...the poet. The receipt of it at Mossgiel was as a burst of sunshine on a wintry day. Burns said truly, 'The doctor belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope.' New prospects were opened to his poetic ambition. With persons of reflection, however, hopes that come...

...letter to a friend from Dr. Blacklock, the blind poet of Edinburgh. "The Doctor belonged," said Burns, " to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." Among those who sought the acquaintance of the new poet were Professor Dugald Stewart and Mrs. Dunlop,...

...Caledonia — The gloomy night is gathering fast — whon a letter from Dr. Blacklock [the blind poet] to a friend of mine overthrew all my schemes, by opening new prospects to my poetic * In 1800 Gifford's satires reached a Bixth edition, which has been here coueultcd. ambition. The doctor...

...portrait. 49 23. in n'alem partem, disparagingly. 50 34. good Old Blacklock. Burns says : .' Dr. Blacklock belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." Dr. Thomas Blacklock, of Edinburgh, was a blind poet, of whom Dr. Johnson wrote that he "looked on...

...portrait. 49 23. in malem partem, disparagingly. 50 34. good old Blacklock. Burns says : •' Dr. Blacklock belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." Dr. Thomas Blacklock, of Edinburgh, was a blind poet, of whom Dr. Johnson wrote that he "looked on...

...portrait. 49 23. in malem partem, disparagingly. 50 34. good Old Blacklock. Burns says: -'Dr. Blacklock belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." Dr. Thomas Blacklock, of Edinburgh, was a blind poet, of whom Dr. Johnson wrote that he "looked on...

...Burns at Mossgiel. The result of it fell like sunshine on the young poet's heart ; for as he says, " The doctor belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." The next word of approval from Edinburgh was a highly appreciative criticism of the poems, which appeared...

...portrait. 49 23. in malem partem, disparagingly. 50 34. good old Blacklock. Burns says : ,' Dr. Blacklock belonged to a set of critics for whose applause I had not dared to hope." Dr. Thomas Blacklock, of Edinburgh, was a blind poet, of whom Dr. Johnson wrote that he "looked on...

...ever measure in Caledonia — The gloomy night is gathering fast; when a letter from Dr. Blacklock to a friend of mine overthrew all my schemes, by opening new prospects to my poetic ambition.' The song was printed in the first Edinburgh edition. Page 247, col. /, line i. The ' Farewell ' was printed...

...should ever measure in Caledonia, 'The Gloomy Night is Gathering Fast,' when a letter from Dr. Blacklock to a friend of mine overthrew all my schemes by opening new prospects to my poetic ambition." These "new prospects" were nothing less than a suggestion that a new edition of The Poems would be...