SIR, No. XV. FROM SIR JOHN WHITEFORD.. ing talents, and elevate the mind, and exalt and refine the imagination even of a poet. I hope you will not imagine I speak from suspicion or evil report. I assure you I speak Edinburgh, 4th December, 1786. from love and good report, and good opinion, I RECEIVED your letter a few days ago. I do and a strong desire to see you shine as much in not pretend to much interest, but what I have the sunshine as you have done in the shade, and I shall be ready to exert in procuring the attain-in the practice as you do in the theory of virtue. ment of any object you have in view. Your This is my prayer, in return for your elegant character as a man (forgive my reversing your composition in verse. All here join in compli order), as well as a poet, entitle you, I think, to ments, and good wishes for your further pros the assistance of every inhabitant of Ayrshire. perity. I have been told you wished to be made a gauger; I submit it to your consideration, whether it would not be more desirable, if a sum could be raised by subscription, for a second edition of your poems, to lay it out in the stocking of a small farm. I am persuaded it would be a line of life, much more agreeable to your feelings, and in the end more satisfactory. When you have considered this, let me know, and whatever you determine upon, I will endeavour to promote as far as my abilities will permit. With compliments to my friend the doctor, I am, Your friend and well-wisher, JOHN WHITEFORD. No. XVII TO GAVIN HAMILTON, Esq. HONOURED SIR, MAUCHLINE. Edinburgh, Dec. 7, 1786. I HAVE paid every attention to your commands, but can only say what perhaps you will P. S.-I shall take it as a favour when you kirklands were bought by a John Gordon, W. S. have heard before this reach you, that Muirat any time send me a new production. No. XVI. but for whom I know not; Mauchlands, Haugh Mila, &c. by a Frederick Fotheringham, supposed to be for Ballochmyle Laird, and Adamhill and Shawood were bought for Oswald's folks.-This is so imperfect an account, and will be so late ere it reach you, that were it not to FROM THE REV. MR. G. LOWRIE. discharge my conscience I would not trouble I LAST week received a letter from Dr. Blacklock, in which he expresses a desire of seeing you. I write this to you, that you may lose no time in waiting upon him, should you not yet have seen him. you with it; but after all my diligence I could make it no sooner nor better. For my own affairs, I am in a fair way of becoming as eminent as Thomas a Kempis or John Bunyan; and you may expect henceforth to see my birth-day inserted among the wonderful events, in the poor Robin's and Aberdeen Almanacks, along with the Black Monday, and the battle of Bothwell Bridge.-My lord Glencairn I rejoice to hear, from all corners, of your and the Dean of Faculty, Mr. H. Erskine, have rising fame, and I wish and expect it may tower taken me under their wing; and by all probastill higher by the new publication. But, as a bility I shall soon be the tenth worthy, and the friend, I warn you to prepare to meet with your eighth wise man of the world. Through my share of detraction and envy-a train that al- lord's influence it is inserted in the records of ways accompany great men. For your comfort, the Caledonian hunt, that they universally, one I am in great hopes that the number of your and all, subscribe for the second edition-My friends and admirers will increase, and that you subscription bills come out to-morrow, and you have some chance of ministerial, or even .. shall have some of them next post. I have met patronage. Now, my friend, such rapid success in Mr. Dalrymple, of Orangefield, what Solomon is very uncommon: and do you think yourself emphatically calls, "A friend that sticketh in no danger of suffering by applause and a full closer than a brother."-The warmth with purse? Remember Solomon's advice, which he which he interests himself in my affairs is of the spoke from experience, "stronger is he that con- same enthusiastic kind which you, Mr. Aiken, quers," &c. Keep fast hold of your rural sim- and the few patrons that took notice of my ear plicity and purity, like Telemachus, by Mentor's lier poetic days, shewed for the poor unlucky aid, in Calypso's isle, or even in that of Cyprus. devil of a poet. I hope you have also Minerva with you. I I always remember Mrs. Hamilton and Mis need not tell you how much a modest diffidence Kennedy in my poetic prayers, but you both in and invincible temperance adorn the most shin- prose and verse. I NEVER spent an afternoon among great folks with half that pleasure as when, in company with you, I had the honour of paying my devoirs to that plain, honest, worthy man, the professor. I would be delighted to see him perform acts of kindness and friendship, though were not the object; he does it with such a grace. I think his character, divided into ten parts, stands thus-four parts Socrates-four parts Nathaniel-and two parts Shakespeare's Brutus. Gordon-The Countess of Glencairn, with my Lord, and Lady Betty-The Dean of Faculty -Sir John Whitefoord.-I have likewise warm friends among the literati; Professors Stewart, Blair, and Mr. M'Kenzie-the Man of Feeling. -An unknown hand left ten guineas for the Ayrshire bard with Mr. Sibbald, which I got. -I since have discovered my generous unknown friend to be Patrick Miller, Esq. brother to the Justice Clerk; and drank a glass of claret with him by invitation at his own house yesternight. I am nearly agreed with Creech to print my book, and I suppose I will begin on Monday. I will send a subscription bill or two, next post; when I intend writing my first kind patron, Mr. Aiken. I saw his son to-day and he is very well. Dugald Stewart, and some of my learned friends, put me in the periodical paper called the Lounger,t a copy of which I here enclose you-I was, Sir, when I was first honoured with your notice, too obscure; now I tremble lest I should be ruined by being dragged too suddenly into the glare of polite and learned observation. I shall certainly, my ever honoured patron, write you an account of my every step; and better health and more spirits may enable me to make it something better than this stupid mat The foregoing verses were really extempore, but a little corrected since. They may entertain you a little with the help of that partiality with which you are so good as favour the per-ter of fact epistle. formances of Dear Sir, Your very humble Servant. I have the honour to be, Your ever grateful humble Servant. If any of my friends write me, my direction is, care of Mr. Creech, bookseller. Edinburgh, Dec. 27, 1786. MY DEAR FRIEND, I WOULD not write you till I could have it in my power to give you some account of myself and my matters, which by the bye is often I CONFESS I have sinned the sin for which no easy task. I arrived here on Tuesday was there is hardly ary forgiveness-ingratitude to se'anight, and have suffered ever since I came friendship-in not writing you sooner; but of to town with a miserable head-ache and all men living, I had intended to send you an stomach complaint, but am now a good deal entertaining letter; and by all the plodding, better. I have found a worthy warm friend in Mr. Dalrymple, of Orangefield, who introduced me to Lord Glencairn, a man whose worth and brotherly kindness to me, I shall remember when time shall be no more.-By his interest it is passed in the Caledonian hunt, and entered in their books, that they are to take each a copy of the second edition, for which they are to pay one guinea. I have been introduced to a good many of the Noblesse, but my avowed patrons and patronesses are, the Duchess of stupid powers, that in nodding, conceited majesty, preside over the dull routine of businessA heavily-solemn oath this!--I am, and have been, ever since I came to Edinburgh, as unfit to write a letter of humour, as to write a commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine, who was banished to the Isle of Patmos, by the cruel and bloody Domitian, son to Vespasian and brother to Titus, both emperors of Rome, and who was himself an emperor, and • Lady Betty Cunningham, "But" is frequently used for "without;" 1 a. M'Kenzie, the celebrated author of the Man of Feel The paper here alluded to, was written by Mr. without clothing. Professor Dugald Stewart. ing. This letter is now presented entire. 53 raised the second or third persecution, I forget I went to a Mason-lodge yesternight, where which, against the Christians, and after throwing the said Apostle John, brother to the Apostle James, commonly called James the greater, to distinguish him from another James, who was, on some account or other, known by the name of James the less, after throwing him into a caldron of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved, he banished the poor son of Zebedee, to a desert island in the Archipelago, where he was gifted with the second sight, and saw as many wild beasts as I have seen since I came to Edinburgh; which, a circumstance not very uncommon in story-telling, brings me back to where I set out. To make you some amends for what, before you reach this paragraph, you will have suffered; I enclose you two poems I have carded and spun since I past Glenbuck. One blank in the address to Edinburgh-"Fair B," is heavenly Miss Burnet, daughter to Lord Monboddo, at whose house I have had the honour to be more than once. There has not been any thing nearly like her, in all the combinations of beauty, grace, and goodness, the Great Creator has formed, since Milton's Eve on the first day of her existence. My direction is care of Andrew Bruce, merchant, Bridge-Street. the most Worshipful-Grand Master Charters, and all the Grand-Lodge of Scotland visited.The meeting was numerous and elegant; all the different Lodges about town were present, in all their pomp. The Grand Master, who presided with great solemnity and honour to himself as a gentleman and Mason, among other general toasts gave "Caledonia, and Caledonia's Bard, Brother B," which rung through the whole assembly with multiplied honours and repeated acclamations. As I had no idea such a thing would happen, I was downright thunder-struck, and trembling in every nerve made the best return in my power. Just as I had finished, some of the grand officers said, so loud that I could hear, with a most comforting accent, "Very well indeed!" which set me something to rights again. I have to-day corrected my 152d page. My Your much indebted humble Servant. wwwwwww LETTERS, 1787. No. XXI. TO JOHN BALLANTINE, Esq. Edinburgh, Jan. 14, 1787. MY HONOURED FRIEND, Ir gives me a secret comfort to observe in myself that I am not yet so far gone as Willie Gaw's skate," past redemption ;"* for I have still this favourable symptom of grace, that when my conscience, as in the case of this letter, tells me I am leaving something undone that I ought to do, it teazes me eternally till I do it. No. XXII. TO THE EARL OF EGLINTON. MY LORD, Edinburgh, Jan. 1787. As I have but slender pretensions to philoso phy, I cannot rise to the exalted ideas of a citizen of the world; but have all those national prejudices which, I believe, glow peculiarly strong in the breast of a Scotchman. There is scarcely any thing to which I am so feelingly alive, as the honour and welfare of my country; and, as a poet, I have no higher enjoyment than singing her sons and daughters. Fate had cast my station in the veriest shades of life; but never did a heart pant more ardently than mine, I am still "dark as was chaos" in respect to to be distinguished; though, till very lately, I futurity. My generous friend, Mr. Patrick Mil-looked in vain on every side for a ray of light. ler, has been talking with me about a lease of It is easy, then, to guess how much I was grasome farm or other in an estate called Dalswin- tified with the countenance and approbation of ton, which he has lately bought near Dumfries. one of my country's most illustrious sons, when Some life-rented embittering recollections whis- Mr. Wauchope called on me yesterday, on the per me that I will be happier any where than part of your lordship. Your munificence, my in my old neighbourhood, but Mr. Miller is no lord, certainly deserves my very grateful acjudge of land; and though I dare say he means knowledgments; but your patronage is a bounto favour me, yet he may give me, in his opi- ty peculiarly suited to my feelings. I am not nion, an advantageous bargain, that may ruin master enough of the etiquette of life to know whether there be not some impropriety in me. I am to take a tour by Dumfries as I return, and have promised to meet Mr. Miller on troubling your lordship with my thanks; but his lands some time in May. my heart whispered me to do it. From the emotions of my inmost soul I do it. Selfish in gratitude, I hope, I am incapable of; and mercenary servility, I trust, I shall ever have so much honest pride as to detest. This is one of a great number of old saws that Burns, when a lad, had picked up from his mother, of which the good old woman had a vast collection. MAKAM, No. XXIII. TO MRS. DUNLOP. ward rusticity and crude unpolished ideas on my head-I assure you, Madam, I do not dissemble when I tell you I tremble for the consequences. The novelty of a poet in my obscure situation, Edinburgh, 15th Jan. 1787. without any of those advantages which are YOURS of the 9th current, which I am this reckoned necessary for that character, at least moment honoured with, is a deep reproach to at this time of day, has raised a partial tide of me for ungrateful neglect. I will tell you the public notice, which has borne me to a height real truth, for I am miserably awkward at a where I am absolutely, feelingly certain, my fib: I wished to have written to Dr. Moore abilities are inadequate to support me; and too before I wrote to you; but though, every day surely do I see that time when the same tide since I received yours of December 30th, the will leave me, and recede, perhaps, as far below idea, the wish to write him, has constantly the mark of truth. pressed on my thoughts, yet I could not for my soul set about it. I know his fame and character, and I am one of "the sons of little men." To write him a mere matter-of-fact affair, like self in my fame and character as a poet, I reYour patronizing me, and interesting youra merchant's order, would be disgracing the lit-joice in; it exalts me in my own idea; and tle character I have; and to write the author whether you can or cannot aid me in my subof The View of Society and Manners a letter scription is a trifle. Has a paltry subscriptionof sentiment-I declare svery artery runs cold bill any charms to the heart of a bard, comparat the thought. I shall try, however, to write ed with the patronage of the descendant of the him to-morrow or next day. His kind interpo-immortal Wallace? sition in my behalf I have already experienced, as a gentleman waited on me the other day, on the part of Lord Eglinton, with ten guineas by way of subscription for two copies of my next edition. The word you object to in the mention I have made of my glorious countryman and your immortal ancestor, is indeed borrowed from SIR, Thomson; but it does not strike me as an im No. XXIV. TO DR. MOORE. 1787. MRS. DUNLOP has been so kind as to send me Those who have felt the proper epithet. I distrusted my own judgment extracts of letters she has had from you, where on your finding fault with it, and applied for you do the rustic bard the honour of noticing the opinion of some of the literati here, who him and his works. honour me with their critical strictures, and anxieties and solicitudes of authorship, can only they all allow it to be proper. The song you know what pleasure it gives to be noticed in such ask I cannot recollect, and I have not a copy of a manner by judges of the first character. Your it. I have not composed any thing on the great criticisms, Sir, I receive with reverence; only, Wallace, except what you have seen in print, I am sorry they mostly came too late; a peccant and the enclosed, which I will print in this edi-passage or two, that I would certainly have alYou will see I have mentioned some tered, were gone to the press. tion.⚫ others of the name. When I composed my The hope to be admired for ages is, in by far Vision, long ago, I had attempted a description the greater part of those even who are authors of Kyle, of which the additional stanzas are a of repute, an unsubstantial dream. For my part, part, as it originally stood. My heart glows my first ambition was, and still my strongest with a wish to be able to do justice to the me- wish is, to please my compeers, the rustic inrits of the Saviour of his Country, which, mates of the hamlet, while ever changing lansooner or later, I shall at least attempt. guage and manners shall allow me to be relished You are afraid I shall grow intoxicated with and understood. I am very willing to admit my prosperity as a poet. Alas! Madam, I that I have some poetical abilities; and as few, know myself and the world too well. I do not if any writers, either moral or poetical, are intimean any airs of affected modesty; I am wil-mately acquainted with the classes of mankind ling to believe that my abilities deserved some among whom I have chiefly mingled, I may have notice; but in a most enlightened, informed seen men and manners in a different phasis from age and nation, when poetry is and has been what is common, which may assist originality the study of men of the first natural genius, of my character has by far the greatest share in of thought. Still I know very well the novelty aided with all the powers of polite learning, the learned and polite notice I have lately had ; polite books, and polite company-to be dragged forth to the full glare of learned and polite and in a language where Pope and Churchill observation, with all my imperfections of awk- have raised the laugh, and Shenstone and Gray Stanzas in the Vision, beginning third stanza, "By stately tower or palace fair," and ending with the Arst duan. drawn the tear-where Thomson and Beattie Collins described the heart, I am not vain ehave painted the landscape, and Lyttleton and nough to hope for distinguished poetic fame. SIR, No. XXV. FROM DR. MOORE. Clifford Street, Jan. 23, 1787. He felt each storm that on the mountain blows, On nature with impassion'd look he gazed; No. XXVI. I HAVE just received your letter, by which I find I have reason to complain of my friend Mrs. Dunlop for transmitting to you extracts from my letters to her, by much too freely and too carelessly written for your perusal. I must forgive her, however, in consideration of her good intention, as you will forgive me, I hope, for the freedom I use with certain expressions, in consideration of my admiration of the poems in general. If I may judge of the author's disposition from his works, with all the other good qualities of a poet, he has not the irritable temEdinburgh, 15th Feb. 1787. per ascribed to that race of men by one of their PARDON my seeming neglect in delaying so own number, whom you have the happiness to long to acknowledge the honour you have done resemble in ease and curious felicity of expres-me, in your kind notice of me, January 23d. sion. Indeed the poetical beauties, however Not many months ago, I knew no other em original and brilliant, and lavishly scattered, are not all I admire in your works; the love of your native country, that feeling sensibility to all the objects of humanity, and the independent spirit which breathes through the whole, give me a most favourable impression of the poet, and have made me often regret that I did not see the poems, the certain effect of which would have been my seeing the author last summer, when I was longer in Scotland than I have been for many years. SIR, TO DR. MOORE. ployment than following the plough, nor could boast any thing higher than a distant acquaintance with a country clergyman. Mere greatness never embarrasses me: I have nothing to ask from the great, and I do not fear their judgment; but genius, polished by learning, and at its proper point of elevation in the eye of the world, this of late I frequently meet with, and tremble at its approach. I scorn the affec tation of seeming modesty to cover self-conceit. That I have some merit I do not deny; but I I rejoice very sincerely at the encouragement see, with frequent wringings of heart, that the you receive at Edinburgh, and I think you penovelty of my character, and the honest national culiarly fortunate in the patronage of Dr. Blair, who, I am informed, interests himself very much for you. I beg to be remembered to him: nobody can have a warmer regard for that gentle man than I have, which, independent of the worth of his character, would be kept alive by the memory of our common friend, the late Mr. George BBefore I received your letter, I sent enclosed in a letter to a sonnet by Miss Williams, a young poetical lady, which she wrote on reading your Mountain-Daisy; perhaps it may not displease you. -e. I have been trying to add to the number of your subscribers, but I find many of my acquaintance are already among them. I have only to add, that with every sentiment of esteem, and most cordial good wishes, I am, prejudice of my countrymen, have borne me to a height altogether untenable to my abilities. For the honour Miss W. has done me, please, Sir, return her in my name, my most grateful thanks. I have more than once thought of paying her in kind, but have hitherto quitted the idea in hopeless despondency. I had never before heard of her; but the other day I got her poems, which, for several reasons, some belonging to the head, and others the offspring of the heart, give me a great deal of pleasure. I have little pretensions to critic lore: there are, I think, two characteristic features in her poetry -the unfettered wild flight of native genius, and the querulous, sombre tenderness of " time settled sorrow." I only know what pleases me, often without being able to tell why. No. XXVII. TO JOHN BALLANTINE, Esq. AYR. MY HONOURED FRIEND, I WILL soon be with you now in guid black prent; in a week or ten days at farthest-I am obliged, against my own wish, to print sub |