It would be pedantic to explain this series of allusions. It is curious as an example of that brief direct narration in which the rustic mind usually gives its version of the most complicated political and historical transactions. Burns was at this time in a raw and unenlightened state as a politician. Dr Blair remarked, with as much truth as point, that his politics' smelt of the smithy.' He professed a sentimental attachment to Jacobitism, and was thus set down as a Tory. He at the same time sympathised with Dempster and other independent members of the House of Commons, and assumed, as we have seen, the blue and yellow vesture, which denoted in those days an attachment to the principles of Mr Fox, VERSES TO A HAGGIS. 51 though perhaps as much out of complaisance to the Earl of Glencairn and the Erskines, all of whom were Whigs, as from any other cause. In plain truth, as intimated by Professor Stewart, he had now no determinate party views, and he himself confesses as much in a hurried note which he seems to have addressed to the Dean of Faculty with reference to this very ballad: TO THE HON. HENRY ERSKINE. Two o'clock. SIR-I shewed the enclosed political ballad to my Lord Glencairn, to have his opinion whether I should publish it; as I suspect my political tenets, such as they are, may be rather heretical in the opinion of some of my best friends. I have a few first principles in religion and politics, which, I believe, I would not easily part with; but for all the etiquette of, by whom, in what manner, &c. I would not have a dissocial word about it with any one of God's creatures, particularly an honoured patron or a respected friend. His lordship seems to think the piece may appear in print, but desired me to send you a copy for your suffrage. I am, with the sincerest gratitude for the notice with which you have been pleased to honour the rustic bard, sir, your most devoted humble servant, ROBT. BURNS.1 The only other piece which has not already been presented in these pages, is the set of verses TO A HAGGIS.2 Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Weel are ye wordy of a grace The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill small guts While through your pores the dews distil His knife see rustic labour dight, 1 Printed in the Ayr Observer, October 1846. The haggis is a dish peculiar to Scotland, though supposed to be of French extraction. It is composed of minced offal of mutton, mixed with oat-meal and suet, and boiled in a sheep's stomach. When made in Elspa's way, with 'a curn o' spice' (see the Gentle Shepherd), it is an agreeable, albeit a somewhat heavy dish, always providing that no horror be felt at the idea of its preparation. EDINBURGH, March 8th, 1787. DEAR SIR-Yours came safe, and I am, as usual, much indebted to your goodness. Poor Captain Montgomery is cast. Yesterday it was tried whether the husband could proceed against the unfortunate lover without first divorcing his wife, and their gravities on the may prosecute for bench were unanimously of opinion that M SKETCHES IN THE COURT OF SESSION. 53 damages directly, and need not divorce his wife at all if he pleases. O all ye powers of love unfortunate, and friendless wo, pour the balm of sympathising pity on the grief-torn, tender heart of the hapless fair one! My two songs on Miss W. Alexander and Miss P[eggy] K[the Bonnie Lass of Ballochmyle, and Bonnie Doon] were likewise tried yesterday by a jury of literati, and found defamatory libels against the fastidious powers of Poesy and Taste; and the author forbidden to print them under pain of forfeiture of character. I cannot help almost shedding a tear to the memory of two songs that had cost me some pains, and that I valued a good deal; but I must submit. My most respectful compliments to Mrs Hamilton and Miss Kennedy. D My poor unfortunate songs come again across my memory. the pedant, frigid soul of criticism for ever and ever! R. B. The Faculty Decisions, under the date March 7th, 1787, report the judgment of the Court of Session in a case in which a legal point arises between Mr C. Min Ayrshire, and Captain James Montgomery, late of the 93d foot, as to whether the former could prosecute the latter for the dishonour of his wife, without previously divorcing her. It appears that the lady was heiress of S C of S that she had had two children to her husband, and that she left his house in June 1783 in company with Captain Montgomery, to whom she bore a child in November of the subsequent year. From Burns's expressions, we are led to understand that there were extenuating circumstances in the conduct of the lady, and that the policy of the husband in abstaining from a process of divorce, which would separate him from a goodly estate, was not popular. Miss Peggy Kanother Ayrshire lady of fortune, already oftener than once alluded to in these pages as having loved not wisely but too well. was Burns could scarcely but take an interest in the proceedings of the supreme civil court, always an object of respect with the rustic population of Scotland. As a result of his visits to the Parliament House, we have two well-drawn sketches of the leading barristers of that day-namely, the Dean of Faculty, Harry Erskine, and the Lord Advocate, Mr Ilay Campbell (subsequently Lord President). Lawn-market, Monday morning. DEAR SIR-In justice to Spenser, I must acknowledge that there is scarcely a poet in the language could have been a more agreeable present to me; and in justice to you, allow me to say, sir, that I have not met with a man in Edinburgh to whom I would so willingly have been indebted for the gift. The tattered rhymes I herewith present you, and the handsome volumes of Spenser for which I am so much indebted to your goodness, may perhaps be not in proportion to one another; but be that as it may, my gift, though far less valuable, is as sincere a mark of esteem as yours. The time is approaching when I shall return to my shades; and I am afraid my numerous Edinburgh friendships are of so tender a construction, that they will not bear carriage with me. Yours is one of the few that I could wish of a more robust constitution. It is indeed very probable that when I leave this city we part never more to meet in this sublunary sphere; but I have a strong fancy that in some future eccentric planet, the comet of happier systems than any with which astronomy is yet acquainted, you and I, among the harum-scarum sons of imagination and whim, with a hearty |