the volumes he had empowered Hill to "pick up," but to postpone the full payment of those he had received-probably until he received some ready money from the sale of his farm crop. This took place at the end of August 1791. Writing to Thomas Sloan, on 1st September, he says: "I sold my crop on this day se'en-night, and sold it very well—a guinea an acre, on an average, above value. But such a scene of drunkenness was hardly ever seen in this country. After the roup was over, about thirty people engaged in a battle, every man for his own hand, and fought it out for three hours. Nor was the scene much better in the house. No fighting indeed, but folks lying drunk on the floors," etc. The special excesses at the sale are perhaps to be explained by the large and heterogeneous company attracted by his popularity; but excessive drinking was then the rule at farm roups, as it was on nearly all social occasions of importance, a fact which requires to be considered in order to understand how easy in those days, to contract habits of

it

was,

inebriety.

The sale of his farm stock at the end of the year was equally successful; and since he also received something from his landlord-who then happened to have a good offer for the sale of the farm, with which he wished to close-for parting

with his lease, he left Ellisland with a considerable sum of ready money. Writing to Mrs. Dunlop, he says: "Ruin awaited me as a farmer; though with that peculiar good luck that for some years past has attended all my motions, I have got rid of my farm with little if any loss"; and since Mrs. Burns also testifies that they did not come "empty-handed to Dumfries," and that his farming had not really been a failure, his statement can only be understood to mean that he lost little of the original capital invested in it. But unless his estimate was much too sanguine, or he sent some of the money to his brother, what he took with him to Dumfries must have been spent very rapidly.

CHAPTER VII

DUMFRIES-1792-1796

Burns and the Excise Declines Offer of Captain MillerDrawbacks of Excise and of Dumfries Life - Social Habits-Excise Gag-Political and Social Views-Discontent Postponement of Poetic Aims - Thomson's Scottish Airs-Character of Contributions to Thomson's 'Work-Poetry of his Later Years-Causes of Indifferent Health-Convivial Habits-Burns and Mrs. RiddellDumfries Gossip-Last Illness-Death-Legacy.

B

EFORE giving up his farm, Burns had arranged for his transference as an ordinary exciseman to Dumfries, at a salary of £70 per annum. He had also hopes of speedy promotion to be port officer at a salary of £90, and this he obtained some time in 1792; but with this appointment he obtained the summit of the worldly success that was to be vouchsafed him. In keeping with the humble character of his immediate prospects, he rented the second floor of a house in the "Wee Vennel," now known as Bank Street, consisting of three small apart