could, at parting; but prudently said nothing of an effort which he had previously made in his behalf. He had sent a copy of the poems (the Kilmarnock edition was then published), with a sketch of the author's history, to his friend, Dr. Thomas Blacklock of Edinburgh, with a request that he would introduce both to the notice of those persons whose opinions were at the time most listened to in regard to literary productions in Scotland, in the hope that, by their intervention, Burns might yet be rescued from the necessity of expatriating himself. Dr. Blacklock's answer reached Dr. Lawrie a day or two after Burns had made his visit, and composed his dirge; and it was not yet too late. Lawrie forwarded it immediately to Mr. Gavin Hamilton, who carried it to Burns." In that letter Dr. Blacklock characterises the perusal of the poems sent him as one of the finest and perhaps one of the most genuine entertainments of which the human mind is susceptible, and breathes words of approbation and encouragement which must have lighted up the gloomy surroundings of the poet like a gleam of sunshine. Let him describe his circumstances : 66 6 66 Hungry ruin had me in the wind,'' says he. "I had been for some days skulking from covert to covert, under all the terrors of a jail, as some ill-advised people had uncoupled the merciless pack of the law at my heels. I had taken the last farewell of my few friends; my chest was on the road to Greenock; when a letter from Dr Blacklock to a friend of mine overthrew all my schemes, by opening new prospects to my poetic ambition. The Doctor belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope. His opinion that I would meet with encouragement in Edinburgh for a second edition fired me so much that away I posted for that city, without a single acquaintance or a single letter of introduction. The baneful star that had so long shed its blasting influence in my zenith for once made a revolution to the nadir." "Blacklock received him," says a celebrated writer, "with all the ardour of affectionate admiration; he eagerly introduced him to the respectable circle of his friends; he consulted his interest; he emblazoned his fame; he lavished upon him all the kindness of a generous and feeling heart, into which nothing selfish or envious ever found admittance." It is scarce necessary to add that before he was many weeks in Edinburgh his society was courted by the polite and the learned, and sought after by individuals moving in the most elevated circles of society. In short, he became the lion of the season, and had the second edition of his poems published under the most favourable auspices. "The attentions he received during his stay in town from all ranks and descriptions of persons," says Professor Dugald Stewart," 66 were such as would have turned any head but his own. You He retained the same simplicity of manners and appearance which had struck me so forcibly when I first saw him in the country, nor did he seem to feel any additional self-importance from the number and rank of his new acquaintances." No, his sterling common-sense told him that he had but lately left the stilts of the plough and was fated to return to them again. In replying to a letter which he received from Dr. Lawrie during the meteor-like blaze of reputation which he experienced, he says, "I thank you, sir, with all my soul, for your friendly hints, though I do not need them so much as my friends are apt to imagine. are dazzled with newspaper accounts and distant reports; but, in reality, I have no great temptation to be intoxicated with the cup of prosperity. Novelty may attract the attention of mankind a while--to it I owe my present eclat but I see the time not far distant when the popular tide which has come to a height, of which I am perhaps unworthy, shall recede with silent celerity, and leave me a barren waste of sand to descend at my leisure to my former station." He expresses himself in like manner to Mrs Dunlop and others—but there, space is beginning to fail, and so will the reader's patience if I digress at this rate. A few steps beyond the garden gate of the old and now almost classic manse of Loudoun, the respectable and apparently flourishing village of Newmilns comes into view. It is beautifully situated in a narrow vale through which the river Irvine flows, and from which broad hills ascend on each side. On the right are the wooded slopes of Lanfine, and on the left the green braes of Loudoun ; while in the far distance, at the top of the hilly pass in which the village nestles, is Loudoun Hill looming heavily against the sky. The scene is one of extreme beauty, and if transferred to canvas would form a striking picture. I have no intention of going so far as Loudoun Hill in this ramble, but I can assure the reader who wishes to undertake the journey that he will be amply repaid for the toil and trouble encountered by the extensive and interesting view from its summit, including the scenes of decisive struggles which assisted, in a great measure, to secure Scottish independence. Near its eastern base Sir William Wallace and a handful of co-patriots attacked and routed a troop of English soldiers who were conveying waggon loads of provisions from Carlisle to Ayr, and near the same spot, in May, 1307, Bruce gave the Earl of Pembroke battle, and with six hundred followers is said to have defeated six thousand trained Englishmen. These associations are brimful of interest, but one which remains to be mentioned gives the locality, if possible, still greater interest. On a fair Sabbath morning in June, 1679, a sentinel, in the garb of a peasant, who was stationed on the top of the hill, sprang from the green sward on observing a company of horse men crossing the heights from the direction of Strathaven, and having fired off his carbine, ran towards a group of worshippers on the plain. "We had met," says one of the assembly, "not to fight but to worship the God of our fathers. We were far from the tumult of cities—the long dark heath waved around us, and we disturbed no living creature save the peesweep and the heather cock.” When it became known that Claverhouse and a detachment of troopers were approaching, the preacher, who had been telling his hearers "How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed; hastily concluded his discourse, and said:-"I have done. You have got the theory-now for the practice. You know your duty. Self-defence is always lawful." The little company being armed, they formed themselves into lines under various leaders, and waited the approach of the foe-first, however, taking the precaution of sending away their women and children. Refusing to lay down their arms and deliver up their ringleaders, Claverhouse cried-"Their blood be upon their own heads," and sounded the attack. The battle N of Drumclog then commenced and waged fiercely for some time. The following wonderfully graphic account of this engagement is taken from a letter penned by Claverhouse:"They were not preaching, but had got away all their women and children. In the end they, perceiving that we had the better of them in skirmish, resolved on a general engagement, and immediately advanced with their Foot, the Horse following. They came through the loch: the greatest body of all made up against my troop: we kept our fire until they were within ten paces of us: they received our fire and advanced to the shock: the first they gave us brought down the Cornet, Mr. Crawford, and Captain Beith; besides that with a pitchfork they made such an opening in my roan horse's belly that his guts hung out half an ell, and yet he carried me off a mile, which so discouraged our men that they sustained not the shock, but fell into disorder. Their Horse took the occasion of this, and pursued us so hotly that we had no time to rally. I saved the standards, but lost on the place eight or ten men, besides wounded; but our dragoons lost many more. The town of Stra'von drew up as we were making our retreat, and thought of a pass to cut us off; but we took courage and fell to them, and made them run, leaving a dozen on the place. What these rogues will do yet I know not, but the country is flocking to them from all hands. This may be counted the beginning of the rebellion, in my opinion." In the words of Hugh Brown, a poetical native of Newmilns, and author of "The Covenanters," "The lover of freedom can never forget The glorious peasant band His sires that on Scotia's moorlands met, The houses are Newmilns is a very nice rural town. mostly small and plain, but pleasant looking and free from squalor. Weaving is the staple of the place, and the inhabitants-some 3000-are mostly engaged in it. Male and female take to the loom as naturally as ducks to water, but I cannot help expressing regret with Hew Ainslie “that any bonnie Ayrshire lass should be condemned to make her bread by such thumping and kicking." However, it is only the probationary state with them, for, like their sisters in Darvel, they generally exchange the "box and bobbins," when married, for a "baby and a blanket." Possibly Newmilns had its origin from grain mills erected on the bank of the river. About the centre of its quaint, old-fashioned looking main street a massive square tower may be seen in a courtyard which possesses several interesting associations. It was at one time a residence of the Loudoun family, and at another the headquarters of Captain Inglis, a notorious scourge of the Covenanters. The writer of the Loudoun article in the Statistical Account in mentioning the tower says—" In one of the expeditions of Inglis's troops in the search of conventicals, eight men who were discovered praying in the Blackwood, near Kilmarnock, were taken prisoners. One of them, it is said, was immediately executed, and the soldiers in mockery kicked his head for a football along the Newmilns public green. Inglis was about to shoot the others when it was suggested to him that it would be prudent to get a written order from Edinburgh for their execution. The seven men in the meantime were confined in the old tower. But while the troop was absent on one of its bloody raids, with the exception of a small guard, a man named Browning, from Lanfine, with others who had been with him at Aird's Moss, got large sledge hammers from the old smithy (still in existence), with which they broke open the prison doors and permitted the Covenanters to escape. John Law (brother-in-law to Captain Nisbet) was shot in this exploit, and is buried close to the wall of the tower. The dragoons soon went in pursuit of the prisoners, but they had reached the heather, and where no cavalry could pursue them. The soldiers, however, having ascertained that John Smith of Croonan had given the runaways food went to Smith's house, and meeting him at his own door shot him dead! Within a short period his grave was to be seen in the garden of the old farmhouse." Tradition states that only one soldier played football with the martyr's head, and that he shortly afterwards fell from * Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun had a charter of the lands of Newmilns, with the mill and granary, dated 4th October, 1533.-Paterson's Ayrshire Families. †The Master of Loudoun died in March, 1612. His latter will was made at "the Newmylnes, the sevint day of Merche." His lady also died the same month and year. Her latter will was made also at "Newmylnes, the penult day of Merche.' They seem thus to have resided at the tower of Newmilns.-Ibid. |