
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Complete Works of Robert Burns:
Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence., by Robert Burns and Allan Cunningham

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Title: The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.
       With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and
              Biographical by Allan Cunningham

Author: Robert Burns and Allan Cunningham

Release Date: June 4, 2006 [EBook #18500]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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Transcriber’s Note.

1. The hyphenation and accent of words is not uniform throughout the book. No change has been made in this.

2. The relative indentations of Poems, Epitaphs, and Songs are as printed in the original book.

THE

COMPLETE WORKS

OF

ROBERT BURNS:

CONTAINING HIS

POEMS, SONGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE.

WITH

A NEW LIFE OF THE POET,

AND

NOTICES, CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL,

BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

ELEGANTLY ILLUSTRATED.

BOSTON:

PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY.

NEW YORK: J.C. DERBY.

1855

TO

ARCHIBALD HASTIE, ESQ.,

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PAISLEY

THIS

EDITION

OF

THE WORKS AND MEMOIRS OF A GREAT POET,

IN WHOSE SENTIMENTS OF FREEDOM HE SHARES,

AND WHOSE PICTURES OF SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE HE LOVES,

IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED

BY

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

[vii]

DEDICATION.

TO THE

NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN

OF THE

CALEDONIAN HUNT.

[On the title-page of the second or Edinburgh edition, were these words: “Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns, printed for the Author, and sold by William Creech, 1787.” The motto of the Kilmarnock edition was omitted; a very numerous list of subscribers followed: the volume was printed by the celebrated Smellie.]

My Lords and Gentlemen:

A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his country’s service, where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land: those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their ancestors? The poetic genius of my country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha—at the plough, and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue; I tuned my wild, artless notes as she inspired. She whispered me to come to this ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates.

Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours: that path is so hackneyed by prostituted learning that honest rusticity is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this address with the venal soul of a servile author, looking for a continuation of those favours: I was bred to the plough, and am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish name with you, my illustrious countrymen; and to tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my country that the blood of her ancient heroes still runs uncontaminated, and that from your courage, knowledge, and public[viii] spirit, she may expect protection, wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the great fountain of honour, the Monarch of the universe, for your welfare and happiness.

When you go forth to waken the echoes, in the ancient and favourite amusement of your forefathers, may Pleasure ever be of your party: and may social joy await your return! When harassed in courts or camps with the jostlings of bad men and bad measures, may the honest consciousness of injured worth attend your return to your native seats; and may domestic happiness, with a smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May corruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance; and may tyranny in the ruler, and licentiousness in the people, equally find you an inexorable foe!

I have the honour to be,

With the sincerest gratitude and highest respect,

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Your most devoted humble servant,

ROBERT BURNS.

Edinburgh, April 4, 1787.

[ix]

PREFACE.

I cannot give to my country this edition of one of its favourite poets, without stating that I have deliberately omitted several pieces of verse ascribed to Burns by other editors, who too hastily, and I think on insufficient testimony, admitted them among his works. If I am unable to share in the hesitation expressed by one of them on the authorship of the stanzas on “Pastoral Poetry,” I can as little share in the feelings with which they have intruded into the charmed circle of his poetry such compositions as “Lines on the Ruins of Lincluden College,” “Verses on the Destruction of the Woods of Drumlanrig,” “Verses written on a Marble Slab in the Woods of Aberfeldy,” and those entitled “The Tree of Liberty.” These productions, with the exception of the last, were never seen by any one even in the handwriting of Burns, and are one and all wanting in that original vigour of language and manliness of sentiment which distinguish his poetry. With respect to “The Tree of Liberty” in particular, a subject dear to the heart of the Bard, can any one conversant with his genius imagine that he welcomed its growth or celebrated its fruit with such “capon craws” as these?

“Upo’ this tree there grows sic fruit,
Its virtues a’ can tell, man;
It raises man aboon the brute,
It mak’s him ken himsel’, man.
Gif ance the peasant taste a bit,
He’s greater than a lord, man,
An’ wi’ a beggar shares a mite
O’ a’ he can afford, man.”

There are eleven stanzas, of which the best, compared with the “A man’s a man for a’ that” of Burns, sounds like a cracked pipkin against the “heroic clang” of a Damascus blade. That it is extant in the handwriting of the poet cannot be taken as a proof that it is his own composition, against the internal testimony of utter want of all the marks by which we know him—the Burns-stamp, so to speak, which is visible on all that ever came from his pen. Misled by his handwriting, I inserted in my former edition of his works an epitaph, beginning

“Here lies a rose, a budding rose,”
[x]

the composition of Shenstone, and which is to be found in the church-yard of Hales-Owen: as it is not included in every edition of that poet’s acknowledged works, Burns, who was an admirer of his genius, had, it seems, copied it with his own hand, and hence my error. If I hesitated about the exclusion of “The Tree of Liberty,” and its three false brethren, I could have no scruples regarding the fine song of “Evan Banks,” claimed and justly for Miss Williams by Sir Walter Scott, or the humorous song called “Shelah O’Neal,” composed by the late Sir Alexander Boswell. When I have stated that I have arranged the Poems, the Songs, and the Letters of Burns, as nearly as possible in the order in which they were written; that I have omitted no piece of either verse or prose which bore the impress of his hand, nor included any by which his high reputation would likely be impaired, I have said all that seems necessary to be said, save that the following letter came too late for insertion in its proper place: it is characteristic and worth a place anywhere.

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

TO DR. ARCHIBALD LAURIE.

Mossgiel, 13th Nov. 1786.

Dear Sir,

I have along with this sent the two volumes of Ossian, with the remaining volume of the Songs. Ossian I am not in such a hurry about; but I wish the Songs, with the volume of the Scotch Poets, returned as soon as they can conveniently be dispatched. If they are left at Mr. Wilson, the bookseller’s shop, Kilmarnock, they will easily reach me.

My most respectful compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Laurie; and a Poet’s warmest wishes for their happiness to the young ladies; particularly the fair musician, whom I think much better qualified than ever David was, or could be, to charm an evil spirit out of a Saul.

Indeed, it needs not the Feelings of a poet to be interested in the welfare of one of the sweetest scenes of domestic peace and kindred love that ever I saw; as I think the peaceful unity of St. Margaret’s Hill can only be excelled by the harmonious concord of the Apocalyptic Zion.

I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely,

Robert Burns.

[xi]

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

	PAGE
The Life of Robert Burns	xxiii
Preface to the Kilmarnock Edition of 1786	lix
Dedication to the Edinburgh Edition of 1787	vii

POEMS.

	PAGE
Winter. A Dirge	61
The Death and dying Words of poor Mailie	61
Poor Mailie’s Elegy	62
First Epistle to Davie, a brother Poet	63
Second	65
Address to the Deil	65
The auld Farmer’s New-year Morning Salutation to his auld Mare Maggie	67
To a Haggis	68
A Prayer under the pressure of violent Anguish	69
A Prayer in the prospect of Death	69
Stanzas on the same occasion	69
A Winter Night	70
Remorse. A Fragment	71
The Jolly Beggars. A Cantata	71
Death and Dr. Hornbook. A True Story	76
The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulzie	78
Holy Willie’s Prayer	79
Epitaph to Holy Willie	80
The Inventory; in answer to a mandate by the surveyor of taxes	81
The Holy Fair	82
The Ordination	84
The Calf	86
To James Smith	86
The Vision	88
Halloween	92
Man was made to Mourn. A Dirge	95
To Ruin	96
To John Goudie of Kilmarnock, on the publication of his Essays	97
To J. Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard. First Epistle	97
To J. Lapraik. Second Epistle	99
To J. Lapraik. Third Epistle	100
To William Simpson, Ochiltree	101
Address to an illegitimate Child	103
Nature’s Law. A Poem humbly inscribed to G.H., Esq.	103
To the Rev. John M’Math	104
To a Mouse	105
Scotch Drink	106
The Author’s earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch Representatives of the House of Commons	107
Address to the unco Guid, or the rigidly Righteous	110
Tam Samson’s Elegy	111
Lament, occasioned by the unfortunate issue of a Friend’s Amour	112
Despondency. An Ode	113
The Cotter’s Saturday Night	114
The first Psalm	117
The first six Verses of the ninetieth Psalm	118
To a Mountain Daisy	118
Epistle to a young Friend	119
To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady’s Bonnet at Church	120
Epistle to J. Rankine, enclosing some Poems	121
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies	122
The Farewell	123
Written on the blank leaf of my Poems, presented to an old Sweetheart then married	123
A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.	123
Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux	125
Letter to James Tennant of Glenconner	125
On the Birth of a posthumous Child	126
To Miss Cruikshank	126
Willie Chalmers	127
Verses left in the room where he slept	128
To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., recommending a boy	128
To Mr. M’Adam, of Craigen-gillan	129
Answer to a Poetical Epistle sent to the Author by a Tailor	129
To J. Rankine. “I am a keeper of the law.”	130
Lines written on a Bank-note	130
A Dream	130
A Bard’s Epitaph	132
The Twa Dogs. A Tale	132
Lines on meeting with Lord Daer	135
Address to Edinburgh	136
Epistle to Major Logan	137
The Brigs of Ayr	138
On the Death of Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston, late Lord President of the Court of Session	141
On reading in a Newspaper the Death of John M’Leod, Esq.	141
To Miss Logan, with Beattie’s Poems	142
The American War, A fragment	142
The Dean of Faculty. A new Ballad	143
To a Lady, with a Present of a Pair of Drinking-glasses	144
To Clarinda	144
Verses written under the Portrait of the Poet Fergusson	144
Prologue spoken by Mr. Woods, on his Benefit-night, Monday, April 16, 1787	145
Sketch. A Character	145
To Mr. Scott, of Wauchope	145
Epistle to William Creech	146
The humble Petition of Bruar-Water, to the noble Duke of Athole	147
On scaring some Water-fowl in Loch Turit	148
Written with a pencil, over the chimney-piece, in the parlour of the Inn at Kenmore, Taymouth	149
Written with a pencil, standing by the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness	149
To Mr. William Tytler, with the present of the Bard’s picture	150
Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage, on the banks of Nith, June, 1780. First Copy	150
The same. December, 1788. Second Copy	151
To Captain Riddel, of Glenriddel. Extempore lines on returning a Newspaper	152
A Mother’s Lament for the Death of her Son	152
First Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray	152
On the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair	153
Epistle to Hugh Parker	154
Lines, intended to be written under a Noble Earl’s Picture	155
Elegy on the year 1788. A Sketch	155
Address to the Toothache	155
Ode. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Oswald, of Auchencruive	156
Fragment inscribed to the Right Hon. C.J. Fox	156
On seeing a wounded Hare limp by me, which a Fellow had just shot	157
To Dr. Blacklock. In answer to a Letter	158
Delia. An Ode	159
To John M’Murdo, Esq.	159
Prologue, spoken at the Theatre, Dumfries, 1st January, 1790	159
Scots Prologue, for Mr. Sutherland’s Benefit-night, Dumfries	160
Sketch. New-year’s Day. To Mrs. Dunlop	160
To a Gentleman who had sent him a Newspaper, and offered to continue it free of expense	161
The Kirk’s Alarm. A Satire. First Version	162
The Kirk’s Alarm. A Ballad. Second Version	163
Peg Nicholson	165
On Captain Matthew Henderson, a gentleman who held the patent for his honours immediately from Almighty God	165
The Five Carlins. A Scots Ballad	167
The Laddies by the Banks o’ Nith	168
Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on the close of the disputed Election between Sir James Johnstone, and Captain Miller, for the Dumfries district of Boroughs	169
On Captain Grose’s Peregrination through Scotland, collecting the Antiquities of that kingdom	170
Written in a wrapper, enclosing a letter to Captain Grose	171
Tam O’ Shanter. A Tale	171
Address of Beelzebub to the President of the Highland Society	174
To John Taylor	175
Lament of Mary Queen of Scots, on the approach of Spring	175
The Whistle	176
Elegy on Miss Burnet of Monboddo	178
Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn	178
Lines sent to Sir John Whitefoord, Bart., of Whitefoord, with the foregoing Poem	179
Address to the Shade of Thomson, on crowning his Bust at Ednam with bays	179
To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray	180
To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on receiving a favour	181
A Vision	181
To John Maxwell, of Terraughty, on his birthday	182
The Rights of Women, an occasional Address spoken by Miss Fontenelle, on her benefit-night, Nov. 26, 1792	182
Monody on a Lady famed for her caprice	183
Epistle from Esopus to Maria	184
Poem on Pastoral Poetry	185
Sonnet, written on the 25th January, 1793, the birthday of the Author, on hearing a thrush sing in a morning walk	185
Sonnet on the death of Robert Riddel, Esq., of Glenriddel, April, 1794	186
Impromptu on Mrs. Riddel’s birthday	186
Liberty. A Fragment	186
Verses to a young Lady	186
The Vowels. A Tale	187
Verses to John Rankine	187
On Sensibility. To my dear and much-honoured friend, Mrs. Dunlop, of Dunlop	188
Lines sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended	188
Address spoken by Miss Fontenelle on her Benefit-night	188
On seeing Miss Fontenelle in a favourite character	189
To Chloris	189
Poetical Inscription for an Altar to Independence	189
The Heron Ballads. Balled First	190
The Heron Ballads. Ballad Second	190
The Heron Ballads. Ballad Third	192
Poem addressed to Mr. Mitchell, Collector of Excise, Dumfries, 1796	193
To Miss Jessy Lewars, Dumfries, with Johnson’s Musical Museum	193
Poem on Life, addressed to Colonel de Peyster, Dumfries, 1796	193

EPITAPHS, EPIGRAMS, FRAGMENTS, &c.

[xiv]

On the Author’s Father	194
On R.A., Esq.	194
On a Friend	194
For Gavin Hamilton	194
On wee Johnny	195
On John Dove, Innkeeper, Mauchline	195
On a Wag in Mauchline	195
On a celebrated ruling Elder	195
On a noisy Polemic	195
On Miss Jean Scott	195
On a henpecked Country Squire	195
On the same	196
On the same	196
The Highland Welcome	196
On William Smellie	196
Written on a window of the Inn at Carron	196
The Book-worms	196
Lines on Stirling	197
The Reproof	197
The Reply	197
Lines written under the Picture of the celebrated Miss Burns	197
Extempore in the Court of Session	197
The henpecked Husband	197
Written at Inverary	198
On Elphinston’s Translation of Martial’s Epigrams	198
Inscription on the Head-stone of Fergusson	198
On a Schoolmaster	198
A Grace before Dinner	198
A Grace before Meat	198
On Wat	198
On Captain Francis Grose	199
Impromptu to Miss Ainslie	199
The Kirk of Lamington	199
The League and Covenant	199
Written on a pane of glass in the Inn at Moffat	199
Spoken on being appointed to the Excise	199
Lines on Mrs. Kemble	199
To Mr. Syme	200
To Mr. Syme, with a present of a dozen of porter	200
A Grace	200
Inscription on a goblet	200
The Invitation	200
The Creed of Poverty	200
Written in a Lady’s pocket-book	200
The Parson’s Looks	200
The Toad-eater	201
On Robert Riddel	201
The Toast	201
On a Person nicknamed the Marquis	201
Lines written on a window	201
Lines written on a window of the Globe Tavern, Dumfries	201
The Selkirk Grace	202
To Dr. Maxwell, on Jessie Staig’s recovery	202
Epitaph	202
Epitaph on William Nicol	202
On the Death of a Lapdog, named Echo	202
On a noted Coxcomb	202
On seeing the beautiful Seat of Lord Galloway	202
On the same	203
On the same	203
To the same, on the Author being threatened with his resentment	203
On a Country Laird	203
On John Bushby	203
The true loyal Natives	203
On a Suicide	203
Extempore, pinned on a Lady’s coach	203
Lines to John Rankine	204
Jessy Lewars	204
The Toast	204
On Miss Jessy Lewars	204
On the recovery of Jessy Lewars	204
Tam the Chapman	204
“Here’s a bottle and an honest friend”	205
“Tho’ fickle fortune has deceived me”	205
To John Kennedy	205
To the same	205
“There’s naethin’ like the honest nappy”	205
On the blank leaf of a work by Hannah More, presented by Mrs. C	206
To the Men and Brethren of the Masonic Lodge at Tarbolton	206
Impromptu	206
Prayer for Adam Armour	206

SONGS AND BALLADS.

Handsome Nell	207
Luckless Fortune	208
“I dream’d I lay where flowers were springing”	208
Tibbie, I hae seen the day	208
“My father was a farmer upon the Carrick border”	209
John Barleycorn. A Ballad	210
The Rigs o’ Barley	210
Montgomery’s Peggy	211
The Mauchline Lady	211
The Highland Lassie	211
Peggy	212
The rantin’ Dog the Daddie o’t	213
“My heart was ance as blithe and free”	213
My Nannie O	213
A Fragment. “One night as I did wander”	214
Bonnie Peggy Alison	214
Green grow the Rashes, O	214
My Jean	215
Robin	215
“Her flowing locks, the raven’s wing”	216
“O leave novels, ye Mauchline belles”	216
Young Peggy	216
The Cure for all Care	217
Eliza	217
The Sons of Old Killie	217
And maun I still on Menie doat	218
The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’s Lodge, Tarbolton	218
On Cessnock Banks	219
Mary	220
The Lass of Ballochmyle	220
“The gloomy night is gathering fast”	221
“O whar did ye get that hauver meal bannock?”	221
The Joyful Widower	221
“O Whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad”	222
“I am my mammy’s ae bairn”	222
The Birks of Aberfeldy	222
Macpherson’s Farewell	223
Braw, braw Lads of Galla Water	223
“Stay, my charmer, can you leave me?”	224
Strathallan’s Lament	224
My Hoggie	224
Her Daddie forbad, her Minnie forbad	224
Up in the Morning early	225
The young Highland Rover	225
Hey the dusty Miller	225
Duncan Davison	226
Theniel Menzies’ bonnie Mary	226
The Banks of the Devon	226
Weary fa’ you, Duncan Gray	227
The Ploughman	227
Landlady, count the Lawin	228
“Raving winds around her blowing”	228
“How long and dreary is the night”	228
Musing on the roaring Ocean	229
Blithe, blithe and merry was she	229
The blude red rose at Yule may blaw	229
O’er the Water to Charlie	230
A Rose-bud by my early walk	230
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie	230
Where braving angry Winter’s Storms	231
Tibbie Dunbar	231
Bonnie Castle Gordon	231
My Harry was a gallant gay	232
The Tailor fell through the bed, thimbles an’ a’	232
Ay Waukin O!	232
Beware o’ Bonnie Ann	233
The Gardener wi’ his paidle	233
Blooming Nelly	233
The day returns, my bosom burns	234
My Love she’s but a lassie yet	234
Jamie, come try me	234
Go fetch to me a Pint O’ Wine	235
The Lazy Mist	235
O mount and go	235
Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw	235
Whistle o’er the lave o’t	236
O were I on Parnassus’ Hill	236
“There’s a youth in this city”	237
My heart’s in the Highlands	237
John Anderson, my Jo	237
Awa, Whigs, awa	238
Ca’ the Ewes to the Knowes	238
Merry hae I been teethin’ a heckle	239
The Braes of Ballochmyle	239
To Mary in Heaven	239
Eppie Adair	240
The Battle of Sherriff-muir	240
Young Jockey was the blithest lad	241
O Willie brewed a peck o’ maut	241
The braes o’ Killiecrankie, O	241
I gaed a waefu’ gate yestreen	242
The Banks of Nith	242
Tam Glen	242
Frae the friends and land I love	243
Craigie-burn Wood	243
Cock up your Beaver	244
O meikle thinks my luve o’ my beauty	244
Gudewife, count the Lawin	244
There’ll never be peace till Jamie comes hame	245
The bonnie lad that’s far awa	245
I do confess thou art sae fair	245
Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide	246
It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face	246
When I think on the happy days	247
Whan I sleep I dream	247
“I murder hate by field or flood”	247
O gude ale comes and gude ale goes	247
Robin shure in hairst	248
Bonnie Peg	248
Gudeen to you, Kimmer	248
Ah, Chloris, since it may na be	249
Eppie M’Nab	249
Wha is that at my bower-door	249
What can a young lassie do wi’ an auld man	250
Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing	250
The tither morn when I forlorn	250
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever	251
Lovely Davies	251
The weary Pond o’ Tow	252
Naebody	252
An O for ane and twenty, Tam	252
O Kenmure’s on and awa, Willie	253
The Collier Laddie	253
Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame	254
As I was a-wand’ring ae Midsummer e’enin	254
Bessy and her Spinning-wheel	254
The Posie	255
The Country Lass	255
Turn again, thou fair Eliza	256
Ye Jacobites by name	256
Ye flowery banks o’bonnie Doon	257
Ye banks and braes o’ bonnie Doon	257
Willie Wastle	257
O Lady Mary Ann	258
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation	258
The Carle of Kellyburn braes	259
Jockey’s ta’en the parting kiss	260
Lady Onlie	260
The Chevalier’s Lament	260
Song of Death	261
Flow gently, sweet Afton	261
Bonnie Bell	262
Hey ca’ thro’, ca’ thro’	262
The Gallant weaver	262
The deuks dang o’er my Daddie	262
She’s fair and fause	263
The Deil cam’ fiddling thro’ the town	263
The lovely Lass of Inverness	263
O my luve’s like a red, red rose	264
Louis, what reck I by thee	264
Had I the wyte she bade me	264
Coming through the rye	265
Young Jamie, pride of a’ the plain	265
Out over the Forth I look to the north	265
The Lass of Ecclefechan	265
The Cooper o’ Cuddie	266
For the sake of somebody	266
I coft a stane o’ haslock woo	266
The lass that made the bed for me	267
Sae far awa	267
I’ll ay ca’ in by yon town	268
O wat ye wha’s in yon town	268
O May, thy morn	269
Lovely Polly Stewart	269
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie	269
Anna, thy charms my bosom fire	270
Cassilis’ Banks	270
To thee, lov’d Nith	270
Bannocks o’ Barley	270
Hee Balou! my sweet wee Donald	270
Wae is my heart, and the tear’s in my e’e	271
Here’s his health in water	271
My Peggy’s face, my Peggy’s form	271
Gloomy December	272
My lady’s gown, there’s gairs upon ’t	272
Amang the trees, where humming bees	272
The gowden locks of Anna	273
My ain kind dearie, O	273
Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary	273
She is a winsome wee thing	274
Bonny Leslie	274
Highland Mary	275
Auld Rob Morris	275
Duncan Gray	276
O poortith cauld, and restless love	276
Galla Water	277
Lord Gregory	277
Mary Morison	277
Wandering Willie. First Version	278
Wandering Willie. Last Version	278
Oh, open the door to me, oh!	279
Jessie	279
The poor and honest sodger	279
Meg o’ the Mill	280
Blithe hae I been on yon hill	281
Logan Water	281
“O were my love yon lilac fair”	281
Bonnie Jean	282
Phillis the fair	283
Had I a cave on some wild distant shore	283
By Allan stream	283
O Whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad	284
Adown windng Nith I did wander	284
Come, let me take thee to my breast	285
Daintie Davie	285
Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled. First Version	285
Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled. Second Version	286
Behold the hour, the boat arrives	287
Thou hast left me ever, Jamie	287
Auld lang syne	287
“Where are the joys I have met in the morning”	288
“Deluded swain, the pleasure”	288
Nancy	288
Husband, husband, cease your strife	289
Wilt thou be my dearie?	289
But lately seen in gladsome green	290
“Could aught of song declare my pains”	290
Here’s to thy health, my bonnie lass	290
It was a’ for our rightfu’ king	291
O steer her up and haud her gaun	291
O ay my wife she dang me	291
O wert thou in the cauld blast	292
The Banks of Cree	292
On the seas and far away	292
Ca’ the Yowes to the Knowes	293
Sae flaxen were her ringlets	293
O saw ye my dear, my Phely?	294
How lang and dreary is the night	294
Let not woman e’er complain	294
The Lover’s Morning Salute to his Mistress	295
My Chloris, mark how green the groves	295
Youthful Chloe, charming Chloe	296
Lassie wi’ the lint-white locks	296
Farewell, thou stream, that winding flows	296
O Philly, happy be the day	297
Contented wi’ little and cantie wi’ mair	297
Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy	298
My Nannie’s awa	298
O wha is she that lo’es me	299
Caledonia	299
O lay thy loof in mine, lass	300
The Fête Champêtre	300
Here’s a health to them that’s awa	301
For a’ that, and a’ that	301
Craigieburn Wood	302
O lassie, art thou sleeping yet	302
O tell na me o’ wind and rain	303
The Dumfries Volunteers	303
Address to the Wood-lark	304
On Chloris being ill	304
Their groves o’ sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon	304
’Twas na her bonnie blue een was my ruin	305
How cruel are the parents	305
Mark yonder pomp of costly fashion	305
O this is no my ain lassie	306
Now Spring has clad the grove in green	306
O bonnie was yon rosy brier	307
Forlorn my love, no comfort near	307
Last May a braw wooer cam down the lang glen	307
Chloris	308
The Highland Widow’s Lament	308
To General Dumourier	309
Peg-a-Ramsey	309
There was a bonnie lass	309
O Mally’s meek, Mally’s sweet	309
Hey for a lass wi’ a tocher	310
Jessy. “Here’s a health to ane I lo’e dear”	310
Fairest Maid on Devon banks	311

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.

1781.
No.
I.	To William Burness. His health a little better, but tired of life. The Revelations	311
1783.
II.	To Mr. John Murdoch. His present studies and temper of mind	312
III.	To Mr. James Burness. His father’s illness, and sad state of the country	313
IV.	To Miss E. Love	314
V.	To Miss E. Love	314
VI.	To Miss E. Love	315
VII.	To Miss E. On her refusal of his hand	316
VIII.	To Robert Riddel, Esq. Observations on poetry and human life	316
1784.
IX.	To Mr. James Burness. On the death of his father	322
X.	To Mr. James Burness. Account of the Buchanites	322
XI.	To Miss ——. With a book	323
1786.
XII.	To Mr. John Richmond. His progress in poetic composition	323
XIII.	To Mr. John Kennedy. The Cotter’s Saturday Night	324
XIV.	To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing his “Scotch Drink”	324
XV.	To Mr. Aiken. Enclosing a stanza on the blank leaf of a book by Hannah More	324
XVI.	To Mr. M’Whinnie, Subscriptions	324
XVII.	To Mr. John Kennedy. Enclosing “The Gowan”	325
XVIII.	To Mon. James Smith. His voyage to the West Indies	325
XIX.	To Mr. John Kennedy. His poems in the press. Subscriptions	325
XX.	To Mr. David Brice. Jean Armour’s return,—printing his poems	326
XXI.	To Mr. Robert Aiken. Distress of mind	326
XXII.	To Mr. John Richmond. Jean Armour	327
XXIII.	To John Ballantyne, Esq. Aiken’s coldness. His marriage-lines destroyed	328
XXIV.	To Mr. David Brice. Jean Armour. West Indies	328
XXV.	To Mr. John Richmond. West Indies The Armours	328
XXVI.	To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing “The Calf”	329
XXVII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Thanks for her notice. Sir William Wallace	329
XXVIII.	To Mr. John Kennedy. Jamaica	330
XXIX.	To Mr. James Burness. His departure uncertain	330
XXX.	To Miss Alexander. “The Lass of Ballochmyle”	330
XXXI.	To Mrs. Stewart, of Stair and Afton. Enclosing some songs. Miss Alexander	331
XXXII.	Proclamation in the name of the Muses	332
XXXIII.	To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing “Tam Samson.” His Edinburgh expedition	332
XXXIV.	To Dr. Mackenzie. Enclosing the verses on dining with Lord Daer	332
XXXV.	To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Rising fame. Patronage	333
XXXVI.	To John Ballantyne, Esq. His patrons and patronesses. The Lounger	333
XXXVII.	To Mr. Robert Muir. A note of thanks. Talks of sketching the history of his life	334
XXXVIII.	To Mr. William Chalmers. A humorous sally	334
1787.
XXXIX.	To the Earl of Eglinton. Thanks for his patronage	335
XL.	To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Love	335
XLI.	To John Ballantyne, Esq. Mr. Miller’s offer of a farm	335
XLII.	To John Ballantyne, Esq. Enclosing “The Banks o’ Doon.” First Copy	336
XLIII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Dr. Moore and Lord Eglinton. His situation in Edinburgh	336
XLIV.	To Dr. Moore. Acknowledgments for his notice	337
XLV.	To the Rev. G. Lowrie. Reflections on his situation in life. Dr. Blacklock, Mackenzie	338
XLVI.	To Dr. Moore. Miss Williams	338
XLVII.	To John Ballantyne, Esq. His portrait engraving	339
XLVIII.	To the Earl of Glencairn. Enclosing “Lines intended to be written under a noble Earl’s picture”	339
XLIX.	To the Earl of Buchan. In reply to a letter of advice	339
L.	To Mr. James Candlish. Still “the old man with his deeds”	340
LI.	To ——. On Fergusson’s headstone	341
LII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. His prospects on leaving Edinburgh	341
LIII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. A letter of acknowledgment for the payment of the subscription	342
LIV.	To Mr. Sibbald. Thanks for his notice in the magazine	343
LV.	To Dr. Moore. Acknowledging the present of his View of Society	343
LVI.	To Mr. Dunlop. Reply to criticisms	343
LVII.	To the Rev. Dr. Hugh Blair. On leaving Edinburgh. Thanks for his kindness	344
LVIII.	To the Earl of Glencairn. On leaving Edinburgh	344
LIX.	To Mr. William Dunbar. Thanking him for the present of Spenser’s poems	344
LX.	To Mr. James Johnson. Sending a song to the Scots Musical Museum	345
LXI.	To Mr. William Creech. His tour on the Border. Epistle in verse to Creech	345
LXII.	To Mr. Patison. Business	345
LXIII.	To Mr. W. Nicol. A ride described in broad Scotch	346
LXIV.	To Mr. James Smith. Unsettled in life. Jamaica	346
LXV.	To Mr. W. Nicol. Mr. Miller, Mr. Burnside. Bought a pocket Milton	347
LXVI.	To Mr. James Candlish. Seeking a copy of Lowe’s poem of “Pompey’s Ghost”	347
LXVII.	To Robert Ainslie, Esq. His tour	348
LXVIII.	To Mr. W. Nicol. Auchtertyre	348
LXIX.	To Mr. Wm. Cruikshank. Auchtertyre	348
LXX.	To Mr. James Smith. An adventure	349
LXXI.	To Mr. John Richmond. His rambles	350
LXXII.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Sets high value on his friendship	350
LXXIII.	To the same. Nithsdale and Edinburgh	350
LXXIV.	To Dr. Moore. Account of his own life	351
LXXV.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. A humorous letter	357
LXXVI.	To Mr. Robert Muir. Stirling, Bannockburn	357
LXXVII.	To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Of Mr. Hamilton’s own family	358
LXXVIII.	To Mr. Walker. Bruar Water. The Athole family	359
LXXIX.	To Mr. Gilbert Burns. Account of his Highland tour	359
LXXX.	To Miss Margaret Chalmers. Charlotte Hamilton. Skinner. Nithsdale	360
LXXXI.	To the same. Charlotte Hamilton, and “The Banks of the Devon”	360
LXXXII.	To James Hoy, Esq. Mr. Nicol. Johnson’s Musical Museum	361
LXXXIII.	To Rev. John Skinner. Thanking him for his poetic compliment	361
LXXXIV.	To James Hoy, Esq. Song by the Duke of Gordon	362
LXXXV.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His friendship for him	363
LXXXVI.	To the Earl of Glencairn. Requesting his aid in obtaining an excise appointment	363
LXXXVII.	To James Dalrymple, Esq. Rhyme. Lord Glencairn	363
LXXXVIII.	To Charles Hay, Esq. Enclosing his poem on the death of the Lord President Dundas	364
LXXXIX.	To Miss M——n. Compliments	364
XC.	To Miss Chalmers. Charlotte Hamilton	365
XCI.	To the same. His bruised limb. The Bible. The Ochel Hills	365
XCII.	To the same. His motto—“I dare.” His own worst enemy	365
XCIII.	To Sir John Whitefoord. Thanks for his friendship. Of poets	366
XCIV.	To Miss Williams. Comments on her poem of the Slave Trade	366
XCV.	To Mr. Richard Brown. Recollections of early life. Clarinda	368
XCVI.	To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Prayer for his health	369
XCVII.	To Miss Chalmers. Complimentary poems. Creech	369
1788.
XCVIII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Lowness of spirits. Leaving Edinburgh	370
XCIX.	To the same. Religion	370
C.	To the Rev. John Skinner. Tullochgorum. Skinner’s Latin	370
CI.	To Mr. Richard Brown. His arrival in Glasgow	371
CII.	To Mrs. Rose of Kilravock. Recollections of Kilravock	371
CIII.	To Mr. Richard Brown. Friendship. The pleasures of the present	372
CIV.	To Mr. William Cruikshank. Ellisland. Plans in life	372
CV.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland. Edinburgh. Clarinda	373
CVI.	To Mr. Richard Brown. Idleness. Farming	374
CVII.	To Mr. Robert Muir. His offer for Ellisland. The close of life	374
CVIII.	To Miss Chalmers. Taken Ellisland. Miss Kennedy	375
CIX.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Coila’s robe	375
CX.	To Mr. Richard Brown. Apologies. On his way to Dumfries from Glasgow	375
CXI.	To Mr. Robert Cleghorn. Poet and fame. The air of Captain O’Kean	376
CXII.	To Mr. William Dunbar. Foregoing poetry and wit for farming and business	376
CXIII.	To Miss Chalmers. Miss Kennedy. Jean Armour	377
CXIV.	To the same. Creech’s rumoured bankruptcy	377
CXV.	To the same. His entering the Excise	377
CXVI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Fanning and the Excise. Thanks for the loan of Dryden and Tasso	378
CXVII.	To Mr. James Smith. Jocularity. Jean Armour	378
CXVIII.	To Professor Dugald Stewart. Enclosing some poetic trifles	379
CXIX.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Dryden’s Virgil. His preference of Dryden to Pope	379
CXX.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His marriage.	379
CXXI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. On the treatment of servants	380
CXXII.	To the same. The merits of Mrs. Burns	380
CXXIII.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. The warfare of life. Books. Religion	381
CXXIV.	To the same. Miers’ profiles	382
CXXV.	To the same. Of the folly of talking of one’s private affairs	382
CXXVI.	To Mr. George Lockhart. The Miss Baillies. Bruar Water	383
CXXVII.	To Mr. Peter Hill. With the present of a cheese	383
CXXVIII.	To Robert Graham Esq., of Fintray. The Excise	384
CXXIX.	To Mr. William Cruikshank. Creech. Lines written in Friar’s Carse Hermitage	385
CXXX.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Lines written at Friar’s Carse. Graham of Fintray	385
CXXXI.	To the same. Mrs. Burns. Of accomplished young ladies	386
CXXXII.	To the same. Mrs. Miller, of Dalswinton. “The Life and Age of Man.”	387
CXXXIII.	To Mr. Beugo. Ross and “The Fortunate Shepherdess.”	388
CXXXIV.	To Miss Chalmers. Recollections. Mrs. Burns. Poetry	388
CXXXV.	To Mr. Morison. Urging expedition with his clock and other furniture for Ellisland	390
CXXXVI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Mr. Graham. Her criticisms	390
CXXXVII.	To Mr. Peter Hill. Criticism on an “Address to Loch Lomond.”	391
CXXXVIII.	To the Editor of the Star. Pleading for the line of the Stuarts	392
CXXXIX.	To Mrs. Dunlop. The present of a heifer from the Dunlops	393
CXL.	To Mr. James Johnson. Scots Musical Museum	393
CXLI.	To Dr. Blacklock. Poetical progress. His marriage	394
CXLII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Enclosing “Auld Lang Syne”	394
CXLIII.	To Miss Davies. Enclosing the song of “Charming, lovely Davies”	395
CXLIV.	To Mr. John Tennant. Praise of his whiskey	395
1789.
CXLV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections suggested by the day	396
CXLVI.	To Dr. Moore. His situation and prospects	396
CXLVII.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His favourite quotations. Musical Museum	398
CXLVIII.	To Professor Dugald Stewart. Enclosing some poems for his comments upon	398
CXLIX.	To Bishop Geddes. His situation and prospects	399
CL.	To Mr. James Burness. His wife and farm. Profit from his poems. Fanny Burns	399
CLI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections. His success in song encouraged a shoal of bardlings	400
CLII.	To the Rev. Peter Carfrae. Mr. Mylne’s poem	401
CLIII.	To Dr. Moore. Introduction. His ode to Mrs. Oswald	401
CLIV.	To Mr. William Burns. Remembrance	402
CLV.	To Mr. Peter Hill. Economy and frugality. Purchase of books	402
CLVI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Sketch inscribed to the Right Hon. C.J. Fox	403
CLVII.	To Mr. William Burns. Asking him to make his house his home	404
CLVIII.	To Mrs. M’Murdo. With the song of “Bonnie Jean”	404
CLIX.	To Mr. Cunningham. With the poem of “The Wounded Hare”	404
CLX.	To Mr. Samuel Brown. His farm. Ailsa fowling	405
CLXI.	To Mr. Richard Brown. Kind wishes	405
CLXII.	To Mr. James Hamilton. Sympathy	406
CLXIII.	To William Creech, Esq. Toothache. Good wishes	406
CLXIV.	To Mr. M’Auley. His own welfare	406
CLXV.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Overwhelmed with incessant toil	407
CLXVI.	To Mr. M’Murdo. Enclosing his newest song	407
CLXVII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections on religion	408
CLXVIII.	To Mr. ——. Fergusson the poet	408
CLXIX.	To Miss Williams. Enclosing criticisms on her poems	409
CLXX.	To Mr. John Logan. With “The Kirk’s Alarm”	410
CLXXI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Religion. Dr. Moore’s “Zeluco”	410
CLXXII.	To Captain Riddel. “The Whistle”	411
CLXXIII.	To the same. With some of his MS. poems	411
CLXXIV.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His Excise employment	412
CLXXV.	To Mr. Richard Brown. His Excise duties	412
CLXXVI.	To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray. The Excise. Captain Grose. Dr. M’Gill	413
CLXXVII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections on immortality	414
CLXXVIII.	To Lady M.W. Constable. Jacobitism	415
CLXXIX.	To Provost Maxwell. At a loss for a subject	415
1790.
CLXXX.	To Sir John Sinclair. Account of a book-society in Nithsdale	416
CLXXXI.	To Charles Sharpe, Esq. A letter with a fictitious signature	416
CLXXXII.	To Mr. Gilburt Burns. His farm a ruinous affair. Players	417
CLXXXIII.	To Mr. Sutherland. Enclosing a Prologue	418
CLXXXIV.	To Mr. William Dunbar. Excise. His children. Another world	418
CLXXXV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Falconer the poet. Old Scottish songs	419
CLXXXVI.	To Mr. Peter Hill. Mademoiselle Burns. Hurdis. Smollett and Cowper	420
CLXXXVII.	To Mr. W. Nicol. The death of Nicol’s mare Peg Nicholson	420
CLXXXVIII.	To Mr. W. Cunningham. What strange beings we are	421
CLXXXIX.	To Mr. Peter Hill. Orders for books. Mankind	423
CXC.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Mackenzie and the Mirror and Lounger	423
CXCI.	To Collector Mitchell. A county meeting	424
CXCII.	To Dr. Moore. “Zeluco.” Charlotte Smith	425
CXCIII.	To Mr. Murdoch. William Burns	425
CXCIV.	To Mr. M’Murdo. With the Elegy on Matthew Henderson	426
CXCV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. His pride wounded	426
CXCVI.	To Mr. Cunningham. Independence	426
CXCVII.	To Dr. Anderson. “The Bee.”	427
CXCVIII.	To William Tytler, Esq. With some West-country ballads	427
CXCIX.	To Crauford Tait, Esq. Introducing Mr. William Duncan	427
CC.	To Crauford Tait, Esq. “The Kirk’s Alarm”	428
CCI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. On the birth of her grandchild. Tam O’ Shanter	429
1791.
CCII.	To Lady M.W. Constable. Thanks for the present of a gold snuff-box	429
CCIII.	To Mr. William Dunbar. Not gone to Elysium. Sending a poem	429
CCIV.	To Mr. Peter Mill. Apostrophe to Poverty	430
CCV.	To Mr. Cunningham. Tam O’ Shanter. Elegy on Miss Burnet	430
CCVI.	To A.F. Tytler, Esq. Tam O’ Shanter	431
CCVII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Miss Burnet. Elegy writing	431
CCVIII.	To Rev. Arch. Alison. Thanking him for his “Essay on Taste”	432
CCIX.	To Dr. Moore. Tam O’ Shanter. Elegyon Henderson. Zeluco. Lord Glencairn	432
CCX.	To Mr. Cunningham. Songs	433
CCXI.	To Mr. Alex. Dalzel. The death of the Earl of Glencairn	434
CCXII.	To Mrs. Graham, of Fintray. With “Queen Mary’s Lament”	434
CCXIII.	To the same. With his printed Poems	435
CCXIV.	To the Rev. G. Baird. Michael Bruce	435
CCXV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Birth of a son	435
CCXVI.	To the same. Apology for delay	436
CCXVII.	To the same. Quaint invective on a pedantic critic	436
CCXVIII.	To Mr. Cunningham. The case of Mr. Clarke of Moffat, Schoolmaster	437
CCXIX.	To the Earl of Buchan. With the Address to the shade of Thomson	437
CCXX.	To Mr. Thomas Sloan. Apologies. His crop sold well	438
CCXXI.	To Lady E. Cunningham. With the Lament for the Earl of Glencairn	438
CCXXII.	To Mr. Robert Ainslie. State of mind. His income	439
CCXXIII.	To Col. Fullarton. With some Poems. His anxiety for Fullarton’s friendship	439
CCXXIV.	To Miss Davis. Lethargy, Indolence, and Remorse. Our wishes and our powers	440
CCXXV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Mrs. Henri. The Song of Death	440
1792.
CCXXVI.	To Mrs. Dunlop. The animadversions of the Board of Excise	441
CCXXVII.	To Mr. William Smellie. Introducing Mrs. Riddel	441
CCXXVIII.	To Mr. W. Nicol. Ironical reply to a letter of counsel and reproof	442
CCXXIX.	To Francis Grose, Esq. Dugald Stewart	443
CCXXX.	To the same. Witch stories	443
CCXXXI.	To Mr. S. Clarke. Humorous invitation to teach music to the M’Murdo family	444
CCXXXII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Love and Lesley Baillie	445
CCXXXIII.	To Mr. Cunningham. Lesley Baillie	446
CCXXXIV.	To Mr. Thomson. Promising his assistance to his collection of songs and airs	447
CCXXXV.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Situation of Mrs.Henri	448
CCXXXVI.	To the same. On the death of Mrs. Henri	449
CCXXXVII.	To Mr. Thomson. Thomson’s fastidiousness. “My Nannie O,” &c.	449
CCXXXVIII.	To the same. With “My wife’s a winsome wee thing,” and “Lesley Baillie”	450
CCXXXIX.	To the same. With Highland Mary. The air of Katherine Ogie	450
CCXL.	To the same. Thomson’s alterations and observations	451
CCXLI.	To the same. With “Auld Rob Morris,” and “Duncan Gray”	451
CCXLII.	To Mrs. Dunlop. Birth of a daugh