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    The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing His Poems, Songs, and Correspondence
    The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing His Poems, Songs, and Correspondence
    The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing His Poems, Songs, and Correspondence
    Ebook2,182 pages14 hours

    The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing His Poems, Songs, and Correspondence

    By Robert Burns

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    Edition of 1855. According to Wikipedia: "Robert Burns (25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement..."
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSeltzer Books
    Release dateMar 1, 2018
    ISBN9781455364855
    The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing His Poems, Songs, and Correspondence
    Author

    Robert Burns

    Robert Burns has been involved in the areas of self improvement and assisting people in becoming who they were meant to be from birth. He knows that stories play a significant role in our life's choices and future accomplishments. This short story has a wealth of information concerning friendship so I hope you enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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      The Complete Works of Robert Burns - Robert Burns

      THE  COMPLETE WORKS OF ROBERT BURNS

      CONTAINING HIS POEMS, SONGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE. WITH A NEW LIFE OF THE POET, AND NOTICES, CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

      published by Samizdat Express, Orange, CT, USA

      established in 1974, offering over 14,000 books

      Books about Scotland:

      The Waverley Novels by Sir Walter Scott

      Complete Works of Robert Burns

      Edinburgh by Robert Louis Stevenson

      Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland by Dorothy Wordsworth

      A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland by Samuel Johnson

      The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides by James Boswell

      Royal Edinburgh: Her Saints, Kings, and Prophets by Margaret Oliphant

      feedback welcome: info@samizdat.com

      visit us at samizdat.com

      BOSTON:

      PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY.

      NEW YORK: J.C. DERBY.

      1855

      TABLE OF CONTENTS.

      Dedication

      Preface

      THE LIFE OF ROBERT BURNS

      Preface to the Kilmarnock Edition of 1786

      POEMS.

      Winter. A Dirge

      The Death and dying Words of poor Mailie

      Poor Mailie's Elegy

      First Epistle to Davie, a brother Poet

      Second

      Address to the Deil

      The auld Farmer's New-year Morning Salutation to his auld Mare Maggie

      To a Haggis

      A Prayer under the pressure of violent Anguish

      A Prayer in the prospect of Death

      Stanzas on the same occasion

      A Winter Night

      Remorse. A Fragment

      The Jolly Beggars. A Cantata

      Death and Dr. Hornbook. A True Story

      The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulzie

      Holy Willie's Prayer

      Epitaph to Holy Willie

      The Inventory; in answer to a mandate by the surveyor of taxes

      The Holy Fair

      The Ordination

      The Calf

      To James Smith

      The Vision

      Halloween

      Man was made to Mourn. A Dirge

      To Ruin

      To John Goudie of Kilmarnock, on the publication of his Essays

      To J. Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard. First Epistle

      To J. Lapraik. Second Epistle

      To J. Lapraik. Third Epistle

      To William Simpson, Ochiltree

      Address to an illegitimate Child

      Nature's Law. A Poem humbly inscribed to G.H., Esq.

      To the Rev. John M'Math

      To a Mouse

      Scotch Drink

      The Author's earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch Representatives of

      the House of Commons

      Address to the unco Guid, or the rigidly Righteous

      Tam Samson's Elegy

      Lament, occasioned by the unfortunate issue of a Friend's Amour

      Despondency. An Ode

      The Cotter's Saturday Night

      The first Psalm

      The first six Verses of the ninetieth Psalm

      To a Mountain Daisy

      Epistle to a young Friend

      To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet at Church

      Epistle to J. Rankine, enclosing some Poems

      On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies

      The Farewell

      Written on the blank leaf of my Poems, presented to an old Sweetheart

      then married

      A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.

      Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux

      Letter to James Tennant of Glenconner

      On the Birth of a posthumous Child

      To Miss Cruikshank

      Willie Chalmers

      Verses left in the room where he slept

      To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., recommending a boy

      To Mr. M'Adam, of Craigen-gillan

      Answer to a Poetical Epistle sent to the Author by a Tailor

      To J. Rankine. I am a keeper of the law.

      Lines written on a Bank-note

      A Dream

      A Bard's Epitaph

      The Twa Dogs. A Tale

      Lines on meeting with Lord Daer

      Address to Edinburgh

      Epistle to Major Logan

      The Brigs of Ayr

      On the Death of Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston, late Lord President

      of the Court of Session

      On reading in a Newspaper the Death of John M'Leod, Esq.

      To Miss Logan, with Beattie's Poems

      The American War, A fragment

      The Dean of Faculty. A new Ballad

      To a Lady, with a Present of a Pair of Drinking-glasses

      To Clarinda

      Verses written under the Portrait of the Poet Fergusson

      Prologue spoken by Mr. Woods, on his Benefit-night, Monday, April 16,

      1787

      Sketch. A Character

      To Mr. Scott, of Wauchope

      Epistle to William Creech

      The humble Petition of Bruar-Water, to the noble Duke of Athole

      On scaring some Water-fowl in Loch Turit

      Written with a pencil, over the chimney-piece, in the parlour of the

      Inn at Kenmore, Taymouth

      Written with a pencil, standing by the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness

      To Mr. William Tytler, with the present of the Bard's picture

      Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage, on the banks of Nith, June, 1780.

      First Copy

      The same. December, 1788. Second Copy

      To Captain Riddel, of Glenriddel. Extempore lines on returning a

      Newspaper

      A Mother's Lament for the Death of her Son

      First Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray

      On the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair

      Epistle to Hugh Parker

      Lines, intended to be written under a Noble Earl's Picture

      Elegy on the year 1788. A Sketch

      Address to the Toothache

      Ode. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Oswald, of Auchencruive

      Fragment inscribed to the Right Hon. C.J. Fox

      On seeing a wounded Hare limp by me, which a Fellow had just shot

      To Dr. Blacklock. In answer to a Letter

      Delia. An Ode

      To John M'Murdo, Esq.

      Prologue, spoken at the Theatre, Dumfries, 1st January, 1790

      Scots Prologue, for Mr. Sutherland's Benefit-night, Dumfries

      Sketch. New-year's Day. To Mrs. Dunlop

      To a Gentleman who had sent him a Newspaper, and offered to continue

      it free of expense

      The Kirk's Alarm. A Satire. First Version

      The Kirk's Alarm. A Ballad. Second Version

      Peg Nicholson

      On Captain Matthew Henderson, a gentleman who held the patent for his

      honours immediately from Almighty God

      The Five Carlins. A Scots Ballad

      The Laddies by the Banks o' Nith

      Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on the close of the

      disputed Election between Sir James Johnstone, and Captain Miller, for

      the Dumfries district of Boroughs

      On Captain Grose's Peregrination through Scotland, collecting the

      Antiquities of that kingdom

      Written in a wrapper, enclosing a letter to Captain Grose

      Tam O' Shanter. A Tale

      Address of Beelzebub to the President of the Highland Society

      To John Taylor

      Lament of Mary Queen of Scots, on the approach of Spring

      The Whistle

      Elegy on Miss Burnet of Monboddo

      Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn

      Lines sent to Sir John Whitefoord, Bart., of Whitefoord, with the

      foregoing Poem

      Address to the Shade of Thomson, on crowning his Bust at Ednam with

      bays

      To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray

      To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on receiving a favour

      A Vision

      To John Maxwell, of Terraughty, on his birthday

      The Rights of Women, an occasional Address spoken by Miss Fontenelle,

      on her benefit-night, Nov. 26, 1792

      Monody on a Lady famed for her caprice

      Epistle from Esopus to Maria

      Poem on Pastoral Poetry

      Sonnet, written on the 25th January, 1793, the birthday of the Author,

      on hearing a thrush sing in a morning walk

      Sonnet on the death of Robert Riddel, Esq., of Glenriddel, April, 1794

      Impromptu on Mrs. Riddel's birthday

      Liberty. A Fragment

      Verses to a young Lady

      The Vowels. A Tale

      Verses to John Rankine

      On Sensibility. To my dear and much-honoured friend, Mrs. Dunlop, of

      Dunlop

      Lines sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended Address spoken by Miss

      Fontenelle on her Benefit-night

      On seeing Miss Fontenelle in a favourite character

      To Chloris

      Poetical Inscription for an Altar to Independence

      The Heron Ballads. Balled First

      The Heron Ballads. Ballad Second

      The Heron Ballads. Ballad Third

      Poem addressed to Mr. Mitchell, Collector of Excise, Dumfries, 1796

      To Miss Jessy Lewars, Dumfries, with Johnson's

      Musical Museum

      Poem on Life, addressed to Colonel de Peyster, Dumfries, 1796

      EPITAPHS, EPIGRAMS, FRAGMENTS, &c.

      On the Author's Father

      On R.A., Esq.

      On a Friend

      For Gavin Hamilton

      On wee Johnny

      On John Dove, Innkeeper, Mauchline

      On a Wag in Mauchline

      On a celebrated ruling Elder

      On a noisy Polemic

      On Miss Jean Scott

      On a henpecked Country Squire

      On the same

      On the same

      The Highland Welcome

      On William Smellie

      Written on a window of the Inn at Carron

      The Book-worms

      Lines on Stirling

      The Reproof

      The Reply

      Lines written under the Picture of the celebrated Miss Burns

      Extempore in the Court of Session

      The henpecked Husband

      Written at Inverary

      On Elphinston's Translation of Martial's Epigrams

      Inscription on the Head-stone of Fergusson

      On a Schoolmaster

      A Grace before Dinner

      A Grace before Meat

      On Wat

      On Captain Francis Grose

      Impromptu to Miss Ainslie

      The Kirk of Lamington

      The League and Covenant

      Written on a pane of glass in the Inn at Moffat

      Spoken on being appointed to the Excise

      Lines on Mrs. Kemble

      To Mr. Syme

      To Mr. Syme, with a present of a dozen of porter

      A Grace

      Inscription on a goblet

      The Invitation

      The Creed of Poverty

      Written in a Lady's pocket-book

      The Parson's Looks

      The Toad-eater

      On Robert Riddel

      The Toast

      On a Person nicknamed the Marquis

      Lines written on a window

      Lines written on a window of the Globe Tavern, Dumfries

      The Selkirk Grace

      To Dr. Maxwell, on Jessie Staig's Recovery

      Epitaph

      Epitaph on William Nicol

      On the Death of a Lapdog, named Echo

      On a noted Coxcomb

      On seeing the beautiful Seat of Lord Galloway

      On the same

      On the same

      To the same, on the Author being threatened with his resentment

      On a Country Laird

      On John Bushby

      The true loyal Natives

      On a Suicide

      Extempore, pinned on a Lady's coach

      Lines to John Rankine

      Jessy Lewars

      The Toast

      On Miss Jessy Lewars

      On the recovery of Jessy Lewars

      Tam the Chapman

      Here's a bottle and an honest friend

      Tho' fickle fortune has deceived me

      To John Kennedy

      To the same

      There's naethin' like the honest nappy

      On the blank leaf of a work by Hannah More, presented by Mrs. C

      To the Men and Brethren of the Masonic Lodge at Tarbolton

      Impromptu

      Prayer for Adam Armour

      SONGS AND BALLADS.

      Handsome Nell

      Luckless Fortune

      I dream'd I lay where flowers were springing

      Tibbie, I hae seen the day

      My father was a farmer upon the Carrick border

      John Barleycorn. A Ballad

      The Rigs o' Barley

      Montgomery's Peggy

      The Mauchline Lady

      The Highland Lassie

      Peggy

      The rantin' Dog the Daddie o't

      My heart was ance as blithe and free

      My Nannie O

      A Fragment. One night as I did wander

      Bonnie Peggy Alison

      Green grow the Rashes, O

      My Jean

      Robin

      Her flowing locks, the raven's wing

      O leave novels, ye Mauchline belles

      Young Peggy

      The Cure for all Care

      Eliza

      The Sons of Old Killie

      And maun I still on Menie doat

      The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James's Lodge, Tarbolton

      On Cessnock Banks

      Mary

      The Lass of Ballochmyle

      The gloomy night is gathering fast

      O whar did ye get that hauver meal bannock?

      The Joyful Widower

      O Whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad

      I am my mammy's ae bairn

      The Birks of Aberfeldy

      Macpherson's Farewell

      Braw, braw Lads of Galla Water

      Stay, my charmer, can you leave me?

      Strathallan's Lament

      My Hoggie

      Her Daddie forbad, her Minnie forbad

      Up in the Morning early

      The young Highland Rover

      Hey the dusty Miller

      Duncan Davison

      Theniel Menzies' bonnie Mary

      The Banks of the Devon

      Weary fa' you, Duncan Gray

      The Ploughman

      Landlady, count the Lawin

      Raving winds around her blowing

      How long and dreary is the night

      Musing on the roaring Ocean

      Blithe, blithe and merry was she

      The blude red rose at Yule may blaw

      O'er the Water to Charlie

      A Rose-bud by my early walk

      Rattlin', roarin' Willie

      Where braving angry Winter's Storms

      Tibbie Dunbar

      Bonnie Castle Gordon

      My Harry was a gallant gay

      The Tailor fell through the bed, thimbles an' a'

      Ay Waukin O!

      Beware o' Bonnie Ann

      The Gardener wi' his paidle

      Blooming Nelly

      The day returns, my bosom burns

      My Love she's but a lassie yet

      Jamie, come try me

      Go fetch to me a Pint O' Wine

      The Lazy Mist

      O mount and go

      Of a' the airts the wind can blaw

      Whistle o'er the lave o't

      O were I on Parnassus' Hill

      There's a youth in this city

      My heart's in the Highlands

      John Anderson, my Jo

      Awa, Whigs, awa

      Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes

      Merry hae I been teethin' a heckle

      The Braes of Ballochmyle

      To Mary in Heaven

      Eppie Adair

      The Battle of Sherriff-muir

      Young Jockey was the blithest lad

      O Willie brewed a peck o' maut

      The braes o' Killiecrankie, O

      I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen

      The Banks of Nith

      Tam Glen

      Frae the friends and land I love

      Craigie-burn Wood

      Cock up your Beaver

      O meikle thinks my luve o' my beauty

      Gudewife, count the Lawin

      There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame

      The bonnie lad that's far awa

      I do confess thou art sae fair

      Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide

      It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face

      When I think on the happy days

      Whan I sleep I dream

      I murder hate by field or flood

      O gude ale comes and gude ale goes

      Robin shure in hairst

      Bonnie Peg

      Gudeen to you, Kimmer

      Ah, Chloris, since it may na be

      Eppie M'Nab

      Wha is that at my bower-door

      What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man

      Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing

      The tither morn when I forlorn

      Ae fond kiss, and then we sever

      Lovely Davies

      The weary Pond o' Tow

      Naebody

      An O for ane and twenty, Tam

      O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie

      The Collier Laddie

      Nithsdale's Welcome Hame

      As I was a-wand'ring ae Midsummer e'enin

      Bessy and her Spinning-wheel

      The Posie

      The Country Lass

      Turn again, thou fair Eliza

      Ye Jacobites by name

      Ye flowery banks o'bonnie Doon

      Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon

      Willie Wastle

      O Lady Mary Ann

      Such a parcel of rogues in a nation

      The Carle of Kellyburn braes

      Jockey's ta'en the parting kiss

      Lady Onlie

      The Chevalier's Lament

      Song of Death

      Flow gently, sweet Afton

      Bonnie Bell

      Hey ca' thro', ca' thro'

      The Gallant weaver

      The deuks dang o'er my Daddie

      She's fair and fause

      The Deil cam' fiddling thro' the town

      The lovely Lass of Inverness

      O my luve's like a red, red rose

      Louis, what reck I by thee

      Had I the wyte she bade me

      Coming through the rye

      Young Jamie, pride of a' the plain

      Out over the Forth I look to the north

      The Lass of Ecclefechan

      The Cooper o' Cuddie

      For the sake of somebody

      I coft a stane o' haslock woo

      The lass that made the bed for me

      Sae far awa

      I'll ay ca' in by yon town

      O wat ye wha's in yon town

      O May, thy morn

      Lovely Polly Stewart

      Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie

      Anna, thy charms my bosom fire

      Cassilis' Banks

      To thee, lov'd Nith

      Bannocks o' Barley

      Hee Balou! my sweet wee Donald

      Wae is my heart, and the tear's in my e'e

      Here's his health in water

      My Peggy's face, my Peggy's form

      Gloomy December

      My lady's gown, there's gairs upon 't

      Amang the trees, where humming bees

      The gowden locks of Anna

      My ain kind dearie, O

      Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary

      She is a winsome wee thing

      Bonny Leslie

      Highland Mary

      Auld Rob Morris

      Duncan Gray

      O poortith cauld, and restless love

      Galla Water

      Lord Gregory

      Mary Morison

      Wandering Willie. First Version

      Wandering Willie. Last Version

      Oh, open the door to me, oh!

      Jessie

      The poor and honest sodger

      Meg o' the Mill

      Blithe hae I been on yon hill

      Logan Water

      O were my love yon lilac fair

      Bonnie Jean

      Phillis the fair

      Had I a cave on some wild distant shore

      By Allan stream

      O Whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad

      Adown winding Nith I did wander

      Come, let me take thee to my breast

      Daintie Davie

      Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled. First Version

      Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled. Second Version

      Behold the hour, the boat arrives

      Thou hast left me ever, Jamie

      Auld lang syne

      Where are the joys I have met in the morning

      Deluded swain, the pleasure

      Nancy

      Husband, husband, cease your strife

      Wilt thou be my dearie?

      But lately seen in gladsome green

      Could aught of song declare my pains

      Here's to thy health, my bonnie lass

      It was a' for our rightfu' king

      O steer her up and haud her gaun

      O ay my wife she dang me

      O wert thou in the cauld blast

      The Banks of Cree

      On the seas and far away

      Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes

      Sae flaxen were her ringlets

      O saw ye my dear, my Phely?

      How lang and dreary is the night

      Let not woman e'er complain

      The Lover's Morning Salute to his Mistress

      My Chloris, mark how green the groves

      Youthful Chloe, charming Chloe

      Lassie wi' the lint-white locks

      Farewell, thou stream, that winding flows

      O Philly, happy be the day

      Contented wi' little and cantie wi' mair

      Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy

      My Nannie's awa

      O wha is she that lo'es me

      Caledonia

      O lay thy loof in mine, lass

      The Fete Champetre

      Here's a health to them that's awa

      For a' that, and a' that

      Craigieburn Wood

      O lassie, art thou sleeping yet

      O tell na me o' wind and rain

      The Dumfries Volunteers

      Address to the Wood-lark

      On Chloris being ill

      Their groves o' sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon

      'Twas na her bonnie blue een was my ruin

      How cruel are the parents

      Mark yonder pomp of costly fashion

      O this is no my ain lassie

      Now Spring has clad the grove in green

      O bonnie was yon rosy brier

      Forlorn my love, no comfort near

      Last May a braw wooer cam down the lang glen

      Chloris

      The Highland Widow's Lament

      To General Dumourier

      Peg-a-Ramsey

      There was a bonnie lass

      O Mally's meek, Mally's sweet

      Hey for a lass wi' a tocher

      Jessy. Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear

      Fairest Maid on Devon banks

      GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.

      1781.

      No. I. To William Burness. His health a little better, but tired of

      life. The Revelations

      1783.

      II. To Mr. John Murdoch. His present studies and temper of mind

      III. To Mr. James Burness. His father's illness, and sad state of the

      country

      IV. To Miss E. Love

      V. To Miss E. Love

      VI. To Miss E. Love

      VII. To Miss E. On her refusal of his hand

      VIII. To Robert Riddel, Esq. Observations on poetry and human life

      1784.

      IX. To Mr. James Burness. On the death of his father

      X. To Mr. James Burness. Account of the Buchanites

      XI. To Miss ----. With a book

      1786.

      XII. To Mr. John Richmond. His progress in poetic composition

      XIII. To Mr. John Kennedy. The Cotter's Saturday Night

      XIV. To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing his Scotch Drink

      XV. To Mr. Aiken. Enclosing a stanza on the blank leaf of a book by

      Hannah More

      XVI. To Mr. M'Whinnie, Subscriptions

      XVII. To Mr. John Kennedy. Enclosing The Gowan

      XVIII. To Mon. James Smith. His voyage to the West Indies

      XIX. To Mr. John Kennedy. His poems in the press. Subscriptions

      XX. To Mr. David Brice. Jean Armour's return,--printing his poems

      XXI. To Mr. Robert Aiken. Distress of mind

      XXII. To Mr. John Richmond. Jean Armour

      XXIII. To John Ballantyne, Esq. Aiken's coldness. His marriage-lines

      destroyed

      XXIV. To Mr. David Brice. Jean Armour. West Indies

      XXV. To Mr. John Richmond. West Indies The Armours

      XXVI. To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing The Calf

      XXVII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Thanks for her notice. Sir William Wallace

      XXVIII. To Mr. John Kennedy. Jamaica

      XXIX. To Mr. James Burness. His departure uncertain

      XXX. To Miss Alexander. The Lass of Ballochmyle

      XXXI. To Mrs. Stewart, of Stair and Afton. Enclosing some songs. Miss

      Alexander

      XXXII. Proclamation in the name of the Muses

      XXXIII. To Mr. Robert Muir. Enclosing Tam Samson. His Edinburgh

      expedition

      XXXIV. To Dr. Mackenzie. Enclosing the verses on dining with Lord Daer

      XXXV. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Rising fame. Patronage

      XXXVI. To John Ballantyne, Esq. His patrons and patronesses. The

      Lounger

      XXXVII. To Mr. Robert Muir. A note of thanks. Talks of sketching the

      history of his life

      XXXVIII. To Mr. William Chalmers. A humorous sally

      1787.

      XXXIX. To the Earl of Eglinton. Thanks for his patronage

      XL. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Love

      XLI. To John Ballantyne, Esq. Mr. Miller's offer of a farm

      XLII. To John Ballantyne, Esq. Enclosing The Banks o' Doon. First

      Copy

      XLIII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Dr. Moore and Lord Eglinton. His situation in

      Edinburgh

      XLIV. To Dr. Moore. Acknowledgments for his notice

      XLV. To the Rev. G. Lowrie. Reflections on his situation in life. Dr.

      Blacklock, Mackenzie

      XLVI. To Dr. Moore. Miss Williams

      XLVII. To John Ballantyne, Esq. His portrait engraving

      XLVIII. To the Earl of Glencairn. Enclosing "Lines intended to be

      written under a noble Earl's picture"

      XLIX. To the Earl of Buchan. In reply to a letter of advice

      L. To Mr. James Candlish. Still the old man with his deeds

      LI. To ----. On Fergusson's headstone

      LII. To Mrs. Dunlop. His prospects on leaving Edinburgh 341

      LIII. To Mrs. Dunlop. A letter of acknowledgment for the payment of

      the subscription

      LIV. To Mr. Sibbald. Thanks for his notice in the magazine

      LV. To Dr. Moore. Acknowledging the present of his View of Society

      LVI. To Mr. Dunlop. Reply to criticisms

      LVII. To the Rev. Dr. Hugh Blair. On leaving Edinburgh. Thanks for his

      kindness

      LVIII. To the Earl of Glencairn. On leaving Edinburgh

      LIX. To Mr. William Dunbar. Thanking him for the present of Spenser's

      poems

      LX. To Mr. James Johnson. Sending a song to the Scots Musical Museum

      LXI. To Mr. William Creech. His tour on the Border. Epistle in verse

      to Creech

      LXII. To Mr. Patison. Business

      LXIII. To Mr. W. Nicol. A ride described in broad Scotch

      LXIV. To Mr. James Smith. Unsettled in life. Jamaica

      LXV. To Mr. W. Nicol. Mr. Miller, Mr. Burnside. Bought a pocket Milton

      LXVI. To Mr. James Candlish. Seeking a copy of Lowe's poem of

      Pompey's Ghost

      LXVII. To Robert Ainslie, Esq. His tour

      LXVIII. To Mr. W. Nicol. Auchtertyre

      LXIX. To Mr. Wm. Cruikshank. Auchtertyre

      LXX. To Mr. James Smith. An adventure

      LXXI. To Mr. John Richmond. His rambles

      LXXII. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Sets high value on his friendship

      LXXIII. To the same. Nithsdale and Edinburgh

      LXXIV. To Dr. Moore. Account of his own life

      LXXV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. A humorous letter

      LXXVI. To Mr. Robert Muir. Stirling, Bannockburn

      LXXVII. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Of Mr. Hamilton's own family

      LXXVIII. To Mr. Walker. Bruar Water. The Athole family

      LXXIX. To Mr. Gilbert Burns. Account of his Highland tour

      LXXX. To Miss Margaret Chalmers. Charlotte Hamilton. Skinner.

      Nithsdale

      LXXXI. To the same. Charlotte Hamilton, and The Banks of the Devon

      LXXXII. To James Hoy, Esq. Mr. Nicol. Johnson's Musical Museum

      LXXXIII. To Rev. John Skinner. Thanking him for his poetic compliment

      LXXXIV. To James Hoy, Esq. Song by the Duke of Gordon

      LXXXV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His friendship for him

      LXXXVI. To the Earl of Glencairn. Requesting his aid in obtaining an

      excise appointment

      LXXXVII. To James Dalrymple, Esq. Rhyme. Lord Glencairn

      LXXXVIII. To Charles Hay, Esq. Enclosing his poem on the death of the

      Lord President Dundas

      LXXXIX. To Miss M----n. Compliments

      XC. To Miss Chalmers. Charlotte Hamilton

      XCI. To the same. His bruised limb. The Bible. The Ochel Hills

      XCII. To the same. His motto--I dare. His own worst enemy

      XCIII. To Sir John Whitefoord. Thanks for his friendship. Of poets

      XCIV. To Miss Williams. Comments on her poem of the Slave Trade

      XCV. To Mr. Richard Brown. Recollections of early life. Clarinda

      XCVI. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Prayer for his health

      XCVII. To Miss Chalmers. Complimentary poems. Creech

      1788.

      XCVIII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Lowness of spirits. Leaving Edinburgh

      XCIX. To the same. Religion

      C. To the Rev. John Skinner. Tullochgorum. Skinner's Latin

      CI. To Mr. Richard Brown. His arrival in Glasgow

      CII. To Mrs. Rose of Kilravock. Recollections of Kilravock

      CIII. To Mr. Richard Brown. Friendship. The pleasures of the present

      CIV. To Mr. William Cruikshank. Ellisland. Plans in life

      CV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland. Edinburgh. Clarinda

      CVI. To Mr. Richard Brown. Idleness. Farming

      CVII. To Mr. Robert Muir. His offer for Ellisland. The close of life

      CVIII. To Miss Chalmers. Taken Ellisland. Miss Kennedy

      CIX. To Mrs. Dunlop. Coila's robe

      CX. To Mr. Richard Brown. Apologies. On his way to Dumfries from

      Glasgow

      CXI. To Mr. Robert Cleghorn. Poet and fame. The air of Captain O'Kean

      CXII. To Mr. William Dunbar. Foregoing poetry and wit for farming and

      business

      CXIII. To Miss Chalmers. Miss Kennedy. Jean Armour

      CXIV. To the same. Creech's rumoured bankruptcy

      CXV. To the same. His entering the Excise

      CXVI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Fanning and the Excise. Thanks for the loan of

      Dryden and Tasso

      CXVII. To Mr. James Smith. Jocularity. Jean Armour

      CXVIII. To Professor Dugald Stewart. Enclosing some poetic trifles

      CXIX. To Mrs. Dunlop. Dryden's Virgil. His preference of Dryden to

      Pope

      CXX. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His marriage.

      CXXI. To Mrs. Dunlop. On the treatment of servants

      CXXII. To the same. The merits of Mrs. Burns

      CXXIII. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. The warfare of life. Books. Religion

      CXXIV. To the same. Miers' profiles

      CXXV. To the same. Of the folly of talking of one's private affairs

      CXXVI. To Mr. George Lockhart. The Miss Baillies. Bruar Water

      CXXVII. To Mr. Peter Hill. With the present of a cheese

      CXXVIII. To Robert Graham Esq., of Fintray. The Excise

      CXXIX. To Mr. William Cruikshank. Creech. Lines written in Friar's

      Carse Hermitage

      CXXX. To Mrs. Dunlop. Lines written at Friar's Carse. Graham of

      Fintray

      CXXXI. To the same. Mrs. Burns. Of accomplished young ladies

      CXXXII. To the same. Mrs. Miller, of Dalswinton. "The Life and Age of

      Man."

      CXXXIII. To Mr. Beugo. Ross and The Fortunate Shepherdess.

      CXXXIV. To Miss Chalmers. Recollections. Mrs. Burns. Poetry

      CXXXV. To Mr. Morison. Urging expedition with his clock and other

      furniture for Ellisland

      CXXXVI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Mr. Graham. Her criticisms

      CXXXVII. To Mr. Peter Hill. Criticism on an Address to Loch Lomond.

      CXXXVIII. To the Editor of the Star. Pleading for the line of the

      Stuarts

      CXXXIX. To Mrs. Dunlop. The present of a heifer from the Dunlops

      CXL. To Mr. James Johnson. Scots Musical Museum

      CXLI. To Dr. Blacklock. Poetical progress. His marriage

      CXLII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Enclosing Auld Lang Syne

      CXLIII. To Miss Davies. Enclosing the song of "Charming, lovely

      Davies"

      CXLIV. To Mr. John Tennant. Praise of his whiskey

      1789.

      CXLV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections suggested by the day

      CXLVI. To Dr. Moore. His situation and prospects

      CXLVII. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His favourite quotations. Musical

      Museum

      CXLVIII. To Professor Dugald Stewart. Enclosing some poems for his

      comments upon

      CXLIX. To Bishop Geddes. His situation and prospects

      CL. To Mr. James Burness. His wife and farm. Profit from his poems.

      Fanny Burns

      CLI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections. His success in song encouraged a

      shoal of bardlings

      CLII. To the Rev. Peter Carfrae. Mr. Mylne's poem

      CLIII. To Dr. Moore. Introduction. His ode to Mrs. Oswald

      CLIV. To Mr. William Burns. Remembrance

      CLV. To Mr. Peter Hill. Economy and frugality. Purchase of books

      CLVI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Sketch inscribed to the Right Hon. C.J. Fox

      CLVII. To Mr. William Burns. Asking him to make his house his home

      CLVIII. To Mrs. M'Murdo. With the song of Bonnie Jean

      CLIX. To Mr. Cunningham. With the poem of The Wounded Hare

      CLX. To Mr. Samuel Brown. His farm. Ailsa fowling

      CLXI. To Mr. Richard Brown. Kind wishes

      CLXII. To Mr. James Hamilton. Sympathy

      CLXIII. To William Creech, Esq. Toothache. Good wishes

      CLXIV. To Mr. M'Auley. His own welfare

      CLXV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Overwhelmed with incessant toil

      CLXVI. To Mr. M'Murdo. Enclosing his newest song

      CLXVII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections on religion

      CLXVIII. To Mr. ----. Fergusson the poet

      CLXIX. To Miss Williams. Enclosing criticisms on her poems

      CLXX. To Mr. John Logan. With The Kirk's Alarm

      CLXXI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Religion. Dr. Moore's Zeluco

      CLXXII. To Captain Riddel. The Whistle

      CLXXIII. To the same. With some of his MS. poems

      CLXXIV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. His Excise employment

      CLXXV. To Mr. Richard Brown. His Excise duties

      CLXXVI. To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray. The Excise. Captain Grose.

      Dr. M'Gill

      CLXXVII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Reflections on immortality

      CLXXVIII. To Lady M.W. Constable. Jacobitism

      CLXXIX. To Provost Maxwell. At a loss for a subject

      1790.

      CLXXX. To Sir John Sinclair. Account of a book-society in Nithsdale

      CLXXXI. To Charles Sharpe, Esq. A letter with a fictitious signature

      CLXXXII. To Mr. Gilburt Burns. His farm a ruinous affair. Players

      CLXXXIII. To Mr. Sutherland. Enclosing a Prologue

      CLXXXIV. To Mr. William Dunbar. Excise. His children. Another world

      CLXXXV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Falconer the poet. Old Scottish songs

      CLXXXVI. To Mr. Peter Hill. Mademoiselle Burns. Hurdis. Smollett and

      Cowper

      CLXXXVII. To Mr. W. Nicol. The death of Nicol's mare Peg Nicholson

      CLXXXVIII. To Mr. W. Cunningham. What strange beings we are

      CLXXXIX. To Mr. Peter Hill. Orders for books. Mankind

      CXC. To Mrs. Dunlop. Mackenzie and the Mirror and Lounger

      CXCI. To Collector Mitchell. A county meeting

      CXCII. To Dr. Moore. Zeluco. Charlotte Smith

      CXCIII. To Mr. Murdoch. William Burns

      CXCIV. To Mr. M'Murdo. With the Elegy on Matthew Henderson

      CXCV. To Mrs. Dunlop. His pride wounded

      CXCVI. To Mr. Cunningham. Independence

      CXCVII. To Dr. Anderson. The Bee.

      CXCVIII. To William Tytler, Esq. With some West-country ballads

      CXCIX. To Crauford Tait, Esq. Introducing Mr. William Duncan

      CC. To Crauford Tait, Esq. The Kirk's Alarm

      CCI. To Mrs. Dunlop. On the birth of her grandchild. Tam O' Shanter

      1791.

      CCII. To Lady M.W. Constable. Thanks for the present of a gold

      snuff-box

      CCIII. To Mr. William Dunbar. Not gone to Elysium. Sending a poem

      CCIV. To Mr. Peter Mill. Apostrophe to Poverty

      CCV. To Mr. Cunningham. Tam O' Shanter. Elegy on Miss Burnet

      CCVI. To A.F. Tytler, Esq. Tam O' Shanter

      CCVII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Miss Burnet. Elegy writing

      CCVIII. To Rev. Arch. Alison. Thanking him for his Essay on Taste

      CCIX. To Dr. Moore. Tam O' Shanter. Elegy on Henderson. Zeluco. Lord

      Glencairn

      CCX. To Mr. Cunningham. Songs

      CCXI. To Mr. Alex. Dalzel. The death of the Earl of Glencairn

      CCXII. To Mrs. Graham, of Fintray. With Queen Mary's Lament

      CCXIII. To the same. With his printed Poems

      CCXIV. To the Rev. G. Baird. Michael Bruce

      CCXV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Birth of a son

      CCXVI. To the same. Apology for delay

      CCXVII. To the same. Quaint invective on a pedantic critic

      CCXVIII. To Mr. Cunningham. The case of Mr. Clarke of Moffat,

      Schoolmaster

      CCXIX. To the Earl of Buchan. With the Address to the shade of Thomson

      CCXX. To Mr. Thomas Sloan. Apologies. His crop sold well

      CCXXI. To Lady E. Cunningham. With the Lament for the Earl of

      Glencairn

      CCXXII. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. State of mind. His income

      CCXXIII. To Col. Fullarton. With some Poems. His anxiety for

      Fullarton's friendship

      CCXXIV. To Miss Davis. Lethargy, Indolence, and Remorse. Our wishes

      and our powers

      CCXXV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Mrs. Henri. The Song of Death

      1792.

      CCXXVI. To Mrs. Dunlop. The animadversions of the Board of Excise

      CCXXVII. To Mr. William Smellie. Introducing Mrs. Riddel

      CCXXVIII. To Mr. W. Nicol. Ironical reply to a letter of counsel and

      reproof

      CCXXIX. To Francis Grose, Esq. Dugald Stewart

      CCXXX. To the same. Witch stories

      CCXXXI. To Mr. S. Clarke. Humorous invitation to teach music to the

      M'Murdo family

      CCXXXII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Love and Lesley Baillie

      CCXXXIII. To Mr. Cunningham. Lesley Baillie

      CCXXXIV. To Mr. Thomson. Promising his assistance to his collection of

      songs and airs

      CCXXXV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Situation of Mrs. Henri

      CCXXXVI. To the same. On the death of Mrs. Henri

      CCXXXVII. To Mr. Thomson. Thomson's fastidiousness. My Nannie O, &c.

      CCXXXVIII. To the same. With My wife's a winsome wee thing, and

      Lesley Baillie

      CCXXXIX. To the same. With Highland Mary. The air of Katherine Ogie

      CCXL. To the same. Thomson's alterations and observations

      CCXLI. To the same. With Auld Rob Morris, and Duncan Gray

      CCXLII. To Mrs. Dunlop. Birth of a daughter. The poet Thomson's dramas

      CCXLIII. To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray. The Excise inquiry into

      his political conduct

      CCXLIV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Hurry of business. Excise inquiry

      1793.

      CCXLV. To Mr. Thomson. With Poortith cauld and Galla Water

      CCXLVI. To the same. William Tytler, Peter Pindar

      CCXLVII. To Mr. Cunningham. The poet's seal. David Allan

      CCXLVIII. To Thomson. With Mary Morison

      CCCXLIX. To the same. With Wandering Willie

      CCL. To Miss Benson. Pleasure he had in meeting her

      CCLI. To Patrick Miller, Esq. With the present of his printed poems

      CCLII. To Mr. Thomson. Review of Scottish song. Crawfurd and Ramsay

      CCLIII. To the same. Criticism. Allan Ramsay

      CCLIV. To the same. The last time I came o'er the moor

      CCLV. To John Francis Erskine, Esq. Self-justification. The Excise

      inquiry

      CCLVI. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Answering letters. Scholar-craft

      CCLVII. To Miss Kennedy. A letter of compliment

      CCLVIII. To Mr. Thomson. Frazer. Blithe had I been on yon hill

      CCLIX. To Mr. Thomson. Logan Water. "O gin my love were yon red

      rose"

      CCLX. To the same. With the song of Bonnie Jean

      CCLXI. To the same. Hurt at the idea of pecuniary recompense. Remarks

      on song

      CCLXII. To the same. Note written in the name of Stephen Clarke

      CCLXIII. To the same. With Phillis the fair

      CCLXIV. To the same. With Had I a cave on some wild distant shore

      CCLXV. To the same. With Allan Water

      CCLXVI. To the same. With O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad,

      &c.

      CCLXVII. To the same. With Come, let me take thee to my breast

      CCLXVIII. To the same. With Dainty Davie

      CCLXIX. To Miss Craik. Wretchedness of poets

      CCLXX. To Lady Glencairn. Gratitude. Excise. Dramatic composition

      CCLXXI. To Mr. Thomson. With Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled

      CCLXXII. To the same. With Behold the hour, the boat arrive

      CCLXXIII. To the same. Crawfurd and Scottish song

      CCLXXIV. To the same. Alterations in Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled

      CCLXXV. To the same. Further suggested alterations in Scots wha hae

      rejected.

      CCLXXVI. To the same. With Deluded swain, the pleasure, and "Raving

      winds around her blowing"

      CCLXXVII. To the same. Erskine and Gavin Turnbull

      CCLXXVIII. To John M'Murdo, Esq. Payment of a debt. The Merry Muses

      CCLXXIX. To the same. With his printed poems

      CCLXXX. To Captain ----. Anxiety for his acquaintance. "Scots wha hae

      wi' Wallace bled"

      CCLXXXI. To Mrs. Riddel. The Dumfries Theatre

      1794.

      CCLXXXII. To a Lady. In favour of a player's benefit

      CCLXXXIII. To the Earl of Buchan. With a copy of Scots wha hae

      CCLXXXIV. To Captain Miller. With a copy of Scots wha hae

      CCLXXXV. To Mrs. Riddel. Lobster-coated puppies

      CCLXXXVI. To the same. The gin-horse class of the human genus

      CCLXXXVII. To the same. With Werter. Her reception of him

      CCLXXXVIII. To Mrs. Riddel. Her caprice

      CCLXXXIX. To the same. Her neglect and unkindness

      CCXC. To John Syme, Esq. Mrs. Oswald, and O wat ye wha's in yon town

      CCXCI. To Miss ----. Obscure allusions to a friend's death. His

      personal and poetic fame

      CCXCII. To Mr. Cunningham. Hypochondria. Requests consolation

      CCXCIII. To the Earl of Glencairn. With his printed poems

      CCXCIV. To Mr. Thomson. David Allan. The banks of Cree

      CCXCV. To David M'Culloch, Esq. Arrangements for a trip in Galloway

      CCXCVI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Threatened with flying gout. Ode on

      Washington's birthday

      CCXCVII. To Mr. James Johnson. Low spirits. The Museum. Balmerino's

      dirk

      CCXCVIII. To Mr. Thomson. Lines written in "Thomson's Collection of

      songs"

      CCXCIX. To the same. With How can my poor heart be glad

      CCC. To the same. With Ca' the yowes to the knowes

      CCCI. To the same. With Sae flaxen were her ringlets. Epigram to Dr.

      Maxwell.

      CCCII. To the same. The charms of Miss Lorimer. "O saw ye my dear, my

      Phely," &c.

      CCCIII. To the same. Ritson's Scottish Songs. Love and song

      CCCIV. To the same. English songs. The air of "Ye banks and braes o'

      bonnie Doon"

      CCCV. To the same. With O Philly, happy be the day, and "Contented

      wi' little"

      CCCVI. To the same. With Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy

      CCCVII. To Peter Miller, jun., Esq. Excise. Perry's offer to write for

      the Morning Chronicle

      CCCVIII. To Mr. Samuel Clarke, jun. A political and personal quarrel.

      Regret

      CCCIX. To Mr. Thomson. With "Now in her green mantle blithe nature

      arrays"

      1795.

      CCCX. To Mr. Thomson. With For a' that and a' that

      CCCXI. To the same. Abuse of Ecclefechan

      CCCXII. To the same. With O stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, and

      The groves of sweet myrtle

      CCCXIII. To the same. With How cruel are the parents and "Mark

      yonder pomp of costly fashion"

      CCCXIV. To the same. Praise of David Allan's Cotter's Saturday Night

      CCCXV. To the same. With This is no my ain Lassie. Mrs. Riddel

      CCCXVI. To Mr. Thomson. With Forlorn, my love, no comfort near

      CCCXVII. To the same. With Last May a braw wooer, and "Why tell thy

      lover"

      CCCXVIII. To Mrs. Riddel. A letter from the grave

      CCCXIX. To the same. A letter of compliment. Anacharsis' Travels

      CCCXX. To Miss Louisa Fontenelle. With a Prologue for her

      benefit-night

      CCCXXI. To Mrs. Dunlop. His family. Miss Fontenelle. Cowper's Task

      CCCXXII. To Mr. Alexander Findlater. Excise schemes

      CCCXXIII. To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle. Written for a

      friend. A complaint

      CCCXXIV. To Mr. Heron, of Heron. With two political ballads

      CCCXXV. To Mrs. Dunlop. Thomson's Collection. Acting as Supervisor of

      Excise

      CCCXXVI. To the Right Hon. William Pitt. Address of the Scottish

      Distillers

      CCCXXVII. To the Provost, Bailies, and Town Council of Dumfries.

      Request to be made a freeman of the town

      1796.

      CCCXXVIII. To Mrs. Riddel. Anarcharsis' Travels. The muses

      CCCXXIX. To Mrs. Dunlop. His ill-health.

      CCCXXX. To Mr. Thomson. Acknowledging his present to Mrs. Burns of a

      worsted shawl

      CCCXXXI. To the same. Ill-health. Mrs. Hyslop. Allan's etchings.

      Cleghorn

      CCCXXXII. To the same. Here's a health to ane I loe dear

      CCCXXXIII. To the same. His anxiety to review his songs, asking for

      copies

      CCCXXXIV. To Mrs. Riddel. His increasing ill-health

      CCCXXXV. To Mr. Clarke, acknowledging money and requesting the loan of

      a further sum

      CCCXXXVI. To Mr. James Johnson. The Scots Musical Museum. Request for

      a copy of the collection

      CCCXXXVII. To Mr. Cunningham. Illness and poverty, anticipation of

      death

      CCCXXXVIII. To Mr. Gilbert Burns. His ill-health and debts

      CCCXXXIX. To Mr. James Armour. Entreating Mrs. Armour to come to her

      daughter's confinement

      CCCXL. To Mrs. Burns. Sea-bathing affords little relief

      CCCXLI. To Mrs. Dunlop. Her friendship. A farewell

      CCCXLII. To Mr. Thomson. Solicits the sum of five pounds. "Fairest

      Maid on Devon Banks"

      CCCXLIII. To Mr. James Burness. Soliciting the sum of ten pounds

      CCCXLIV. To James Gracie, Esq. His rheumatism, &c. &c.--his loss of

      appetite

      Remarks on Scottish Songs and Ballads

      The Border Tour

      The Highland Tour

      Burns's Assignment of his Works

      Glossary

      __________

      TO

      ARCHIBALD HASTIE, ESQ., MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PAISLEY,  THIS EDITION OF THE WORKS AND MEMOIRS OF A GREAT POET, IN WHOSE SENTIMENTS OF FREEDOM HE SHARES, AND WHOSE PICTURES OF SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE HE LOVES, IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

      DEDICATION. TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CALEDONIAN HUNT.

      [On the title-page of the second or Edinburgh edition, were these words: Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns, printed for the Author, and sold by William Creech, 1787. The motto of the Kilmarnock edition was omitted; a very numerous list of

      subscribers followed: the volume was printed by the celebrated Smellie.]

      MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN:

      A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his country's service, where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land: those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their ancestors? The poetic genius of my country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did

      Elisha--at the PLOUGH, and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue; I tuned my wild, artless notes as she inspired. She whispered me to come to this

      ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates.

      Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours: that path is so hackneyed by prostituted learning that honest rusticity is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this address with the venal soul of a servile author, looking for a continuation of those favours: I was bred to the plough, and am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish name with you, my illustrious countrymen; and to tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my country that the blood of her ancient heroes still runs

      uncontaminated, and that from your courage, knowledge, and public spirit, she may expect protection, wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the great fountain of honour, the Monarch of the universe, for your welfare and happiness.

      When you go forth to waken the echoes, in the ancient and favourite amusement of your forefathers, may Pleasure ever be of your party: and may social joy await your return! When harassed in courts or camps with the jostlings of bad men and bad measures, may the honest consciousness of injured worth attend your return to your native seats; and may domestic happiness, with a smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May corruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance; and may tyranny in the ruler, and licentiousness in the people, equally find you an inexorable foe!

      I have the honour to be,

      With the sincerest gratitude and highest respect,

      My Lords and Gentlemen,

      Your most devoted humble servant,

      ROBERT BURNS.

      EDINBURGH, _April 4, 1787._

      PREFACE.

      I cannot give to my country this edition of one of its favourite poets, without stating that I have deliberately omitted several pieces of verse ascribed to Burns by other editors, who too hastily, and I think on insufficient testimony, admitted them among his works. If I am unable to share in the hesitation expressed by one of them on the authorship of the stanzas on Pastoral Poetry, I can as little share in the feelings with which they have intruded into the charmed circle of his poetry such compositions as Lines on the Ruins of Lincluden College, Verses on the Destruction of the Woods of Drumlanrig, Verses written on a Marble Slab in the Woods of Aberfeldy, and those entitled The Tree of Liberty. These productions, with the exception of the last, were never seen by any one even in the handwriting of Burns, and are one and all wanting in that original vigour of language and manliness of sentiment which distinguish his poetry. With respect to The Tree of Liberty in particular, a subject dear to the heart of the Bard, can any one conversant with his genius imagine that he welcomed its growth or celebrated its fruit with such capon craws as these?

          "Upo' this tree there grows sic fruit,

             Its virtues a' can tell, man;

           It raises man aboon the brute,

             It mak's him ken himsel', man.

           Gif ance the peasant taste a bit,

             He's greater than a lord, man,

           An' wi' a beggar shares a mite

             O' a' he can afford, man."

      There are eleven stanzas, of which the best, compared with the A man's a man for a' that of Burns, sounds like a cracked pipkin against the heroic clang of a Damascus blade. That it is extant in the handwriting of the poet cannot be taken as a proof that it is his own composition, against the internal testimony of utter want of all the marks by which we know him--the Burns-stamp, so to speak, which is visible on all that ever came from his pen. Misled by his handwriting, I inserted in my former edition of his works an epitaph, beginning

          Here lies a rose, a budding rose,

      the composition of Shenstone, and which is to be found in the church-yard of Hales-Owen: as it is not included in every edition of that poet's acknowledged works, Burns, who was an admirer of his genius, had, it seems, copied it with his own hand, and hence  my error. If I hesitated about the exclusion of The Tree of Liberty, and its three false brethren, I could have no scruples regarding the fine song of Evan Banks, claimed and justly for Miss Williams by Sir Walter Scott, or the humorous song called Shelah O'Neal, composed by the late Sir Alexander Boswell. When I have stated that I have arranged the Poems, the Songs, and the Letters of Burns, as nearly as possible in the order in which they were written; that I have omitted no piece of either verse or prose which bore the impress of his hand, nor included any by which his high reputation would likely be impaired, I have said all that seems necessary to be said, save that the following letter came too late for insertion in its proper place: it is characteristic and worth a place anywhere.

      ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

             *       *       *       *       *

      TO DR. ARCHIBALD LAURIE.

      _Mossgiel, 13th Nov. 1786._

      DEAR SIR,

      I have along with this sent the two volumes of Ossian, with the remaining volume of the Songs. Ossian I am not in such a hurry about; but I wish the Songs, with the volume of the Scotch Poets, returned as soon as they can conveniently be dispatched. If they are left at Mr. Wilson, the bookseller's shop, Kilmarnock, they will easily reach me.

      My most respectful compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Laurie; and a Poet's warmest wishes for their happiness to the young ladies; particularly the fair musician, whom I think much better qualified than ever David was, or could be, to charm an evil spirit out of a Saul.

      Indeed, it needs not the Feelings of a poet to be interested in the welfare of one of the sweetest scenes of domestic peace and kindred love that ever I saw; as I think the peaceful unity of St. Margaret's Hill can only be excelled by the harmonious concord of the Apocalyptic Zion.

      I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely,

      ROBERT BURNS.

      ______________

      LIFE OF ROBERT BURNS.

      Robert Burns, the chief of the peasant poets of Scotland, was born in a little mud-walled cottage on the banks of Doon, near Alloway's auld haunted kirk, in the shire of Ayr, on the 25th day of January, 1759. As a natural mark of the event, a sudden storm at the same moment swept the land: the gabel-wall of the frail dwelling gave way, and the babe-bard was hurried through a tempest of wind and sleet to the shelter of a securer hovel. He was the eldest born of three sons and three daughters; his father, William, who in his native Kincardineshire wrote his name Burness, was bred a gardener, and sought for work in the West; but coming from the lands of the noble family of the Keiths, a suspicion accompanied him that he had been out--as rebellion was softly called--in the forty-five: a suspicion fatal to his hopes of rest and bread, in so loyal a district; and it was only when the clergyman of his native parish certified his loyalty that he was permitted to toil. This suspicion of Jacobitism, revived by Burns himself, when he rose into fame, seems not to have influenced either the feelings, or the tastes of Agnes Brown, a young woman on the Doon, whom he wooed and married in December, 1757, when he was thirty-six years old. To support her, he leased a small piece of ground, which he converted into a nursery and garden, and to shelter her, he raised with his own hands that humble abode where she gave birth to her eldest son.

      The elder Burns was a well-informed, silent, austere man, who endured no idle gaiety, nor indecorous language: while he relaxed somewhat the hard, stern creed of the Covenanting times, he enforced all the work-day, as well as sabbath-day observances, which the Calvinistic kirk requires, and scrupled at promiscuous dancing, as the staid of our own day scruple at the waltz. His wife was of a milder mood: she was blest with a singular fortitude of temper; was as devout of heart, as she was calm of mind; and loved, while busied in her household concerns, to sweeten the bitterer moments of life, by chanting the songs and ballads of her country, of which her store was great. The garden and nursery prospered so much, that he was induced to widen his views, and by the help of his kind landlord, the laird of Doonholm, and the more questionable aid of borrowed money, he entered upon a neighbouring farm, named Mount Oliphant, extending to an hundred acres. This was in 1765; but the land was hungry and sterile; the seasons proved rainy and rough; the toil was certain, the reward unsure; when to his sorrow, the laird of Doonholm--a generous Ferguson,--died: the strict terms of the lease, as well as the rent, were exacted by a harsh factor, and with his wife and children, he was obliged, after a losing struggle of six years, to relinquish the farm, and seek shelter on the grounds of Lochlea, some ten miles off, in the parish of Tarbolton. When, in after-days, men's characters were in the hands of his eldest son, the scoundrel factor sat for that lasting portrait of insolence and wrong, in the Twa Dogs.

      In this new farm William Burns seemed to strike root, and thrive. He was strong of body and ardent of mind: every day brought increase of vigour to his three sons, who, though very young, already put their hands to the plough, the reap-hook, and the flail. But it seemed that nothing which he undertook was decreed in the end to prosper: after four seasons of prosperity a change ensued: the farm was far from cheap; the gains under any lease were then so little, that the loss of a few pounds was ruinous to a farmer: bad seed and wet seasons had their usual influence: The gloom of hermits and the moil of galley-slaves, as the poet, alluding to those days, said, were endured to no purpose; when, to crown all, a difference arose between the landlord and the tenant, as to the terms of the lease; and the early days of the poet, and the declining years of his father, were harassed by disputes, in which sensitive minds are sure to suffer.

      Amid these labours and disputes, the poet's father remembered the worth of religious and moral instruction: he took part of this upon himself. A week-day in Lochlea wore the sober looks of a Sunday: he read the Bible and explained, as intelligent peasants are accustomed to do, the sense, when dark or difficult; he loved to discuss the spiritual meanings, and gaze on the mystical splendours of the Revelations. He was aided in these labours, first, by the schoolmaster of Alloway-mill, near the Doon; secondly, by John Murdoch, student of divinity, who undertook to teach arithmetic, grammar, French, and Latin, to the boys of Lochlea, and the sons of five neighboring farmers. Murdoch, who was an enthusiast in learning, much of a pedant, and such a judge of genius that he thought wit should always be laughing, and poetry wear an eternal smile, performed his task well: he found Robert to be quick in apprehension, and not afraid to study when knowledge was the reward. He taught him to turn verse into its natural prose order; to supply all the ellipses, and not to desist till the sense was clear and plain: he also, in their walks, told him the names of different objects both in Latin and French; and though his knowledge of these languages never amounted to much, he approached the grammar of the English tongue, through the former, which was of material use to him, in his poetic compositions. Burns was, even in those early days, a sort of enthusiast in all that concerned the glory of Scotland; he used to fancy himself a soldier of the days of the Wallace and the Bruce: loved to strut after the bag-pipe and the drum, and read of the bloody struggles of his country for freedom and existence, till a Scottish prejudice, he says, was poured into my veins, which will boil there till the flood-gates of life are shut in eternal rest.

      In this mood of mind Burns was unconsciously approaching the land of poesie. In addition to the histories of the Wallace and the Bruce, he found, on the shelves of his neighbours, not only whole bodies of divinity, and sermons without limit, but the works of some of the best English, as well as Scottish poets, together with songs and ballads innumerable. On these he loved to pore whenever a moment of leisure came; nor was verse his sole favourite; he desired to drink knowledge at any fountain, and Guthrie's Grammar, Dickson on Agriculture, Addison's Spectator, Locke on the Human Understanding, and Taylor's Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin, were as welcome to his heart as Shakspeare, Milton, Pope, Thomson, and Young. There is a mystery in the workings of genius: with these poets in his head and hand, we see not that he has advanced one step in the way in which he was soon to walk, Highland Mary and Tam O' Shanter sprang from other inspirations.

      Burns lifts up the veil himself, from the studies which made him a poet. In my boyish days, he says to Moore, I owed much to an old woman (Jenny Wilson) who resided in the family, remarkable for her credulity and superstition. She had, I suppose, the largest collection in the country of tales and songs, concerning devils, ghosts, fairies, brownies, witches, warlocks, spunkies, kelpies, elf-candles, dead-lights, wraiths, apparitions, cantraips, giants, enchanted towers, dragons, and other trumpery. This cultivated the latent seeds of poesie; but had so strong an effect upon my imagination that to this hour, in my nocturnal rambles, I sometimes keep a look-out on suspicious places. Here we have the young poet taking lessons in the classic lore of his native land: in the school of Janet Wilson he profited largely; her tales gave a hue, all their own, to many noble effusions. But her teaching was at the hearth-stone: when he was in the fields, either driving a cart or walking to labour, he had ever in his hand a collection of songs, such as any stall in the land could supply him with; and over these he pored, ballad by ballad, and verse by verse, noting the true, tender, and the natural sublime from affectation and fustian. To this, he said, I am convinced that I owe much of my critic craft, such as it is. His mother, too, unconsciously led him in the ways of the muse: she loved to recite or sing to him a strange, but clever ballad, called the Life and Age of Man: this strain of piety and imagination was in his mind when he wrote Man was made to Mourn.

      He found other teachers--of a tenderer nature and softer influence. You know, he says to Moore, our country custom of coupling a man and woman together as partners in the labours of harvest. In my fifteenth autumn my partner was a bewitching creature, a year younger than myself: she was in truth a bonnie, sweet, sonsie lass, and unwittingly to herself, initiated me in that delicious passion, which, in spite of acid disappointment, gin-horse prudence, and bookworm philosophy, I hold to be the first of human joys. How she caught the contagion I cannot tell; I never expressly said I loved her: indeed I did not know myself why I liked so much to loiter behind with her, when returning in the evenings from our labours; why the tones of her voice made my heart strings thrill like an AEolian harp, and particularly why my pulse beat such a furious ratan, when I looked and fingered over her little hand, to pick out the cruel nettle-stings and thistles. Among other love-inspiring qualities, she sang sweetly, and it was her favourite reel to which I attempted to give an embodied vehicle in rhyme; thus with me began love and verse. This intercourse with the fair part of the creation, was to his slumbering emotions, a voice from heaven to call them into life and poetry.

      From the school of traditionary lore and love, Burns now went to a rougher academy. Lochlea, though not producing fine crops of corn, was considered excellent for flax; and while the cultivation of this commodity was committed to his father and his brother Gilbert, he was sent to Irvine at Midsummer, 1781, to learn the trade of a flax-dresser, under one Peacock, kinsman to his mother. Some time before, he had spent a portion of a summer at a school in Kirkoswald, learning mensuration and land-surveying, where he had mingled in scenes of sociality with smugglers, and enjoyed the pleasure of a silent walk, under the moon, with the young and the beautiful. At Irvine he laboured by day to acquire a knowledge of his business, and at night he associated with the gay and the thoughtless, with whom he learnt to empty his glass, and indulge in free discourse on topics forbidden at Lochlea. He had one small room for a lodging, for which he gave a shilling a week: meat he seldom tasted, and his food consisted chiefly of oatmeal and potatoes sent from his father's house. In a letter to his father, written with great purity and simplicity of style, he thus gives a picture of himself, mental and bodily: Honoured Sir, I have purposely delayed writing, in the hope that I should have the pleasure of seeing you on new years' day, but work comes so hard upon us that I do not choose to be absent on that account. My health is nearly the same as when you were here, only my sleep is a little sounder, and on the whole, I am rather better than otherwise, though I mend by very slow degrees: the weakness of my nerves had so debilitated my mind that I dare neither review past wants nor look forward into futurity, for the least anxiety or perturbation in my breast produces most unhappy effects on my whole frame. Sometimes indeed, when for an hour or two my spirits are a little lightened, I _glimmer_ a little into futurity; but my principal and indeed my only pleasurable employment is looking backwards and forwards in a moral and religious way. I am quite transported at the thought that ere long, perhaps very soon, I shall bid an eternal adieu to all the pains and uneasinesses, and disquietudes of this weary life. As for the world, I despair of ever making a figure in it: I am not formed for the bustle of the busy, nor the flutter of the gay. I foresee that poverty and obscurity probably await me, and I am in some measure prepared and daily preparing to meet them. I have but just time and paper to return you my grateful thanks for the lessons of virtue and piety you have given me, which were but too much neglected at the time of giving them, but which, I hope, have been remembered ere it is yet too late. This remarkable letter was written in the twenty-second year of his age; it alludes to the illness which seems

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