resolution in regard to your son, and I remain, dear cousin, your affectionate friend,

"I was duly favoured with your letter of the 29th July. Your goodness is such as to render it wholly out of my power to make any suitable acknowledgement, or to express what I feel for so much kindness.

"With regard to my son Robert, I cannot as yet determine; the gentlemen here (particularly Dr. Maxwell and Mr. Syme, who have so much interested themselves for me and the family) do not wish that I should come to any resolution as to parting with any of them, and I own my own feelings rather incline me to keep them with me. I think they will be a comfort to me, and my most agreeable companions; but should any of them ever leave me, you, Sir, would be, of all others, the gentleman under whose charge I should wish to see any of them, and I am perfectly sensible of your very obliging offer.

"Since Mr. Lewars wrote you, I have got a young son, who, as well as myself, is doing well.

"What you mention about my brother, Mr. Gilbert Burns, is what accords with my own opinion, and every respect shall be paid to your advice. I am, dear Sir, with the greatest respect and regard, your very much obliged friend.

Dumfries, 3rd August, 1796.”

"JEAN BURNS."

ED.]

No. CCLXIII.

TO JAMES GRACIE, Esq.

Brow, Wednesday Morning, 16th July, 1796. MY DEAR SIR,

Ir would [be] doing high injustice to this place not to acknowledge that my rheumatisms have derived great benefits from it already; but, alas ! my loss of appetite still continues. I shall not need your kind offer this week, and I return to town the beginning of next week it not being a tide week. I am detaining a man in a burning hurry. So, God bless you.

R. B.

[The admirers of Burns owe this letter to the kindness of Mr. Finlayson, merchant in Kirkcudbright. James Gracie, to whom it is addressed, was at that time a banker in Dumfries: he wrote, on being told that Burns longed to be home, that he would, if he pleased, bring him back in a post-chaise-a kind and delicate way of expressing his regard. It was now felt by all it seems, but a few, that the poet was not only dying, but dying in the deepest poverty. ED.]

CCLXIV.

TO JAMES ARMOUR,

MASON, MAUCHLINE.

MY DEAR SIR,

Dumfries, 18th July, 1796.

Do, for heaven's sake, send Mrs. Armour here immediately. My wife is hourly expecting to be put to bed. Good God! what a situation for her to be in, poor girl, without a friend! I returned from sea-bathing quarters to-day, and my medical friends would almost persuade me that I am better, but I think and feel that my strength is so gone that the disorder will prove fatal to me. Your son-in-law,

R. B.

[This is the last of all the compositions of the great poet of Scotland. The original was long preserved in the family of the Armours of Mauchline, and was given into the keeping of Captain James Glencairn Burns on his most urgent entreaty. It is now in India, and may he who so worthily holds it be as fortunate as he is kindhearted. ED.]

No. CCLXV.

[The following letters were received too late to be placed in the proper order of composition: they are printed now for the first time, and with them the Poet's correspondence concludes. ED.]

SIR,

TO MR. JOHN KENNEDY,

Mossgiel, 3rd March, 1786.

I HAVE done myself the pleasure of complying with your request in sending you my Cottager.-If you have a leisure minute I should be glad you would copy it, and return me either the original or the transcript, as I have not a copy of it by me, and I have a friend who wishes to see it.

Now Kennedy if foot or horse

E'er bring you in by Mauchline Corss,
L-d man there's lasses there wad force

A hermits fancy,

And down the gate in faith they 're worse
And mair unchancy.

But as I'm sayin' please step to Dow's
And taste sic gear as Johnnie brews,
Till some bit callan bring me news

That you are there,

And if we dinna had a bouze

Ise ne'er drink mair.

[The person to whom this letter is addressed was then at Dumfries House: he interested himself in the success of the Kilmarnock edition of the poet's works, and obtained several subscribers. The Cotter's Saturday Night, enclosed in the letter, is now before me: it is written in a less vigorous hand than what his latter verses exhibit : there are some variations too, but none which affect the sentiment or feeling of that truly national poem. ED.]