NOTES. Page 155, 13. The mare, which was named after the insane female who attempted the life of George III., was the property of Burns' friend, Mr. William Nicol. Page 155, 29. These lines were written on a page of the Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xiii., containing a description of the The minister, after parish of Balmaghie. quoting one of the simple, rude martyrs' epitaphs, adds-The author of which no doubt supposed himself to have been writing poetry.' This captious remark called forth Burns's lines. The book, with the poet's comment, is preserved in the Mechanics' Institute, Dumfries. It is curious as the only expression of sympathy with the Covenanting cause which occurs in Burns. Page 156. While Miss Lewars was attending Burns she became slightly indisposed. You must not die yet,' said the poet; and writing the four lines on a goblet he presented it, say, ing, 'This will be a companion for the "Toast.' Page 156, 9. On Miss Lewars recovering he said, There is a poetic reason for it,' and wrote these lines. Page 156, 13. 'The Toast' was written by Burns on a goblet, and presented to Miss Lewars. Page 157, 13. Mr. Chalmers was a writer in Ayr, and in love. He desired Burns to aldress the lady in his behalf. Page 158. Burns arrived at Wanlockhead on a winter day, and was anxious to have the shoes of his mare frosted. The smith was busy, and could not attend. Burns then scribbled these verses to Mr. John Taylor, a person of some importance in the place. Through Taylor's influence the smith's services were secured; and for thirty years afterwards it is said Vulcan was in the habit of boasting that he had never been weel paid but ance, and that was by a poet, who paid him in money, paid him in drink, and paid him in verse.' Page 158, 19. The note on which Burns wrote these lines is of the Bank of Scotland, dated 1st March, 1780. Page 158, 19. The Loyal Natives was a club in Dumfries, 'more distinguished,' says Cromek, 'for drunken loyalty than for respectability and poetic talent.' Page 158, 26. These lines-with one exception, the only attempt of Burns in blank verse-occur in his common-place book, April 1783. It will be seen that the poet had not attained any considerable mastery over the most difficult of poetic measures. Page 159, 17. This epigram, it is said, silenced a gentleman who was talking mightily of dukes at the table of Maxwell of Terraughty. Page 159, 25. These lines occur in one of the letters to Clarinda. Page 159, 37. These verses printed by Cromek. were first These lines occur in one of Page 160, 5. the letters to Clarinda. Page 160. Mr. Cobbett, who first printed these lines, says: 'It is our fortune to know a Mr. Kennedy, an aged gentleman, a native of Scotland, and the early friend and associate of Robert Burns. Both were born in Ayrshire, near the town of Ayr, so frequently celebrated in the poems of the bard. Burns, as is well known, was a poor peasant's son; and in the "Cotter's Saturday Night" gives a noble picture of what we may presume to be the family circle of his father. Kennedy, whose boyhood was passed in the labours of a farm, subsequently became the agent to a mercantile Hence he is house in a neighbouring town. called, in an epitaph which his friend the Poet wrote on him, "The Chapman." These lines, omitted in all editions of Burns' works, were composed on Kennedy's recovery from a severe illness. On his way to kirk on a bright Sabbath morning, he was met by the Poet, who, having rallied him on the sombre expression of his countenance, fell back, and soon rejoined him, presenting him with the epitaph scrawled on a bit of paper with a pencil.' In some MS. copies these Page 161, 13. stanzas conclude The Epistle to John Lapraik, an Old Scottish Bard.' Page 162, 24. These verses, inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, were printed for the first time in Pickering's edition. Page 163, 17. These lines occur in a letter addressed by Burns to Mr. Robert Ainslie. Page 163. Burns in early life sketched the outlines of a tragedy, and the Tragic Fragment' was an exclamation from a great charactergreat in occasional instances of generosity, and daring at times, in villanies. He is supposed to meet a child of misery and exclaims to himself.' Page 164. The following fragments are extracted from Burns' commonplace book, but the authorship is doubtful. The Tailor's epistle is as Page 165, 27. EPISTLE FROM A TAILOR TO ROBERT What waefu' news is this I hear, Aur lasses wham ye lo'e sae dear Weel wad I like war ye to stay, May He protect us night and day Whar thou art gaun, keep mind frae me. Ye'll won aboon, An' live at peace an' unity Some tell me, Rab, ye dinna fear To get a wean, an' curse an' swear; I'm unco wae, my lad, to hear O' sic a trade. Cou'd I persuade ye to forbear Fu' weel ye ken ye'll gang to hell, Waes me! ye're hurlin' down the hill An' ye'll get leave to swear your fill There, walth o' women ye'll get near, Come, gie's a kiss Nae kissing then-ye'll grin an' sneer, O Rab! lay by thy foolish tricks, Or some day ye'll come through the pricks, Ye'll fin' hard living wi' Auld Nicks : I'm wae for thee. But what's this comes wi' sic a knell, Amaist as loud as ony bell, While it does mak' my conscience tell I'm but a ragget cowt mysel', We're owre like those wha think it fit, To let them see down to the pit, But farewell, Rab, I maun awa', Lad, ye wad never mend ava'; Sae, Rab, tak' care. NOTES. Page 167. This epitaph, and the following epigrams, appeared in the Kilmarnock, but were omitted in the first Edinburgh and subsequent editions. Page 168, 1. These lines first appeared in the edition published at Glasgow in 1801. Page 168, 19. These lines first appeared in the edition published at Glasgow in 1801. Page 168,13. On Burns' arrival at Inverary the castle and inn were filled with visitors to the Duke, and the innkeeper was too busy to pay attention to the Poet and his friend. The epigram, which was first published in the Glasgow edition, is supposed to have been written on one of the windows. Page 169. John Stewart, eighth Earl of Galloway, who died in 1796. Burns disliked this nobleman, and his dislike descended in a shower of brilliant epigrams. Page 170, 33. Printed in Cromek's Reliques. Page 171, 1. Printed in the Glasgow Collection, 1801. Page 171, 23. Printed in Cromek's Reliques. Page 172, 5. Printed in the Glasgow Col lection, 1801. Page 172. Captain Grose was extremely corpulent. This epigram was printed in the Scots Magazine, June 1791. Page 172. Printed in the Glasgow Collection, 1801. In a letter to Clarinda, in 1787, Burns refers to this epigram. Did I ever repeat to you an epigram I made on a Mr. Elphinstone, who has given a translation of Martial, a famous Latin poet? The poetry of Elphinstone can only equal his prose-notes. merchant's shop of my acquaintance, waiting for I was sitting in a somebody: he put Elphinstone into my hand, and asked my opinion of it; I begged leave to write it on a blank leaf, which I did.' Page 173. This epitaph was printed in the Kilmarnock edition. Jamie' was James Humphrey, a mason in Mauchline, who was wont to hold theological disputations with the Poet. Page 173. 'Wee Johnny' was John Wilson, the printer of the Kilmarnock edition, in which edition Burns wickedly inserted the epitaph. Wilson printed, unconscious that he had any other interest in the matter than a commercial one. Page 173, 15. This, and the two following epitaphs, were printed in the Kilmarnock edition. Page 173. In the Kilmarnock, Edinburgh, and several subsequent editions, the first line of the Bard's Epitaph' is printed : Is there a whim-inspir'd fool. Page 174, 19. Printed in the Kilmarnock edition. In a copy in the Poet's handwriting the first line reads: O ye who sympathise with virtue's pains Page 174, 27. Printed in the Glasgow edition, 1801. Page 174, 41. Burns' friend. James Smith, of Mauchline. This epitaph was printed in the Glasgow Collection." Page 176. These lines were inscribed on a pane of glass in Mr. M'Murdo's house. 3 Page 177,12. The Right Worshipful Master, Major-General James Montgomery. 24th of June (St. John's Day! the masonic On the club in Mauchline, of which Burns was member, contemplated a procession. Burns sent the rhymed note to Dr. Mackenzie, with whom he had lately been discussing the origin of morals: Page 177, 16. This tumbler came into the possession of Sir Walter Scott, and is still preserved at Abbotsford. 'Willie Stewart' was factor on the estate of Closeburn in Dumfriesshire. He died in 1812, aged 63. Page 178. This song was composed in honour of Miss Wilhelmina Alexander, sister of the Laird of Ballochmyle, whom Burns had met in one of his evening walks. Page 178, 15. Var. The lily hue and rose's dye Page 178, 13, 2 col. Var. And all her other charms are fuil'd. Page 178. Burns wrote to Mrs. Dunlop, December, 1791 : I have just finished the following song, which, to a lady the descendant of Wallace, and many heroes of his truly illustrious line, and herself the mother of several soldiers, needs neither preface nor apology. The circumstance that gave rise to the following verses was, looking over with a musical friend M'Donald's collection of Highland airs, I was struck with one, an Isle of Skye tune, entitled Oran an Aoig, or The Song of Death, to the measure of which I have adapted my stanzas.' Page 178, 42. Var. Now gay with the bright setting sun. Page 179, 713. Var. Down by the burn, where birken buds. Page 179, 21. Var. Altho' the night were ne'er sae wet. Page 179, 2 33. The two first lines of this song are taken from an old Scotch ballad, printed in Johnson's Museum.' Mr. Chambers states that the second stanza was designed as a description of Charlotte Hamilton. Page 180, s. This song was written when Burns brought his wife home to Ellisland. The second line was originally I'll share wi' naebody. Page 180, 19. In Burns' MS. this line stood She is a winsome wee thing. It was altered, as in the text, by Mr. Thomson. Page 180. Duncan Gray was suggested by a somewhat licentious ditty published in Johnson's Museum;' the first and part of the third line being retained. With reference to this song Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson, December, 1792-'The foregoing I submit to your better judgment: acquit them or condemn them as seemeth good in your sight. Duncan Gray is that kind of horse-gallop of an air which precludes sentiment. The ludicrous is its ruling feature.' Page 181, 13. Var. How blest the wild-wood Indian's fate.-MS. Page 181, 2 col. About this song Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson, January, 1793 'The very name of Peter Pindar is an acquisition to your work. His "Gregory" is beautiful. I have tried to give you a set of stanzas in Scots on the same subject, which are at your service. Not that I intend to enter the lists with Peter; that would be presumption indeed. My song, though much inferior in poetic merit, has, I think, more of the ballad simplicity in it.' Dr. Wolcot's song (Peter Pindar) may be inserted here for purposes of comparison. 'Ah ope. Lord Gregory, thy door! Who comes with woe at this drear night,— If she whose love did once delight, 'But should'st thou not poor Marion know, And think the storms that round me blow Page 132, 13. A song under this title appeared in Johnson's 'Museum' in 1788, which is said to have been written by Burns. It is so rude and wretched a production,' says Mr. Chambers, that we cannot believe many words of it to have been supplied by so masterly a pen.' Page 182. The heroine of this song was Miss Jessie Staig. Page 183, 16. Var. As simmer to nature, so Willie to me. Erskine. Page 183, 19. Var. Ye mind na, 'mid your cruel joys, The widow's tears, the orphan's cries. Page 184. In July, 1793, Burns wrote Mr. Thomson:-'I have just finished the following ballad, and, as I do think it in my best style, I send it to you. Mr. Clarke, who wrote down the air from Mrs. Burns' wood-note wild, is very fond of it, and has given it a celebrity by teaching it to some young ladies of the first The heroine of the foregoing is a Miss M'Murdo, daughter to Mr. M'Murdo of Drumlanrig, one of your subscribers. I have not painted her in the rank which she holds in life, but in the dress and character of a cottager.' fashion here. Page 184, 21. In the original MS. Burns asks Mr. Thomson if this stanza is not original. Page 184, 1, 2 col. Var. Thy handsome foot thou shalt not set In barn or byre to trouble thee. MS. copy. Page 184. 19, 2 col. In August, 1793, Burns wrote Mr. Thomson:-'I have tried my hand on Robin Adair, and you will probably think with little success; but it is such a cursed, cramp, out-of-the-way measure, that I despair of doing anything better to it. So much for namby-pamby. I may, after all, try my hand on it in Scots verse. There I always find myself most at home.' Phillis the Fair is said to have been Miss M'Murdo,-sister of the heroine of There was a Lass,-and with whom the musician Clarke (who gave lessons to the young ladies) was in love. Phillis afterwards became Mrs. Norman Lockhart of Carnwath. Page 184, 34, 2 col. A mountain west of Strathallan, 3009 feet high. R. B. Page 185, 17. Burns wrote Mr. Thomson in August, 1793:-"That crinkum-crankum tune, Robin Adair, has run so in my head, and I succeeded so ill in my last attempt, that I have ventured, in this morning's walk, one essay more. You, my dear Sir, will remember an unfortunate part of our worthy friend Cunningham's story, which happened about three years ago. That struck my fancy, and I endeavoured to do the idea justice, as follows.' A lady with whom Cunningham was in love had jilted him on the appearance of a richer lover. Page 185. In August, 1793, Burns wrote Mr. Thomson-Is Whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad, one of your airs? I admire it much; and yesterday I set the following verses to it.' In some of the MSS. the first four lines run thus: O whistle, and I'll come to thee, my jo O whistle, and I'll come to thee, my jo; Tho' father and mother and a' should say no, O whistle, and I'll come to thee, my jo. In 1795 Burns wrote to Johnson:-'In Whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad, the iteration of that line is tiresome to my ear. Here goes what I think is an improvement : O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad; Page 186, 33- In September, 1793, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson: I have been turning over some volumes of songs, to find verses whose measures would suit the airs for which you have allotted me to find English songs. For Muirland Willic you have in Ramsay's Tea-table an excellent song, beginning, Ah, why those tears in Willie's eyes? As for The Colliers Dochter, take the following old bacchanal.' Page 186, 13, 2 col. In a letter to Clarinda (supposed to be written about February, 1790,) Burns writes:-'The following song is one of my latest productions, and I send it to you, as I should do anything else, because it pleases myself. It has been conjectured that Mrs. M'Lehose was the heroine. Page 186. In March, 1792, Burns wrote to Mr. Cunningham:-Apropos, do you know the much-admired old Highland air called The Sutor's Dochter? It is a first-rate favourite of mine, and I have written what I reckon one of my best songs to it. I will send it to you as it was sung with great applause in some fashion able circles by Major Lobertson, of Lude, who was here with his corps.' Allan Cunningham states that Wilt thou be my Dearie? was said to have been composed in honour of Janet Miller of Dalswinton, mother of the present Earl of Mar, one of the most beautiful women of her time.' Page 187. In May, 1794, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson: Now, for six or seven months, I shall be quite in song, as you shall see by and by. I know you value a composition because it is made by one of the great ones as little as I do. However, I got an air, pretty enough, composed by Lady Elizabeth Heron, of Heron, which she calls The Banks of Cree. Cree is a beautiful romantic stream; and as her ladyship is a particular friend of mine, I have written the following song to it.' Page 187, 26. Burns wrote Mr. Thomson in 1794 The last evening, as I was straying out, and thinking of O'er the Hills and far away, I spun the following stanzas for it; but whether my spinning will deserve to be laid up in store, like the precious thread of the silkworm, or brushed to the devil, like the vile manufacture of the spider, I leave, my dear Sir, to your usual candid criticism. I was pleased with several lines in it at first, but I own that now it appears rather a flimsy busi ness. Page 187. In September, 1794, Burns wrote Mr. Thomson: 'I am flattered at your adopting Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes, as it was owing to me that ever it saw the light. About seven years ago I was acquainted with a worthy little fellow of a clergyman, a Mr. Clunie, who sang it charmingly; and, at my request, Mr. Clarke took it down from his singing. When I gave it to Johnson, I added some stanzas to the song, and mended others, but still it will not do for you. In a solitary stroll which I took today I tried my hand on a few pastoral lines, following up the idea of the chorus, which I would preserve. Here it is, with all its crudities and imperfections on its head.' The copy published in Johnson's Museum' is much inferior to the text. Page 188, 21. In September, 1794, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson-Do you know a blackguard Irish song, called Onagh's Waterfall? The air is charming, and I have often regretted the want of decent verses on it. It is too much, at least for my humble rustic muse, to expect that every effort of hers shall have merit still I think that it is better to have mediocre verses to a favourite air than none at all.' Page 188, 13, 2 col. In sending this song to Mr.Thomson, 19th October, 1794, Burns writes:'I met with some such words in a collection of songs somewhere, which I altered and enlarged: and to please you, and to suit your favourite air, I have taken a stride or two across my room, and have arranged it anew, as you will find on the other page.' Page 188, 31, 2 col. The heroine of this song was Miss Lorimer, of Craigieburn. Dr. Currie prints the following variation: Now to the streaming fountain, Or up the heathy mountain, The hart, hind, and roe, freely, wildly-wanton, stray; In twining hazel bowers His lay the linnet pours; The lav rock to the sky While the sun and thou arise to bless the day. When frae my Chloris parted, Sad, cheerless, broken-hearted," The night's gloomy shades, cloudy, dark, o'ercast my sky. But when she charms my sight In pride of beauty's light, When through my very heart Her beaming glories dart, 'Tis then, 'tis then, I wake to life and joy. Page 189, 19. In sending this song to Mr. Thomson, November, 1794, Burns says:-This piece has at least the merit of being a regular pastoral: the vernal morn, the summer noon, the autumnal evening, and the winter night, are regularly rounded.' And should the howling wintry blast Page 189,19,2 col. With reference to this song Burns wrote Mr. Thomson, 19th October, 1794: -I enclose you a musical curiosity, an East Indian air, which you would swear was a Scottish one. I know the authenticity of it, as the gentleman who brought it over is a particular acquaintance of mine. Here follow the verses I intend for it.' ... Page 189, 25, 2 col. Burns sent the first draft of this song to Mr. Thomson in April, 1793. I: was then addressed to Maria (supposed to be Mrs. Riddel). When he sent the version in the text to Mr. Thomson in November, 1794, he had made some inconsiderable alterations, and substituted Eliza for Maria. Page 190, 13. Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson, November, 1794:-'Scottish bacchanalians we certainly want, though the few we have are excellent. Apropos to bacchanalian songs in Scottish, I composed one yesterday for an air I like much, Lumps o' Pudding. Burns tells Mr. Thomson in a passage suppressed by Currie, that he intended this song as a picture of his own mind. Page 190, 29. Clarinda was the heroine of this song. Var. Page 190, 41. Var. Come autumn sae pensive, in yellow array. Page 191, 1. The heroine of this song was Miss Lorimer, of Craigieburn. Page 191, 17. In February, 1795, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson :- Here is another trial at your favourite air. . . . I do not know whether it will do.' Page 191, 58. In May, 1795, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson:-The Irish air, Humours of Glen, is a great favourite of mine, and as, except the silly stuff in the Poor Soldier, there are not any decent verses for it, I have written for it as follows." Page 194, stood 33. In the original copy this line He up the Gateslack to my black cousin Bess. And on 3d June, 1795, Mr. Thomson wrote, objecting to the introduction of the word Gateslack, and also to that of Dalgarnock in the verse which followed. On August 3d of the same year Burns replied:- Gateslack, the word you object to, is the name of a particular place, a kind of passage up among the Lowther Hills, on the confines of this county. Dalgarnock is also the name of a romantic spot near the Nith, where are still a ruined church and a burial-ground. However, let the first run "He up the lang loan," &c.' Page 195, 27. About May 17, 1796, Burns wrote to Mr. Thomson :-'I once mentioned to you an air which I have long admired, Here's a health to them that's awa, hiney, but I forI have just get if you took any notice of it. been trying to suit it with verses, and I beg leave to recommend the air to your attention once more. I have only begun it.' Jessie, the heroine of the song, was Miss Jessie Lewars, who acted as nurse during the Poet's illness. |