(Poetry and Prose), and to Mr George A. Aitken, the editor of the third Aldine edition of the Poetical Works. Under these circumstances, it has become desirable to issue a new and revised edition of Dr Chambers's work, without departing in any important degree from its original plan. Every effort has been made in this edition to give a reliable text of both poems and letters. As regards the poems, the edition of 1794—the last published during Burns's life-time-is accepted as final and authoritative, so far as the pieces included in it are concerned. Variations from the text are given in notes where this course has been considered desirable; but for the sake of convenience, and on account of their extraordinary number, the great majority of these are reserved for a special appendix attached to each of the four volumes of which this edition will be composed. Poems, songs, and letters which have been discovered by Dr Chambers, Mr Scott Douglas, and others since 1851, are incorporated in this edition, along with such new biographical and historical facts as have been verified. An effort has been made to remove the difficulties that stand in the way of the English reader of Burns, by copious explanatory notes and a full marginal glossary of Scots words. As in the first edition, the poems, the letters, and the biographical narrative are so combined and arranged as to show their relation to one another, to present a view of social life in Scotland during the later half of the eighteenth century, and to illustrate the circumstances in which Burns lived his extraordinary life and did his extraordinary and immortal work.

As the final chapter of the fourth volume will give a critical estimate of Burns's life and work, comment on both during the progress of the book has been reduced to the minimum. For the rest, the golden Cromwellian rule of biography-warts and all, but not warts above all -has been strictly observed.

The first volume of this new edition, which is now given to the public, has been to some extent recast as well as rewritten, and presents several new features. The autobiographic portion of Burns's Letter to Moore, as revised by himself towards the close of his life, and as, therefore, giving his final estimate of his own character and career, is presented in its entirety, and as the opening chapter. The question of the poet's ancestry has been treated at length, both in the text and in an appendix. An attempt has been made to accurately define his theological position; this is supported by a careful analysis of the books which, there is reason to believe, influenced his mind in his early years. Some fresh light is thrown upon his stay in Irvine. The story

of the Buchanites—one of the most extraordinary chapters in the religious history of Scotland-is told at some length, on account of Burns's acquaintanceship with more than one member of the sect. The mystery relating to his intended migration to the West Indies is at last cleared up, and the persons chiefly associated with him in that resolution are identified. Within the past few years much has been written reflecting unfavourably upon the character of Highland Mary-some of it in the shape of direct statement, but more in the form of suggestion and innuendo. In the interests of Burns's memory and of biographical truth, these statements, suggestions, and innuendoes are given in an appendix, and their baselessness is shown.

It will be my duty, in the preface to the final volume of this edition, to express my very great obligations to the gentlemen who are directly associated with me in this work, and the many others who have given me valuable and enthusiastic help. Meanwhile, I have most cordially to thank the proprietors and custodiers of manuscripts, rare editions, and special documents relating to Burns-in particular, the Earl of Rosebery, Sir Charles Tennant, Sir Robert Jardine, Mr A. C. Lamb of Dundee, the Trustees of the Alloway Cottage and Monument, the Committees of the Kilmarnock, Greenock, and Irvine Burns Clubs, and the officials of the British Museum in London, the University Library and National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, the University and Mitchell Libraries in Glasgow, and the Athenæum and Public Libraries in Liverpool, for the facilities they have so freely afforded for the inspection of the treasures in their possession.

GLASGOW, January 1896.

WILLIAM WALLACE.

VOL. 1.

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