bargain with Burns. He granted a lease of seventy-six years, at an annual rent of £50 for the three first years, and £70 for the remainder; agreeing further to give his tenant £300 to build a new farm-steading and enclose the fields.' The only reservation he made was one which the poet must himself have been pleased with-a right to plant a belt of about two acres, to screen the farm on the north-west, and a scaur or precipitous bank which overhung the river. Mr Miller constituted in himself one of the attractions of the place, for he was to all appearance kindly disposed towards Burns, and he was far from being a common-place neighbour. His mind was active, intelligent, and inventive. He was at this time conducting experiments for the propelling of vessels by means of paddlesa project which led to the introduction of one of the greatest mechanical improvements of modern times. At the suggestion of his sons' preceptor, James Taylor, and with the practical aid of an ingenious mechanist named Symington, one of his paddle-boats was tried, with a small steam-engine on board, on a lake adjacent to Dalswinton House, in the ensuing October, and proved to be completely successful. Unfortunately, Mr Miller was not persevering in his projects; and on some obstacles occurring, he abandoned that of steam-navigation. It was, however, from his boat, when lying in neglect at Port-Dundas, that Fulton and Henry Bell severally took those plans which they respectively realised on the Hudson and the Clyde in 1808 and 1812. It is a remarkable fact that Mr Miller and his family, though latterly landless, and reduced almost to poverty, never received the slightest acknowledgment from the nation, of the concern which the former had had in the application of the steam-cngine to navigation.

While in Edinburgh on this occasion, Burns accomplished two other matters of business of no small importance to him-the obtaining an order from the Board of Excise for his instructions in the technicalities of that profession, and the adjustment of his accounts with Mr Creech the publisher. In a short series of letters to Clarinda, found dateless, but which undoubtedly belong to this period, allusion is made to these circumstances.

1 The account which Gilbert Burns gave Dr Currie regarding his brother's lease of Ellisland is slightly discrepant, but I have no doubt he is mistaken. 'I never understood,' he says, that Mr Miller gave my brother the choice of any farm but Ellisland, on which Mr Miller fixed the rent himself, but allowed my brother fifty-seven years of a lease, and to point out what restrictions he should be under in the management.'

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA.

Monday Noon [17th March'].

I will meet you to-morrow, Clarinda, as you appoint. My Excise affair is just concluded, and I have got my order for instructions: so far good. Wednesday night, I am engaged to sup among some of the principals of the Excise, so can only make a call for you that evening; but next day I stay to dine with one of the Commissioners, so cannot go till Friday morning.

Your hopes, your fears, your cares, my love, are mine; so don't mind them. I will take you in my hand through the dreary wilds of this world, and scare away the ravening bird or beast that would annoy you. I saw Mary in town to-day, and asked her if she had seen you. I shall certainly bespeak Mr Ainslie, as you desire. Excuse me, my dearest angel, this hurried scrawl and miserable paper; circumstances make both. Farewell till to-morrow.

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA.

SYLVANDER.

Tuesday Morning [18th March]. I am just hurrying away to wait on the Great Man, Clarinda; but I have more respect to my own peace and happiness than to set out without waiting on you; for my imagination, like a child's favourite bird, will fondly flutter along with this scrawl, till it perch on your bosom. I thank you for all the happiness you bestowed on me yesterday. The walk-delightful; the evening-rapture. Do not be uneasy to-day, Clarinda; forgive me. I am in rather better spirits to-day, though I had but an indifferent night. Care, anxiety, sat on my spirits; and all the cheerfulness of this morning is the fruit of some serious, important ideas that lie, in their realities, beyond the dark and the narrow house,' as Ossian, prince of poets, says. The Father of Mercies be with you, Clarinda! and every good thing attend you! SYLVANDER.

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA.

Wednesday Morning [19th March]. Clarinda, will that envious night-cap hinder you from appearing at the window as I pass? Who is she that looketh forth as the

2

In the authorised edition of the Clarinda correspondence, dates three weeks later are conjecturally assigned.

Probably the poet at the time of writing this letter lodged with Nicol, whose house was in Buccleuch Street; in which case the Potterrow, where Mrs M'Lehose lived, would be on the line of his walk into town.-The residence of Mrs M'Lehose, at the time when Burns visited her, was a small flat, or floor of a house, situated over an alley which yet bears the name of General's Entry, in consequence, it is said, of General Monk having lived there when in command in Scotland. The house, accessible by a narrow winding-stair behind, is very humble in its accommodations, and now occupied by poor people. Alison's Square, where Miss Nimmo lived, being right opposite, we can readily see how Clarinda would feel the necessity of being cautious about the number of Burns's visits.

morning; fair as the sun, clear as the moon, terrible as an army with banners?'

Do not accuse me of fond folly for this line; you know I am a cool lover. I mean by these presents greeting, to let you to wit, that arch-rascal Creech has not done my business yesternight, which has put off my leaving town till Monday morning. To-morrow, at eleven, I meet with him for the last time; just the hour I should have met far more agreeable company.

You will tell me this evening whether you cannot make our hour of meeting to-morrow one o'clock. I have just now written Creech such a letter, that the very goose-feather in my hand shrunk back from the line, and seemed to say, 'I exceedingly fear and quake!' I am forming ideal schemes of vengeance. think on

.....

Adieu, and SYLVANDER.

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA.

Friday, Nine o'clock, Night [21st March].

I am just now come in, and have read your letter. The first thing I did was to thank the Divine Disposer of events, that he has had such happiness in store for me as the connection I have with you. Life, my Clarinda, is a weary, barren path; and wo be to him or her that ventures on it alone! For me, I have my dearest partner of my soul: Clarinda and I will make out our pilgrimage together. Wherever I am, I shall constantly let her know how I go on, what I observe in the world around me, and what adventures I meet with. Will it please you, my love, to get every week, or at least every fortnight, a packet, two or three sheets, full of remarks, nonsense, news, rhymes, and old songs? Will you open, with satisfaction and delight, a letter from a man who loves you, who has loved you, and who will love you to death, through death, and for ever? Oh Clarinda, what do I owe to Heaven for blessing me with such a piece of exalted excellence as you! I call over your idea, as a miser counts over his treasure! Tell me, were you studious to please me last night? I am sure you did it to transport. How rich am I who have such a treasure as you! You know me; you know how to make me happy; and you do it most effectually. God bless you with

'Long life, long youth, long pleasure, and a friend!'

To-morrow night, according to your own direction, I shall watch the window: 'tis the star that guides me to paradise. The great relish to all is, that Honour, that Innocence, that Religion, are the witnesses and guarantees of our happiness. The Lord God knoweth,' and perhaps Israel he shall know,' my love and your merit. Adieu, Clarinda! I am going to remember you in my prayers. SYLVANDER.

The poet, on leaving Edinburgh at this time, sent Clarinda a pair of small decorated ale-glasses, along with a copy of verses:

TO CLARINDA,

WITH A PRESENT OF A PAIR OF DRINKING GLASSES.

Fair Empress of the Poet's soul,

And Queen of Poetesses;
Clarinda, take this little boon,

This humble pair of glasses.

And fill them high with generous juice,
As generous as your mind;

And pledge me in the generous toast-
'The whole of human kind!'

'To those who love us!'-second fill;
But not to those whom we love;
Lest we love those who love not us!
A third To thee and me, love!' 1

Burns would appear to have come to a reckoning with Mr Creech on the 20th, and thus to have been enabled to leave Edinburgh finally, or for a permanency, on the 24th. The amount of his profits by his Poems has been variously stated, and probably could not now be ascertained. The most authoritative statement we have on the subject is from the poet himself, in a letter of January 1789, to Dr Moore, where he says: 'I believe I shall, in whole, £100 copyright included, clear about £400, some little odds ; and even part of this depends on what the gentleman [Creech] has yet to settle with me.' Mr William Nicol wrote to Mr Lewars of Dumfries, after Burns's death: 'He certainly told me that he received £600 for the first Edinburgh edition, and £100 afterwards for the copyright.' (MS. in possession of the late Mr Lockhart.) This report from so intimate a friend as Nicol would be entitled to weight, if it did not differ so violently from the bard's own statement. Dr Currie, who would have the best information which Gilbert Burns could give him on the subject, sets down the poet's profits at £500. I find that Mrs Begg considers this as the sum which was realised. Under the force of these testimonies, we are led to surmise that, when Burns

1 The late Mr Charles K. Sharpe had obtained, as a gift from Clarinda, a copy of Young's Night Thoughts, bearing the following inscription :

To Mrs M'Ilhose, this poem, the sentiments of the heirs of immortality, told in the numbers of Paradise, is respectfully presented by ROBERT BURNS.'

spoke to Dr Moore of £400 and some little odds, he mentally discounted the expense attending his residence in Edinburgh while seeing the work through the press. It is also worthy of note that, on making up an ideal account of the expense of preparing the book, and deducting it from the receipts, a sum of about £420 is left for the author, to which, if we add £100 for copyright, the result comes to only a shade above the statement of Dr Currie.1

The probability accordingly is, that Burns had not so much as £400 wherewith to begin the world at this crisis; for we must of course understand that his tours, his accident, and even the time he spent in Edinburgh as a guest with Mr Cruikshank, were attended with expenses, which would be so much deducted from his little capital. If he had £380 at this time in his pocket, he had as much as there appears to be the least reason to expect.

That it was by no means a time of exultation or happiness, or even placidity of temper, fully appears from a letter written. immediately after he had taken his farewell of the capital.

TO MR RICHARD BROW N.

GLASGOW, 26th March 1788.

I am monstrously to blame, my dear sir, in not writing to you, and sending you the Directory. I have been getting my tack extended, as I have taken a farm, and I have been racking shop accounts with Mr Creech; both of which, together with watching, fatigue, and a load of care almost too heavy for my shoulders, have in some degree actually fevered me. I really forgot the Directory yesterday, which vexed me; but I was convulsed with rage a great part of the day. I have to thank you for the ingenious, friendly, and elegant epistle from your friend Mr Crawford. I shall certainly write to him; but not now. This is merely a card to you as I am posting to Dumfriesshire, where many perplexing arrangements await me. I am vexed about the Directory; but, my dear sir, forgive me these eight days I have been positively crazed. My compliments to Mrs B. I shall write to you at Grenada. ever, my dearest friend, yours,

I am

R. B.

1 Heron, in his Life of Burns, says: Mr Creech has obligingly informed me that the whole sum paid to the poet for the copyright, and for the subscription-copies of his book, amounted to near £1100. Out of this sum, indeed, the expenses of printing the edition for the subscribers were to be deducted. I have likewise reason to believe, that he had consumed a much larger proportion of these gains than prudence could approve, while he superintended the impression, paid court to his patrons, and waited the full payment of the subscription.' All this must be taken as very doubtful.