have often,' says Gilbert, 'heard my father describe the anguish of mind he felt when he parted with his elder brother Robert on the top of a hill, on the confines of their native place, each going off his several way in search of new adventures, and scarcely knowing whither he went. My father,' he adds, 'undertook to act as a gardener, and shaped his course to Edinburgh, where he wrought hard when he could get work, passing through a variety of difficulties. Still, however, he endeavoured to spare something for the support of his aged parents; and I recollect hearing him mention his having sent a bank-note for this purpose, when money of that kind was so scarce in Kincardineshire that they scarcely knew how to employ it when it arrived.'*

It appears to be beyond question that William Burnes took part in laying out the Hope Park, in the south side of Edinburgh. This was probably about 1749. Next year he migrated to Ayrshire, having accepted the post of gardener on the estate of Fairlie, in the parish of Dundonald. In 1752 he accepted a similar post under Mr Crawford of Doonside. Finally, according to John Murdoch, whom he subsequently employed to teach his children, he was afterwards employed as a gardener and overseer' by Provost Fergusson of Doonholin, in the parish of Alloway.

While still remaining in the service of Provost Fergusson, he took a lease of seven acres of land near the Bridge of Doon, from Dr Campbell, of Ayr, designing to carry on business as a nurseryman and market-gardener. On this ground he built a clay cottage with his own hands. According to his Family Bible, he and Agnes Broun, who was eleven years younger than himself, were 'married together, 15th December 1757.' They at once took up their residence in the clay cottage, where,+ thirteen months later, their first child was born.

* See Appendix I.

+ William Burnes retained the cottage, with its feu-duties, till 1781, when he sold them for a small sum to the Ayr Corporation of Shoemakers. For many years it was used as a village ale-house; and in 1847 the Corporation built a hall at the back of the cottage, for the preservation of manuscripts and other relics of the poet, and for the holding of anniversary celebrations on the 25th of January. In 1881, the cottage and the relics were acquired for £4000, 'to be preserved in the interests and for behoof of the public,' by the Trustees of the Monument which was erected to the memory of Burns in 1823, on the north bank of the Doon, close to the old bridge. The trustees are the Lord-lieutenant, Vice-lieutenant, Sheriff, and Convener of the County of Ayr, the Provost of the Burgh, and the members of parliament for North and South Ayrshire and the Ayr Burghs. While still open to the public, the cottage has, since 1881, ceased to be used as an ale-house.

CHAPTER III.

ALLOWAY AND MOUNT OLIPHANT (1759-1776).

ILBERT BURNS related to Dr Currie a circumstance attending the birth of the poet. When my father,' he says, 'built his clay bigging, he put in two stone jambs, as they are called, and a lintel, carrying up a chimney in his clay gable. The consequence was, that as the gable subsided, the jambs, remaining firm, threw it off its centre; and one very stormy morning, when my brother was nine or ten days old, a little before daylight a part of the gable fell out, and the rest appeared so shattered, that my mother, with the young poet, had to be carried through the storm to a neighbour's house, where they remained a week, till their own dwelling was adjusted.' Gilbert adds: 'That you may not think too meanly of this house, or my father's taste in building, by supposing the poet's description in "The Vision" (which is entirely a fancy picture) applicable to it, allow me to take notice to you that the house consisted of a kitchen in one end and a room in the other, with a fireplace and chimney; that my father had constructed a concealed bed in the kitchen, with a small closet at the end, of the same materials with the house; and when altogether cast over, outside and in, with lime, it had a neat, comfortable appearance, such as no family of the same rank, in the present improved style of living, would think themselves ill lodged in.'

William Burnes, himself a man of character and intelligence,*

* The following letter, the original of which is preserved in the monument to the poet in Edinburgh, is interesting as giving the only authentic account of the Burnes household, by its head, that is extant:

'TO MR JAMES BURNES, MONTROSE.

'DEAR NEPHEW,-I received your affectionate letter by the bearer, who came 5 miles with it to my house. I received [it] with the same warmth you wrott it, and I am extremely

was anxious that his children should have the best education he could give them. Robert was therefore sent, in his sixth year, to a little school at Alloway Mill, about a mile from the cottage, and taught, according to tradition, by a Mr Campbell. Not long after, his father took the lead in establishing a young teacher, named John Murdoch,* in a room in the village, and there Robert and his younger brother Gilbert attended for some time. It will have been observed that the poet, in his own narrative, passes over his school attendance with slight notice, in comparison with the legendary lore he gathered from the old woman who resided in the family.+ Gilbert has been more communicative. Referring to Murdoch, in a letter addressed to Dr Currie, he says: With him we learned to read English tolerably well, and to write a little. He taught us, too, the English grammar. I was too young to profit much from his lessons in grammar, but Robert made some proficiency in it; a circumstance of considerable weight in the unfolding of his genius and character, as he soon became remarkable for the fluency and correctness of his expression, and read the few books that came in his way with much pleasure and improvement; for even then he was a reader when he could get a book. Murdoch, whose library at that time had no great

glad you express yourself with so warm regard for your parents and friends. I wish much Joy in your wife and child. I should have been glad had you sent me their names, with the name of your brother-in-law.

'I have a family of four sons and three douthers: two of my sons and two of my douthers are men and women, and all with me in the farm-way: I have the happiness to hope they are virtuously inclined; my youngest douther is ten years of age: my eldest son is named Robert; the second Gilbert; the third William; the fourth John; my eldest douther is named Agnes; the second Anna Bela; the third Isbal.

'My Brother lives at Stewarton, by Kilmarnock; he hath two sons and one douther, named John, William, and Fanny; their circumstances are very indifferent.

'I shall be happy to hear from you when it is convenient, when I shall writt to you from time to time. Please give my respects to your Brother and Sister in the kindest manner, and to your Wife, which will greatly oblige your affectionate Uncle,

'Lochlie, Aprill 14, 1781.'

*Murdoch was born in Ayr, on 25th March 1747.

WILLIAM BURNES.

According to Mrs Begg, the poet's youngest sister, the old woman whose store of legends made so deep an impression on his infant mind was named Betty Davidson. She was the widow of a cousin of Mrs Burnes, and mainly dependent on a son whose wife was unkind to her. For this reason, William Burnes used to invite the poor old woman to spend a few months at a time with his family, both at Alloway and at Mount Oliphant, where, to requite his kindness, she was most assiduous in spinning, carding, and doing all kinds of good offices that were in her power. She was of a mirthful temperament, and therefore a great favourite with the children. Mrs Begg remembered the particular impres sion made upon them by a string of uncommonly large amber (Scotticé, laminer) beads which she wore round her neck.

variety in it, lent him the Life of Hannibal, which was the first book he read (the school-books excepted), and almost the only one he had an opportunity of reading while he was at school; for the Life of Wallace, which he classes with it in one of his letters, he did not see for some years afterwards, when he borrowed it from the blacksmith who shod our horses.'*

The poet was seven years of age when (1766) his father left the cottage at Alloway, and settled in the small upland farm of Mount Oliphant, about a couple of miles distant. † He and his younger brother, nevertheless, continued to attend Murdoch's school for two years longer, till it was broken up, in consequence of its master obtaining more remunerative employment elsewhere. Gilbert remembered a circumstance occurring at this time, which he thought illustrative of his brother's character: 'Murdoch came to spend a night with us, and to take his leave when he was about to go into Carrick. He brought us a present and memorial of him, a small compendium of English Grammar, and the tragedy of Titus Andronicus, and by way of passing the evening, he began to read the play aloud. We were all attention for some time, till presently the whole party was dissolved in tears. A female in the play (I have but a confused recollection of it) had her hands chopt off, her tongue cut out, and then was insultingly desired to call for water to wash her hands. At this, in an agony of distress, we with one voice desired he would read no more. My father observed that if we would not hear it out, it would be needless to leave the play with us. Robert replied that if it was left he would burn it. My father was going to chide him for this ungrateful return to his tutor's kindness; but Murdoch interfered, declaring that he liked to see so much sensibility; and he left the School for Love, a comedy (translated, I think, from the French) in its place.'

William Burnes from this time took upon himself the duty of

*This is now said to have been Henry M'Candlish, or Candlish, blacksmith at Parclewan, in Dalrymple parish. He was the father of James Candlish, who, born in the same year as Burns, was educated with him at the Dalrymple Parish School and the Burgh School of Ayr. He appears later on as a correspondent of the poet.

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The farm of Mount Oliphant,' says Gilbert, was upwards of seventy acres; the rent was £40 annually for the first six years (Martinmas 1765 to Martinmas 1771), and afterwards (1771 to 1777) £45. My father endeavoured to sell his leasehold property in Alloway for the purpose of stocking his farm, but at that time was unable, and Mr Fergusson lent him £100 for that purpose.' Mount Oliphant is now the property of Mr R. A. Oswald of Auchincruive. Its rent is upward of £50.