from what he had been accustomed to.' His manner was unembarrassed, plain, and firm. He appeared to have complete reliance on his own native good sense for directing his behaviour. He seemed at once to perceive and to appreciate what was due to the company and to himself, and never to forget a proper respect for the separate species of dignity belonging to each. He did not arrogate conversation, but, when led into it, he spoke with ease, propriety, and manliness. He tried to exert his abilities, because he knew it was ability alone gave him a title to be there. The Duke's fine young family attracted much of his admiration; he drank their healths as honest men and bonnie lasses, an idea which was much applauded by the company, and with which he has very felicitously closed his poem.+ "Next day I took a ride with him through some of the most romantic parts of that neighbourhood, and was highly gratified by his conversation. As a specimen of his happiness of conception and strength of expression, I will mention a remark which he made on his fellowtraveller, *In the preceding winter, Burns had been in company of the highest rank in Edinburgh; but this description of his manners is perfectly applicable to his first appearance in such society. + See vol. iii. p. 357. E. traveller, who was walking at the time a few paces before us. He was a man of a robust but clumsy person; and while Burns was expressing to me the value he entertained for him, on account of his vigorous talents, although they were clouded at times by coarseness of manners; "in short," he added, "his mind is like his body, he has a confounded strong in-knee'd sort of a soul." "Much attention was paid to Burns both before and after the Duke's return, of which he was perfectly sensible, without being vain; and at his departure I recommended to him, as the most appropriate return he could make, to write some descriptive verses on any of the scenes with which he had been so much delighted. After leaving Blair, he, by the Duke's advice, visited the Falls of Bruar, and in a few days I received a letter from Inverness, with the verses inclosed."* It appears that the impression made by our poet on the noble family of Athole, was in a high degree favourable; it is certain he was charmed Extract of a letter from Mr. Walker to Mr. Cun ningham, dated Perth, 24th Oct. 1797. The letter mentioned as written to Mr. Walker by Mr. Burns, will be found in vol. ii. p. 87. charmed with the reception he received from them, and he often mentioned the two days he spent at Athole-house as among the happiest of his life. He was warmly invited to prolong his stay, but sacrificed his inclinations to his engagement with Mr. Nicol; which is the more to be regretted, as he would otherwise have been introduced to Mr. Dundas, (then daily expected, on a visit to the Duke) a circumstance that might have had a favourable influence on Burns's future fortunes. At Atholehouse he met, for the first time, Mr. Graham, of Fintry, to whom he was afterwards indebted for his office in the Excise. The letters and poems which he addressed to Mr. Graham, bear testimony of his sensibility, and justify the supposition, that he would not have been deficient in gratitude had he been elevated to a situation better suited to his disposition and to his talents.* A few days after leaving Blair of Athole, our poet and his fellow-traveller arrived at Fochabers. In the course of the preceding winter, Burns had been introduced to the Duchess See the first Epistle to Mr. Graham, soliciting an employment in the Excise, vol. ii. p. 171; and his second Epistle, vol. iii. p $15. Duchess of Gordon at Edinburgh, and presuming on this acquaintance, he proceeded to Gordon-Castle, leaving Mr. Nicol at the inn in the village. At the castle our poet was received with the utmost hospitality and kindness, and the family being about to sit down to dinner, he was invited to take his place at table as a matter of course. This invitation he accepted, and after drinking a few glasses of wine, he rose up, and proposed to withdraw. On being pressed to stay, he mentioned, for the first time, his engagement with his fellow traveller; and his noble host offering to send a servant to conduct Mr. Nicol to the castle, Burns insisted on undertaking that office himself. He was, however, accompanied by a gentleman, a particular acquaintance of the duke, by whom the invitation was delivered in all the forms of politeness. The invitation came too late; the pride of Nicol was inflamed into a high degree of passion, by the neglect which he had already suffered. He had ordered the horses to be put to the carriage, being determined to proceed on his journey alone; and they found him parading the streets of Fochabers, before the door of the inn, venting his anger on the postillion, for the slowness with which he obeyed his commands. As no explanation nor entreaty could change the purpose of his fellow traveller, our poet was reduced to the necessity of separating from him entirely, entirely, or of instantly proceeding with him on their journey. He chose the last of these alternatives; and seating himself beside Nicol in the post-chaise, with mortification and regret, he turned his back on Gordon-castle, where he had promised himself some happy days, Sensi, ble, however, of the great kindness of the noble family, he made the best return in his power, by the following poem.* I. Streams that glide in orient plains, II. Spicy forests, ever gay, Shading from the burning ray Hapless wretches sold to toil, Or the ruthless native's way, I leave the tyrant and the slave, Give me the groves that lofty brave The storms by Castle-Gordon, III. This information is extracted from a letter of Dr. Couper of Fochabers to the Editor. |