CONTENTS OF BURNS'S WORKS.

OF THE LIFE.

CHAP. I.-The Poet's Birth, 1759-Circumstances and peculiar Character of his
Father and Mother-Hardships of his early years-Sources, such as they were, of
his Mental Improvement-Commenceth Love and Poetry at 16,

CHAP. II. From 17 to 24-Robert and Gilbert Burns work to their Father, as

Labourers, at stated Wages-At rural work the Peet feared no competitor-This

period not marked by much Mental Improvement-At Dancing-School-Pro-

gress in Love and Poetry-At School at Kirkoswald's-Bad Company-At Ir-
vine-Flaxdressing-Becomes there Member of a Batchelor's Club,

CHAP. III. The Brothers, Robert and Gilbert, become tenants of Mossgiel-

Their incessant labour and moderate habits-The farm cold and unfertile Not

Prosperous The Muse anti-calvinistical-The Poet thence involved deeply in

local polemics, and charged with heresy-Curious account of these disputes-

Early poems prompted by then-Origia of, and remarks upon the Poet's prin-

cipal pieces-Love leads him far astray-A crisis-The Jail or the West Indies

-The alternative,

CHAP. IV. The Poet gives up Mossgiel to his Brother Gilbert-Intends for Ja-

maica Subscription Edition of his Poems suggested to supply means of outfit-

One of 690 copies printed at Kilmarnock, 1786-It brings him extended repu

tation, and £20-Also many very kind friends, but no patron-In these circum-

stances, Guaging first hinted to him by his early friends, Hamilton and Aiken-

Savings and doings in the first year of his fame-Jamaica again in view-Plan

desisted from because of encouragement by Dr. Blacklock to publish at Edin-

burgh, wherein the Poet sojourns,

CHAP. V. The Poet winters in Edinburgh, 1786-7-By his advent, the condition

of that city-Literary, Legal, Philosophical, Patrician, and Pedantic-is lighted

up, as by a meteor-He is in the full tide of his fame there, and for a while ca-

ressed by the fashionable-What happens to him generally in that new world,

and his behaviour under the varying and very trying circumstances-The tavern

life then greatly followed-The Poet tempted beyond all former experience by

bacchanals of every degree-His conversational talent universally admitted, as

not the least of his talents-The Ladies like to be carried off their feet by it,

while the philosophers hardly keep theirs-Edition of 1500 copies by Creech,

which yields much money to the Poet-Resolves to visit the classic scenes of his

own country-Assailed with thick-coming visions of a reflux to bear him back

to the region of poverty and seclusion,

CHAP. VL-Makes three several pilgrimages in Caledonia-Lands from the first

of these, after an absence of six months, amongst his friends in the Auld Clay

Biggin"-Finds honour in his own country-Falls in with many kind friends

during those pilgrimages, and is familiar with the great, but never secures one

effective patron-Anecdotes and Sketches- Lingers in Edinburgh amidst the

fleshpots, winter 1787-8-Upset in a hackney coach, which produces a bruised

limb, and mournful musings for six weeks-Is enrolled in the Excise-Another

crisis, in which the Poet finds it necessary to implore even his friend Mrs. Dunlop

not to desert him-Growls over his publisher. but after settling with him leaves

Edinburgh with £500-Steps towards a more regular life,

CHAP. VII. Marries-Announcements, (apologetical,) of the event-Remarks-

Becomes (1788) Farmer at Elliesland, on the Nith, in a romantic vicinity, six.

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miles from Dumfries The Muse wakeful as ever, while the Poet maintains a

varied and extensive literary correspondence with all and sundry-Remarks upon

the correspondence-Sketch of his person and habits at this period by a brother

poet, who shews cause against success in farming-The untoward conjunction of

Gauger to Farmer-The notice of the squirearchy, and the calls of admiring

visitors, lead too uniformly to the ultra convivial life-Leaves Elliesland (1791)

to be exciseman in the town of Dumfries,.

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CHAP. VIII. Is more beset in town than country-His early biographers, (Dr.

Currie not excepted), have coloured too darkly under that head---It is not correct

to speak of the Poet as having sunk into a toper, or a solitary drinker, or of his

revels as other than occasional, or of their having interfered with the punctual

discharge of his official duties---He is shown to have been the affectionate and be-

loved husband, although passing follies imputed; and the constant and most as-

siduous instructor of his children---Impulses of the French Revolution---Symp-

toms of fraternizing--The attention of his official superiors is called to them---

Practically no blow is inflicted, only the bad name---Interesting details of this pe-

riod-Gives his whole soul to song making---Preference in that for his native

dialect, with the other attendant facts, as to that portion of his immortal lays,

CHAP. IX--The Poct's mortal period approaches--- His peculiar temperament---

Symptoms of premature old age---These not diminished by narrow circumstances

---Chagrin from reglect, and death of a Daughter--The Poet roisses public pa-

tronage: and even the fair fruits of his own genius---the appropriation of which

is debated for the casuists who yielded to him merely the shell--is magnani-

mity when death is at hand; his interviews, conversations, and addresses as a

dying man--Dies, 21st July 1796---Public funeral, at which many attend, and

amongst the rest the future Premier of England, who had steadily refused to ac-

knowledge the Poet, living---His family munificently provided for by the public

---Analysis of character. His integrity, religious state, and genius---Strictures

upon him and his writings by Scott, Campbell, Byron, and others,

Verses on the death of Burns, by Mr. Roscoe of Liverpool,

Character of Burns and his Writings, by Mrs. Riddell of Glenriddell,

Preface to the First Edition of Burns's Pocnis, printed in Kilmarnock,

Dedication to the Caledonian Hunt, prefixed to the Edinburgh Edition,

xci-cix

CX---cxxxiv