352 APPENDIX. In George Thomson's publication, few old songs were preserved ; that work owes its fame to the muse of Burns. Sir W. Scott's Border Minstrelsy, is almost equally deficient in what we are looking after. The late Robert Cromek published in 1810," Scottish Songs, with observations by Burns." The Poet's observations are as frequently trite and uninteresting as they are either antiquarian or original. Burns was the first to enquire after the authors and History of Scottish Song. Cromek's collection of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, 1810, is a work full of songs by modern hands, with a few stray old verses scattered over its pages. In 1819 and 1821, James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, edited a collection of Jacobitical Ballads and Songs. Had this work been more sparing of Historical Illustration, and the songs selected with more care, the Jacobite Ballads might have been a standard work of merit often to be reprinted. As yet there was no complete collection of Scottish Songs-they were scattered over various volumes, difficult of access, and when got dressed out most uninvitingly. Ritson had wasted both learning and ingenuity in his researches into the Historical maze of song, and Burns had sought the traditions of Scotland for Anecdotes illustrative of his favourite lyrics. Much was done and yet much remained to be done. In 1825, Allan Cunningham announced a work entitled, “The Songs of Scotland," 4 vol. 8vo., he set out on his task with the determination to spare no research, print whatever was beautiful, and alter what was indecent; he would do, and did, what Ramsay and Burns had done before him. The work was received most kindly by many, and condemned by few. How justly or unjustly let time and chance determine. lings, and the lovers of indecency, "the high kilting of the muse." Antiquaries lost their favourite old spelThe Editor of this little collection of Songs would applaud Mr. Cun ningham's undertaking in as many places, as he would condemn it. To Mr. Cunningham, though he both altered and added needlessly, Scottish song is greatly indebted. It is right to notice here that the different collections of Ancient Minstrelsy, edited by Finlay, Motherwell, Kinloch, and Buchan, added little to our treasures of Song. Of Mr. Peter Buchan's work, one-half seems the compilation of his own brain, fertile in tares, and sterile of wheat, and much of the other half old and modern balladverse, unworthy of a printer's type. In 1829, Robert Chambers of Edinburgh put forth a Collection of Scottish Songs, which the admirer of Northern Verse would do well to become acquainted with. 354 Leyden 268 Lindsay, Lady Ann S. Logan 198 Lowe Scott, Sir Walter Lyle 326 Smollett Semple of Beltrees བྱུ་ 157 1.36 M. Macneill T. Mallet, 259 Mayne Mickle Thomson Montgomery 170 Tytler, James Morehead, Rev. Mr. Motherwell Pickering P. Walkinshaw, W. Y. INDEX OF THE FIRST LINES. A. A friend of mine came here yestreen Ah! the poor shepherd's mournful fate All lonely on the sultry beach Alone to the banks of the dark rolling Danube Although I be but a country lass Amang the birks sae blythe and gay As Sylvia in a forest lay As walking forth to view the plain At setting day and rising morn A wet sheet and a flowing sea B. Balow my babe, lye still and sleipe Beneath a green shade a lovely young swain Blythe young Bess to Jean did say Bird of the wilderness Bonnie lassie, will ye go Braw, braw lads of Galla water By Logan streams that rin sae deep By smooth-winding Tay a swain was reclining Pare 164 989 219 253 329 Come under my plaidy the night's gaun to fa' Eliza was a bonnie lass, an' O she loe'd me weel 332 Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies |