ADDITIONAL POEMS, FIRST INCLUDED IN THE
AUTHOR'S EDITION, APRIL, 1793.

Introductory Note,.

329

Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage, on Nithside,

331

To R***** G***** of F*****, Esq. (fourth Epistle), 342

Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn,

Address to the Shade of Thomson,
On the late Captain Grose's peregrinations,
To Miss C*********, a very young lady,
Song-Anna, thy charms my bosom fire,
Verses on the death of John M'Leod, Esq.,
The humble petition of Bruar Water,
On scaring some water-fowl in Loch-Turit,
Written in the parlour of Kenmore Inn,
Written while standing by the Fall of Fyers,
On the birth of a posthumous child,

b

SONGS, FROM THOMSON, WHICH WERE PUBLISHED
DURING THE AUTHOR'S LIFETIME.

Addenda to foregoing, from Currie's Edition, 1800, 405

CHRONOLOGICAL

OF THE

SUMMARY

LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ROBERT BURNS.

"Far more interesting than any of the written works of Burns, as it appears to us, are his acted ones-the life he willed, and was fated to lead among his fellow-men. These Poems are but little rhymed fragments scattered here and there in the grand un-rhymed Romance of his earthly existence; and it is only when intercalated in this, at their proper places, that they attain their full measure of significance."-CARLYLE.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

While DR. CURRIE, under the sanction, and with the assistance of the Poet's literary executors, was preparing his noble biography and edition of Burns, ROBERT HERON anticipated him by producing, in 1797, not only a "respectable," but a very admirable little memoir of the Bard, concise certainly, but remarkably accurate in its details, considering the scarcity of the materials placed in his hands: In his estimate of the Poet's genius, he falls little short of the highest praise and veneration that the greatest eulogists of Burns have, since then, vied with each other in giving utterance to; and in his delineation of the Bard's character, the main features are excellently drawn, although unfortunately, a little biased by the credence given to uninvestigated rumours which then floated about to the Poet's prejudice, concerning his convivial excesses and errors of moral conduct. DR. CURRIE, in his observations on the Bard's failings, said much to confirm, and little to remove, the impressions which Heron has been unjustly blamed for originating. The Scots Magazine, for January, 1797, has an "Account of the Life and Writings of Robert Burns," which adopts much the same view as Heron has done of the Poet's infirmities CROMEK, in 1808 and 1810, although overflowing with veneration for the genius of Burns, touches very slightly on his character; and what little he has been induced to say on the subject of the poet's "blasphemy and ribaldry," our readers will find recorded at page 292, Vol. II., of the present Work. Cromek's Reliques of Burns, however, gave rise to undying articles from the pens of Jeffrey and Sir Walter Scott.

In 1811, DR. PEEBLES-the "Peebles frae the Water-fit" of the Holy Fair "meek and mimly" published what he called, “BURNOMANIA:” a discourse on "the Celebrity of Robert Burns, addressed to all real Christians," which a brother of the same cloth (now living) has characterised as "curious for its illiberality and misjudgment." In the same year JOSIAH WALKER, a University Professor, who had been personally acquainted with the Poet, published an "Account of the Life and Character of Robert Burns," containing many judicious and valuable remarks on his writings; but recording, at same time observations and statements more damaging to the Poet's character-flowing as they seemed to do through so much apparent candour and pharisaical sympathy-than the foulest aspersions that hitherto had assailed it. Another University Professor, some thirty years thereafter, by name JOHN WILSON, threw dirt in Josiah Walker's face for all this.

After this period (1811), by apparent universal consent, a demand for JUSTICE TO BURNS seemed to set in like a return tide, with reaction slow but sure. ALEXANDER PETERKIN, in 1814, published a "Review of the Life and Writings of Robert Burns, and of various Criticisms on his Character and Writings," in which the current mis-statements and slanders against the Poet were generously repelled. In 1816, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, in a letter to James Gray, the early preceptor of the Poet's children, kindly took up the theme; aud in 1819, the REV. HAMILTON PAUL, in a Life of Burns, prefixed to an edition of his poetical works, threw down the gauntlet to all the Poet's detractors, ecclesiastical and laic, and vigorously vindicated his character. In 1820, appeared what is termed "Gilbert Burns' Edition of Dr. Currie's Life and Works of Burns," containing eloquent letters from JAMES GRAY, and from ALEXANDER FINDLATER (the Poet's immediate superior officer in the Excise), defending the bard from the effect of Currie's exaggerations and mis-statements; and also containing retractions and apologies by Gilbert, in respect of his own share in misleading Dr. Currie. HEW AINSLIE, a true poet himself, (and still alive in 1871, producing poetry in America!) published his Pilgrimage to the Land of Burns, which shall not soon be forgotten by the Poet's countrymen here.

In 1828, was published-a gem in Biography-" The Life of Robert Burns," by J. G. LOCKHART, LL.B., the son-in-law, and future Biographer of Sir Walter Scott; and this brought forth the noblest tribute to Burns that ever was penned-namely, a "Critique on Lockhart's Life of Burns," in the Edinburgh Review, December, 1828, by THOMAS CARLYLE.

In 1830, SIR HARRIS NICOLAS, a blunt and straight-forward Englishman, produced a "Memoir of Burns "-a reactionary performance, intended to throw cold water on the "hero-worship" which was now surrounding the Poet on every side, and consequently somewhat depreciatory in tone. It abounds

in errors of fact, and therefore, fallacies in argument; but, notwithstanding these defects, we respect the honesty and manliness of the writer. We do not approve of any "labouring to exalt our National Poet-of extenuating his faults, and denying his vices," and feel bound to agree with him in saying that "the merits of even the most valuable Lives of Burns are lessened by the panegyrical tone that is everywhere conspicuous." After naming these we can afford to be very brief. In 1834 and 1835, Biographies by ALLAN CUNNINGHAM and by JAMES HOGG were produced-the former especially warm and poetical in character, but very deficient in grip-the latter, a motley performance, and literally worthless, excepting where inverted commas mark the paragraphs. Need we, after this, refer to PROFESSOR WILSON'S Essay on Burns, 1840 ?-to the REV. P. HATELY WADDELL'S "Eulogy on the Genius and Morality of Robert Burns," 1859 ?-or to his "Life of Burns: a Spiritual Biography," 1867? Such seem, to common admirers of Burns like ourselves, unreliable flights of enthusiasm on the one hand, and mystical raptures of over-fed rhetoric on the other. The even-minded ROBERT CHAMBERS, in 1851-52, winds up his sensible memoirs of the Poet, with the following apt motto, taken from Hare's Life of Sterling, with which also we bring this note to a close:

"A bent tree is not to be drawn as a straight one; or the truth of history vanishes, and likewise its use as a discipline of knowledge and of wisdomhence the representation of my friend's life is unsatisfactory. By the omission of certain portions, it might easily have been made to appear more satisfactory; but then, it would have been a lie: and every lie-O that people would believe it!—is at best but a whited sepulchre!"