to a Scottish pastoral ballad.-Of this, and some things else, in my next: I have more amendments to propose. What you once mentioned of "flaxen locks" is just; they cannot enter into an elegant description of beauty. Of this also again-God bless you!* YOUR Hey for a lass wi' a tocher, is a most excellent song, and with you the subject is something new indeed. It is the first time I have seen you debasing the god of soft desire, into an amateur of acres and guineas. " I am happy to find you approve of my proposed octavo edition. Allan has designed and etched about twenty plates, and I am to have my choice of them for that work. Independently of the Hogarthian humour with which they abound, they exhibit the character and costume of the Scottish peasantry with inimitable felicity. In this respect, he himself says, they will far exceed the aquatinta plates he did for the Gentle Shepherd, because in the etching he sees clearly what he is doing, but not so with the acquatinta, which he could not manage to his mind. * Our Poet never explained what name he would have substituted for Chloris. Note by Mr Thomson. The Dutch boors of Ostade are scarcely more characteristic and natural than the Scottish figures in those etchings. No. LXXXV. · MR BURNS to MR THOMSON. April, 1796. ALAS, my dear Thomson, I fear it will be some time ere I tune my lyre again! " By Babel streams I have sat and wept," almost ever since I wrote you last: I have only known existence by the pressure of the heavy hand of sickness, and have counted time by the repercussions of pain! Rheumatism, cold, and fever, have formed to me a terrible combination. I close my eyes in misery, and open them without hope, I look on the vernal day, and say, with poor Fergusson "Say, wherefore has an all-indulgent Heaven Light to the comfortless and wretched given ?" I This will be delivered to you by a Mrs Hyslop, landlady of the Globe Tavern here, which for these many years has been my howff, and where our friend Clarke and I have had many a merry squeeze. am highly delighted with Mr Allan's etchings. Woo'd and married an' a', is admirable. The group. ing is beyond all praise. The expression of the figures, conformable to the story in the ballad, is absolutely faultless perfection. I next admire, Tur nim-spike. What I like least is, Jenny said to Jockey. Besides the female being in her appearance ***** if you take her stooping into the account, she is at least two inches taller than her lover. Poor Cleghorn! I sincerely sympathize with him! Happy I am to think that he has yet a well grounded hope of health and enjoyment in this world. As for mebut that is a * * * * * subject! No. LXXXVI. MR THOMSON to MR BURNS. 4th May, 1796. I NEED not tell you, my good Sir, what concern the receipt of your last gave me, and how much I sympathize in your sufferings. But do not I beseech you, give yourself up to despondency, nor speak the language of despair. The vigour of your constitution, I trust, will soon set you on your feet again; and then it is to be hoped you will see the wisdom and the necessity of taking due care of a life so valuable to your family, to your friends, and to the world. Trusting that your next will bring agreeable accounts of your convalescence, and returning good spirits, I remain, with sincere regard, yours. P. S. Mrs Hyslop, I doubt not, delivered the gold seal to you in good condition. No. LXXXVII. MR BURNS to MR THOMSON. MY DEAR SIR, I ONCE mentioned to you an air which I have long admired-Here's a health to them that's awa, hiney, but I forget if you took any notice of it. I have just been trying to suit it with verses; and I beg leave to recommend the air to your attentionI have only begun it. once more. CHORUS. Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear, Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear; Thou art sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet, And soft as their parting tear-Jessy! Altho' thou maun never be mine, Altho' even hope is denied; 'Tis sweeter for thee despairing, Than aught in the world beside-Jessy! I'mourn thro' the gay, gaudy day, As, hopeless, I muse on thy charms; Here's a health, &c. I guess by the dear angel smile, I guess by the love rolling e'e; 'Gainst fortune's fell cruel decree-Jessy! Here's a health, &c.* No. LXXXVIII. MR BURNS to Ma THOMSON. THIS will be delivered by a Mr Lewars, a young fellow of uncommon merit. As he will be a day or two in town, you will have leisure, if you choose, to write me by him; and if you have a spare half hour to spend with him, I shall place your kindness to my account. I have no copies of the songs I have sent you, and I have taken a fancy to review them all, and possibly may mend some of them; so, when you have complete leisure, I will thank you for either the originals or copies.† I had rather be the author of five well-written songs, than of ten, otherwise. I have great hopes that the genial in In the letter to Mr Thomson, the three first stanzas only are given, and Mr Thomson supposed our poet had never gone farther. Among his MSS. was, however, found the fourth stanza, which completes this exquisite song, the last finished offspring of his muse. E. It is needless to say, that this revisal Burns did not live to perform. E. |