Italic letters indicate the publication devoted to his writ-
ings, in which, as far as ascertained, the various compositions of
Burns were first included. The poems and songs marked a
composed the first edition, published at Kilmarnock in 1786;
those marked b were added in the second edition, published at
Edinburgh in 1787; those marked c were added in the edition of
1793. These, with certain pieces which appeared in the early
volumes of Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, and Thomson's
Select Melodies of Scotland, were all that Burns himself com-
mitted to print; the rest, as well as his letters, have been pub-
lished since his death. In this list of contents, the pieces pub-
lished in Johnson's Museum are marked d; the poems presented
in Currie's first edition of the poet's works in 1800 are marked
e; those added in the second edition, f; those published by
Stewart of Glasgow in 1801, g; those in Cromek's Reliques of
Burns, 1808, h; those in Lockhart's Life of Burns, i; those in
Cunningham's edition, 1834, j; those in Hogg and Motherwell's
edition, 1831-36, k; those in the People's Edition of Messrs.
Chambers, 1838-40, 7; those in Blackie's edition, 1846, m; those
added in the present work, n; an asterisk being given in certain
cases where it is ascertained that the poem was previously sent
forth fugitively.