No. LXXXIX. BURNS TO MR THOMSON. MY DEAR SIR, I ONCE mentioned to you an air which I have long admired' Here's a health to them that's awa, hiney,' but I forget if you took any notice of it. I have just been trying to suit it with verses; and I beg leave to recommend the air to your attention once more. I have only begun it. JESSY. Tune-"Here's a health to them that's awa." Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear, Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear; Thou art sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet, Altho' thou maun never be mine, Altho' even hope is denied ; 'Tis sweeter for thee despairing, Than aught in the world beside-Jessy! I mourn thro' the gay, gaudy day, As, hopeless, I muse on thy charms ; I guess by the dear angel smile, I guess by the love-rolling e'e; But why urge the tender confession 'Gainst fortune's fell cruel decree-Jessy! Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear, Here's a health to ane I lo'e dear; Thou art sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet, No. XC. BURNS TO MR THOMSON. THIS will be delivered by a Mr Lewars, a young fellow of uncommon merit. As he will be a day or two in town, you will have leisure, if you choose, to write me by him: and if you have a spare half hour to spend with him, I shall place your kindness to my account. I have no copies of the songs I have sent you, and I have taken a fancy to review them all, and possibly may mend some of them; so when you have complete leisure, I will thank you for either the originals or copies.† I had rather be the author of five well-written songs, than of ten otherwise. I have great hopes that the genial influence of the approaching summer will set me to rights, but as yet I cannot boast of returning health. I have now reason to believe that my complaint is a flying gout: a sad business! Do let me know how Cleghorn is, and remember me to him. This should have been delivered to you a month ago. I am still very poorly, but should like much to hear from you. * In the letter to Mr Thomson, the three first stanzas only are given, and Mr Thomson supposed our poet had never gone farther. Among his MSS. was, however, found the fourth stanza, which completes this exquisite song, the last finished offspring of his muse.-Currie. The heroine of this beautiful lyric was Miss Jessie Lewars, now Mrs Thomson of Dumfries, whose kind attentions smoothed the pillow of the Poet in his latter days of illness, anguish, and despair.-M. It is needless to say, that this revisal Burns did not live to perform.-Currie. No. XCI. BURNS TO MR THOMSON. BROW, ON THE SOLWAY-FRITH, 12th July, 1796. AFTER all my boasted independence, curst necessity compels me to implore you for five pounds. A cruel bitch of a haberdasher, to whom I owe an account, taking it into his head that I am dying, has commenced a process, and will infallibly put me into jail. Do, for God's sake, send me that sum, and that by return of post. Forgive me this earnestness, but the horrors of a jail have made me half distracted. I do not ask all this gratuitously; for, upon returning health, I hereby promise and engage to furnish you with five pounds worth of the neatest song genius you have seen. I tried my hand on 'Rothemurche' this morning. The measure is so difficult, that it is impossible to infuse much genius into the lines; they are on the other side. Forgive, forgive me! FAIREST MAID ON DEVON BANKS. Tune-"Rothemurche." Fairest maid on Devon banks, Crystal Devon, winding Devon, And smile as thou were wont to do? Full well thou know'st I love thee dear, Then come, thou fairest of the fair, No love but thine my heart shall know. Fairest maid on Devon banks, And smile as thou were wont to do ?* No. XCII. MR THOMSON TO BURNS. MY DEAR SIR, 14th July, 1796. EVER since I received your melancholy letter, by Mrs Hyslop, I have been ruminating in what manner I could endeavour to alleviate your sufferings. Again and again I thought of a pecuniary offer, but the recollection of one of your letters on this subject, and the fear of offending your independent spirit, checked my resolution. I thank you heartily therefore for the frankness of your letter of the 12th, and with great pleasure inclose a draft for the very sum I proposed sending. Would I were Chancellor of the Exchequer but for one day, for your sake!† * These verses, and the letter inclosing them, are written in a character that marks the very feeble state of Burns' bodily strength. Mr Syme is of opinion that he could not have been in any danger of a jail at Dumfries, where certainly he had many firm friends, nor under any such necessity of imploring aid from Edinburgh. But about this time his reason began to be at times unsettled, and the horrors of a jail perpetually haunted his imagination. He died on the 21st of this month.-Currie. Mr Thomson has been very much abused about this transaction, and, I confess, I do not know well what to say about it; but it must ever be regretted that George Thomson did not contrive to send him more at this dismal period than just the bare five pounds, when he could not but perceive the gloomy and altered state of the Poet's mind. After Burns' letter of July, 1793, I exculpate Mr Thomson from making any attempts at remuneration, previous to the receiving this letter from Brow. But, all things considered, I wish to God he had sent him at least ten or twenty pounds, for his own honour, and that of the literary Pray, my good Sir, is it not possible for you to muster a volume of poetry? If too much trouble to you in the present state of your health, some literary friend might be found here, who would select and arrange from your manuscripts, and take upon him the task of Editor. In the mean time, it could be advertised to be published by subscription. Do not shun this mode of obtaining the value of your labour: remember Pope published the Iliad by subscription. Think of this, my dear Burns, and do not reckon me intrusive with my advice. You are too well convinced of the respect and friendship I bear you, to impute any thing I say to an unworthy motive. Yours faithfully. The verses to Rothemurche' will answer finely. I am happy to see you can still tune your lyre. and musical character. I am quite aware that Mr Thomson, at that period, could not have made any money off Burns' songs, but that on the contrary, he must have been much money out of pocket, considering the efficient and costly way he took of bringing out the work. But then the songs were his, and poor Burns had toiled for him, while at the same time the speculation was certain and sure. Upon the whole I cannot account for Mr Thomson's parsimony here; for I know him well, and he is any thing but a close-fisted niggardly gentleman. In fact, he is quite the reverse, a kind open hearted fellow, who entertains literary and musical people most liberally, as many of my acquaintances can witness. I have written a good many songs for him myself, and it was not for want of remuneration that I did not write far more; but then he is the most troublesome devil to write songs for that ever was created, for he is always either bothering one with alterations, or else popping them in himself. But, as to niggardliness in remuneration, I can bear testimony that he rather errs on the other side; and, as an instance, I was once out of pure shame obliged to return him a violin, which I was told was valued at £35, on pretence that I had a better one, and could not be plagued with another. Both Mrs Hogg and I, had previously got presents of sterling value. George Thomson is a pragmatical but real good man. What was done cannot be recalled; but it has been compensated since by every kindness in his power to bestow.-H. |