his Dumfries chapter (the VIII.) of the poet's Life, and Chambers in his earlier cdition also gives the genuine quatrain in its proper place in connection with a Dumfries incident. In his later edition, however, after adopting it in the base form and connection above quoted, he coolly deleted the true version from the later portion of his book without a word of remark concerning the change. For the little trick thus perpetrated with a view to neutralise the disturbing effect of the Cromek letter, we cannot hold Robert Chambers primarily responsible: he had not the boldness of invention to give it birth; and we suspect some wag, in the interests of the "real-presence " party, must have cast the bullets, and then induced the too credulous veteran to fire them off. But in fact, a critical examination of this familiar impromptu in its new setting, must result in its rejection as altogether improbable. In October, 1789, Burns had barely entered on his Excise duties indeed there is no evidence from his published correspondence that he had done so; but be that as it may, could he have replied in this manner to an unlooked for, and rather late-in-the-day invitation to appear at Friar's Carse dressed for a set entertainment, necessarily involving a bacchanalian sederunt of at least twelve hours ?" I can scarcely spare a minute, but I'll be with you by and by!" Spare a minute! why he could not but anticipate that his share in those unhallowed orgies would disqualify him next day for executing valuable services of any kind! Robert Chambers had retired on his well-earned laurels, laying down the literary pen for ever, when (in August, 1864) the outer world was first made aware of the existence of a document of unquestionable reliability, the effect of which is to upset "the best laid schemes" of the party in this curious strife to which he had allied himself. This was no less than the original manuscript, dated 10th Octr., 1789, of the "MINUTE OF BETT BETWEEN SIR ROBT. LAWRIE AND CRAIGDARROCH FOR THE NOTED WHISTLE, SO MUCH CELEBRATED BY ROBT. BURNS' POEM, WHICH BETT WAS DECIDED AT CARSE, 16TH OCTR., 1789." It was communicated to Sir J. S. Menteith by its possessor, Mr. Thos. H. Cromek, of Wakefield in Yorkshire-apparently a relative or descendant of the worthy editor of "Burns' Reliques,” who had probably recovered that document along with the letter pertaining to it. The inferences supplied by the letter are singularly corroborated by this record of the Bett which tells us that the poet's friend, Mr. M'Murdo, Chamberlain at Drumlanrig, had agreed to be the judge or umpire of the contest, while the witnesses who signed the minute and proposed to be spectators of the great claret-shed, were the poet's landlord, Mr. Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, and a neighbouring squire, Mr. George Johnston of Cowhill.* In concluding this lengthy recapitulation of an exploded controversy, we have only to say that we should not have troubled our readers with it but for the salutary lesson it is calculated to convey to dogmatisers. In this respect, the dead controversy deserves embalmment as an instructive curiosity. Another inducement for recording it here lies in the deplorable fact that one learned gentleman whose literary labours are entitled to much respect, and who, since 1864, has produced an edition of Burns' Works of lasting value, has there avowed himself still a believer in the REAL PRESENCE OF BURNS at the Whistle-contest. To his credit, he has printed all the documents necessary for We here subjoin a copy of this interesting relic. The reader will please to observe that Mr. Riddel of Carse, possessor of the Whistle prior to the contest, was only a pro forma competitor on the occasion; the Bett lying mainly betwixt Craigdarroch and Sir Robt. Lawrie. The poet has ingeniously modified this circumstance by making Glenriddel retire from the struggle when matters grew serious: "A high ruling elder to wallow in wine! He left the foul business to folks less divine." Alas, for the "deposition" of poor Hunter! according to whom, Riddel often fell from his chair, and, with Burns' assistance, was helped up, and eventually carried to bed dead drunk! It is now impossible to ascertain if Miller of Dalswinton witnessed the contest; but M Murdo and Johnston were both pledged to be present, and doubtless were so. M Murdo endorsed the minute of the Bett in these words :-" The Bett decided at Carse, 16 Oct., 1789. Won by Craigdarroch-he drank upds. of five bottles of claret." "MEMORANDUM FOR THE WHISTLE. "The Whistle, gained by Sir Robt. Lawrie [which is] in possession of Mr. Riddell of Glenriddell, is to be ascertained to the heirs of the said Sir Robert, now existing, being Sir R. L.. Mr. R. of G., and A. F. of C., and to be settled under the arbitration of Mr. Jno. M'Murdo; the business to be decided at Carse, the 16 Octr., 1789. Cowhill, 10th October, 1789. (Signed) (Signed) ALEX. FERGUSON. JNO. M'MURDO-accepts as Judge. forming an opinion on that question; and he has not condescended to take advantage of the questionable help intended for his side in Chambers' last edition, which we have sufficiently exposed above-an inference this, that he disapproves of such unfair practise in honest warfare. He however holds that "although we had no other evidence than that of the song itself, we might affirm with almost as much certainty that Burns was present at the contest for the Whistle, as that he was present at the celebration of the Holy Fair." He is possessed of the notion that it would be "to Burns' disadvantage" to doubt that he was so present: he appeals to the poet's words, "I winna lee, come what will o' me," as if the bard were no more capable of ideal painting or exaggeration in a poetic reference to himself, than of telling a falsehood in plain prose, or of deliberate dishonesty in his ordinary transactions. By this short-visioned style of reading Burns, we should be bound to believe that he actually did forgather and converse with the gruesome object called "Death" between the village of Tarbolton and "Willie's Mill," as narrated in his poem. We should be bound to credit the poet's averment in his epistle to James Smith, that he had worn out "twenty pairs o' shoon" in travelling half a mile betimes to see him. We should in like manner be bound to believe that he spoke sincerely when he promised to drink Pitt's health in Nanse Tinnock's little public-house "nine times a week." Why Nanse herself had not a more contracted notion of the poetic licence than this learned biographer of Burns has! That wellknown passage in the Author's Earnest Cry was frequently quoted to her, and she as often protested against the implication that the poet and she ever were so gracious."-"Nine times a week! the leein' fallow, he wasna three times in my house during his hail life!" 66 INDEX TO POSTHUMOUS VOL. FIRST LINES. Accept the gift a friend sincere, 399. Ah, Chloris, since it may na be, 323 A head, pure, sinless quite of brain and soul, 414. Ah! woe is me my mother dear, 391. A lassie all alone was making her moan, 5. A little upright, pert, tart, tripping wight, 276. All devil as I am, a damned wretch, 252. Altho' my back be at the wa', 35. Altho' my bed were on yon muir, 253. Amang the trees where humming bees, 285. Ance mair I hail thee, thou gloomy December, 42. An honest man here lies at rest, 166. As cauld a wind as ever blew, 330. As down the burn they took their way, 95. As I cam o'er the Cairney mount, 29. As I gaed up by yon gate-end, 325. As I stood by yon roofless tower, 5. As I was a-wand'ring ae morning in spring, 286. As I was walking up the street, 248. Ask why God made the gem so small, 215. As on the banks of wand'ring Nith, 378. A slave to love's unbounded sway, 244. As Tam the chapman on a day, 334. At Brownhill we always get dainty good cheer, 339. Auld chuckie Reekie's sair distrest, 271. Auld comrade dear, and brother sinner, 217. Awa wi' your belles and your beauties, 93. Bannocks o' bearmeal, bannocks o' barley, 33. Behold the fatal hour arrive, 446. Canst thou leave me thus, my Katie? 69. Cease, ye prudes, your envious railing, 226. Come, rede me, dame, 344. Comin' thro' the rye, poor body, 11. Contented wi' little, and cantie wi' mair, 68. Could aught of song declare my pains, 38. Curse on ungrateful man that can be pleased, 270. Daughter of Chaos' doting years, 439. Davie Rant, Davie Rant, 438. Dear I'll gie ye some advice, 307. Dear Peter, dear Peter, we poor sons of metre, 321. Deluded swain, the pleasure, 97. Dire was the hate at old Harlaw, 284. Does haughty Gaul invasion threat? 123. Donald Brodie met a lass, 344. Dost thou not rise, indignant shade! 321. |