XVII. TO CHARLES HAY, Esq. ADVOCATE. [The verses enclosed were written on the death of the Lord President Dundas, at the suggestion of Charles Hay, Esq. advocate, afterwards a judge, under the title of Lord Newton.] SIR, poem was your THE enclosed written in consequence of suggestion last time I had the pleasure of seeing you. It cost me an hour or two of next morning's sleep, but did not please me; so it lay by, an ill-digested effort, till the other day that I gave it a critic brush. These kind of subjects are much hackneyed; and, besides the wailings of the rhyming tribe over the ashes of the great are cursedly suspicious, and out of all character for sincerity. These ideas damped my muse's fire; however, I have done the best I could, and, at all events, it gives me an opportunity of declaring that I have the honor to be, sir, your obliged humble servant. XVIII. TO MR. WILLIAM DUNBAR. EDINBURGH. R. B. [This letter was printed for the first time by Robert Chambers, in his "People's Edition" of Burns.] Mauchline, 7th April, 1788. I HAVE not delayed so long to write to you, my much respected friend, because I thought no farther of my promise. I have long since given up that kind of formal correspondence, where one sits down irksomely to write a letter, because we think we are in duty bound so to do. I have been roving over the country, as the farm I have taken is forty miles from this place, hiring servants and preparing matters; but most of all, I am earnestly busy to bring about a revolution in my own mind. As, till within these eighteen months, I never was the wealthy master of ten guineas, my knowledge of business is to learn ; add to this, my late scenes of idleness and dissipation have enervated my mind to an alarming degree. Skill in the sober science of life is my most serious and hourly study. I have dropt all conversation and all reading (prose reading) but what tends in some way or other to my serious aim. Except one worthy young fellow, I have not one single correspondent in Edinburgh. You have indeed kindly made me an offer of that kind. The world of wits, and gens comme il faut which I lately left, and with whom I never again will intimately mixfrom that port, sir, I expect your Gazette: what les beaux esprits are saying, what they are doing, and what they are singing. Any sober intelligence from my sequestered walks of life; any droll original; any passing remark, important forsooth, because it is mine; any little poetic effort, however embryoth; these, my dear sir, are all you have to expect from me. When I talk of poetic efforts, I must have it always understood, that I appeal from your wit and taste to your friendship and good nature. The first would be my favorite tribunal, where I defied censure; but the last, where I declined justice. I have scarcely made a single distich since I saw you. When I meet with an old Scots air that has any facetious idea in its name, I have a peculiar pleasure in following out that idea for a verse or two. I trust that this will find you in better health than I did last time I called for you. A few lines from you, directed to me at Mauchline, were it but to let me know how you are, will set my mind a good deal [at rest.] Now, never shun the idea of writing me because perhaps you may be out of humor or spirits. I could give you a hundred good consequences attending a dull letter; one, for example, and the remaining ninety-nine some other time-it will always serve to keep in countenance, my much respected sir, your obliged friend and humble R. B.. servant, XIX. TO MR. WILLIAM BURNS. [William Burns was the youngest brother of the poet. He was bred a sadler: went to Longtown, and finally to London, where he died early.] no more. Isle, March 25, 1789. I HAVE stolen from my corn-sowing this minute to write a line to accompany your shirt and hat, for I can Your sister Maria arrived yesternight, and begs to be remembered to you. Write me every opportunity, never mind postage. My head, too, is as addle as an egg, this morning, with dining abroad yesterday. I received yours by the mason. Forgive me this foolish-looking scrawl of an epistle. I am ever, My dear William, Yours, R. B. P.S. If you are not then gone from Longtown, I'll write you a long letter, by this day se'en-night. If you should not succeed in your tramps, don't be dejected, or take any rash step return to us in that case, and we will court fortune's better humor. Remember this, I charge you. ["Never to despair" was a favorite saying with Burns: "firm resolve," he held, with Young, to be "the column of true majesty in man."] MY DEAR WILLIAM, Isle, 15th April, 1789. I AM extremely sorry at the misfortune of your legs; I beg you will never let any worldly concern interfere with the more serious matter, the safety of your life and limbs. I have not time in these hurried days to write you any thing other than a mere how d'ye letter. 1 will only repeat my favorite quotation :— "What proves the hero truly great My house shall be your welcome home; and as I know your prudence (would to God you had resolution equal to your prudence!) if anywhere at a distance from your friends, should need money, you know by post. you my direction The enclosed is from Gilbert, brought by your sister Nanny. It was unluckily forgot. Yours to Gilbert goes by post.- I heard from them yesterday, they are all well. Adieu, R. B. XXI. TO LADY W[INIFRED] M[AXWELL] [The Lady Winifred Maxwell, the last of the old line of Nithsdale, was grand-daughter of that Earl who, in 1715, made an almost miraculous escape from death, through the spirit and fortitude of his countess, a lady of the noble family of Powis.] MY LADY, Ellisland, 16th December, 1789. In vain have I from day to day expected to hear from Mrs. Young, as she promised me at Dalswinton that she would do me the honor to introduce me at Tinwald; and it was impossible, not from your ladyship's accessibility, but from my own feelings, that I could go alone. Lately, indeed, Mr. Maxwell of Carruchen, in his usual goodness, offered to accompany me, when an unlucky indisposition on my part hindered my embracing the opportunity. To |