy of the music; and that it is so in many instances, is allowed by every one conversant with our musical collections. The editors of these seem in general Relying on the letter accompanying this to be to have depended on the music proving an ex-forgiven for the liberty I have taken in addresscuse for the verses; and hence, some charming ing you, I am, with great esteem, Sir, your melodies are united to mere nonsense and dog- most obedient humble servant, grel, while others are accommodated with rhymes se loose and indelicate, as cannot be sung in decent company. To remove this reproach, would be an easy task to the author of The Cotter's Saturday Night; and, for the honour of Caledonia, I would fain hope he may be induced to take up the pen. If so, we shall be enabled to present the publie with a collection infinitely more interesting than any that has yet appeared, and acceptable to all persons of taste, whe- AIR, ther they wish for correct melodies, delicate ac No. II. G. THOMSON, THE POET'S ANSWER. Dumfries, 16th Sept. 1792. I HAVE just this moment got your letter. As companiments, or characteristic verses.-We the request you make to me will positively add to my enjoyments in complying with it, I shall enter into your undertaking with all the small portion of abilities I have, strained to their utmost exertion by the impulse of enthusiasm. Only, don't hurry me: Deil tak the hindmost" is by no means the cri de guerre of my muse. Will you, as I am inferior to none of you in enthusiastic attachment to the poetry and music of old Caledonia, and, since you request it, have cheerfully promised my mite of assistance-will you let me have a list of your airs, with the first line of the printed verses you intend for them, that I may have an opportunity of suggesting any alteration that may occur to me. You know 'tis in the way of my trade; still leaving you, gentlemen, the undoubted right of publishers, to approve, or reject, at your pleasure, for your own publication. Apropos! if you are for English verses, there is, on my part, an end of the matter. Whether in the simplicity of the ballad, or the pathos of the song, I can only hope to please myself in being allowed at least a sprinkling of our native tongue. English verses, particularly the works of Scotsmen, that have merit, are certainly very eligible. Tweedside; Ah the poor shepherd's mournful fate! Ah Chloris, could I now but sit, &c. you cannot mend: But such insipid stuff as, To Fanny fair could I impart, &c. usually set to The Mill, Mill O, is a disgrace to the col-ly express it; and moreover, we will patiently lections in which it has already appeared, and would doubly disgrace a collection that will have the very superior merit of yours. But more of this in the farther prosecution of the business, if I am called on for my strictures and amendments I say, amendments; for I will not alter except where I myself at least think that I amend. warmest acknowledgments for the enthusiasm with which you have entered into our undertsking. We have now no doubt of being able to produce a collection, highly deserving of public attention, in all respects. I agree with you in thinking English verses, that have merit, very eligible, wherever new verses are necessary; because the English becomes every year, more and more, the language of Scotland; but, if you mean that no English verses, except those by Scottish authors, ought to be admitted, I am half inclined to differ from you. I should consider it unpardonable to sacrifice one good song in the Scottish dialect, to make room for English verses; but, if we can select a few excellent ones suited to the unprovided or ill-provided airs, would it not be the very bigotry of literary patriotism to reject such merely because the authors were born south of the Tweed? Our sweet air, My Nannie O, which in the collections is joined to the poorest stuff that Allan Ramsay ever wrote, beginning, While some for pleasure pawn their health, answers so finely to Dr. Percy's beautiful song, O Nancy wilt thou go with me, that one would think he wrote it on purpose for the air. However, it is not at all our wish to confine you to English verses: you shall freely be allowed a sprinkling of your native tongue, as you elegant wait your own time. One thing only I beg, which is, that however gay and sportive the muse may be, she may always be decent. Let her not write what beauty would blush to speak, nor wound that charming delicacy which forms the most precious dowry of our daughters. I do not conceive the song to be the most proper vehicle for witty and brilliant conceits: simpliAs to any remuneration, you may think my city, I believe, should be its prominent feature; songs either above or below price; for they but, in some of our songs, the writers have conskall absolutely be the one or the other. In the founded simplicity with coarseness and vulgahonest enthusiasm with which I embark in your rity; although, between the one and the other, undertaking, to talk of money, wages, fee, hire, as Dr. Beattie well observes, there is as great a &c. would be downright prostitution of soul! difference as between a plain suit of clothes and A proof of each of the songs that I compose or a bundle of rags The humorous ballad, or paamend, I shall receive as a favour. In the rusthetic complaint, is best suited to our artless tic phrase of the season, "Gude speed the wark!" I am, Sir, your very humble Servant, P. S.-I have some particular reasons for wishing my interference to be known as little as possible. melodies; and more interesting indeed in all songs than the most pointed wit, dazzling descriptions, and flowery fancies. With these trite observations, I send you eleven of the songs, for which it is my wish to substi tute others of your writing. I shall soon trans mit the rest, and, at the same time, a prospectus of the whole collection: and you may believe we will receive any h nts that you are so kind as to give for improving the work, with the greatest pleasure and thankfulness, I remain, Dear Sir, &c, No. IV. THE POET TO MR. THOMSON, MY DEAR SIR, LET me tell you that you are too fastidious in your ideas of songs and ballads. I own that your criticisms are just; the songs you specify in your list have all but one the faults you remark in them; but who shall mend the matter? Who shall rise up and say-Go to, I will make ■ better? For instance, on reading over The Lea-rig, I immediately set about trying my hand on it, and, after all, I could make nothing more of it than the following, which, Heaven knows, is poor enough: Your observation as to the aptitude of Dr. Percy's ballad to the air Nannie O, is just. It is besides, perhaps, the most beautiful ballad in the English language. But let me remark to you, that, in the sentiment and style of our Scottish airs, there is a pastoral simplicity, a something that one may call the Doric style and dialect of vocal music, to which a dash of our native tongue and manners is particularly, nay peculiarly, apposite. For this reason, and, upon my honour, for this reason alone, I am of opinion (but, as I told you before, my opinion is yours, freely yours, to approve, or reject, as you please), that my ballad of Nannie O might perhaps do for one set of verses to the tune. Now don't let it enter into your head, that you are under any necessity of taking my verses. I have long ago made up my mind as to my own reputation in the business of authorship; and have nothing to be pleased or offended at, in your adoption or rejection of my verses. Though you should reject one half of what I give you, I shall be pleased with your adopting the other half, and shall continue to serve you with the same assiduity. In the printed copy of my Nannie O, the name of the river is horridly prosaic. I will alter it, "Behind yon hills where Lugar flows." Girvan is the name of the river that suits the idea of the stanza best, but Lugar is the most agreeable modulation of syllables. morning before my conveyance goes away, I will give you Nannie O at length. (See p. 213.) Your remarks on Ewe-bughts, Marion, are just: still it has obtained a place among our more classical Scottish songs; and what with many beauties in its composition, and more prejudices in its favour, you will not find it easy to supplant it. In my very early years, when I was thinking of going to the West Indies, I took the follow ing farewell of a dear girl. It is quite trifling, and has nothing of the merits of Ewe-bughts; but it will fill up this page. You must know, that all my earlier love-songs were the breathings of ardent passion, and though it might have been easy in after-times to have given them a and who perhaps alone cared for them, would polish, yet that polish, to me, whose they were, have defaced the legend of my heart, which was so faithfully inscribed on them. Their un couth simplicity was, as they say of wines, their race. November 8th, 1792. in your collection shall be poetry of the first If you mean, my dear Sir, that all the songs merit, I am afraid you will find more difficulty in the undertaking than you are aware of. There is a peculiar rhythmus in many of our airs, and a necessity of adapting syllables to the of the tune, that cramp the poet, and lay him emphasis, or what I would call the feature-notes under almost insuperable difficulties. For instance, in the air, My wife's a wanton wee I will soon give you a great many more re-thing, if a few lines smooth and pretty can be marks on this business; but I have just now an opportunity of conveying you this scrawl, free of postage, an expense that it is ill able to pay so, with my best compliments to honest Allan, Good be wi' ye, &c. Friday night. adapted to it, it is all you can expect. The following were made extempore to it; and though, on farther study, I might give you something more profound, yet it might not suit the light-horse gallop of the air so well as this random clink. (My wife's a winsome wee thing, p. 214.) I have just been looking over the Collier's |