the name, neither of the song nor the tune, but they are in fine unison with one another.-By the way, these old Scottish airs are so nobly sentimental, that when one would compose to them, to "south the tune," as our Scotch phrase is, over and over, is the readiest way to catch the inspiration, and raise the bard into that glorious enthusiasm so strongly characteristic of our old Scotch poetry. I shall here set down one verse of the piece mentioned above, both to mark the song and tune I mean, and likewise as a debt I owe to the author, as the repeating of that verse has lighted up my flame a thousand times : When clouds in skies do come together Though fickle fortune has deceived me, She promis'd fair and perform'd but ill; I'll act with prudence as far's I'm able, The above was an extempore, under the pressure of a heavy train of misfortunes, which, indeed, threatened to undo me altogether. It was just at the close of that dreadful period mentioned p. viii.† and though the weather has brightened up a little with me, yet there has always been since a tempest brewing round me in the grim sky of * Alluding to the misfortunes he feelingly laments before this (This is the author's note.) verse. Of the original MS.; see the remark, March, 1784, beginning, There was a certain period, &c.-M. futurity, which I pretty plainly see will some time or other, perhaps ere long, overwhelm me, and drive me into some dolefull dell, to pine in solitary, squalid wretchedness. However, as I hope my poor country muse, who, all rustic, awkward, and unpolished as she is, has more charms for me than any other of the pleasures of life beside—as I hope she will not then desert me, I may even then learn to be, if not happy, at last easy, and south a sang to soothe my misery. 'Twas at the same time I set about composing an air in the old Scotch style. I am not musical scholar enough to prick down my tune properly, so it can never see the light, and perhaps 'tis no great matter; but the following were the verses I composed to suit it : O raging fortune's withering blast My stem was fair, my bud was green, But luckless fortune's northern storms But luckless fortune's northern storms Laid a' my blossoms low, O. The tune consisted of three parts, so that the above verses just went through the whole air. October, 1785. If ever any young man, in the vestibule of the world, chance to throw his eye over these pages, let him pay a warm attention to the following observations, as I assure him they are the fruit of a poor devil's dear-bought experience. I have literally, like that great poet and great gallant, and by consequence, that great fool, Solomon, "turned my eyes to behold madness and folly." Nay, I have, with all the ardour of lively, fanciful, and whimsical imagination, accompanied with a warm, feeling, poetic heart, shaken hands with their intoxicating friendship. In the first place, let my pupil, as he tenders his own peace, keep up a regular, warm intercourse with the Deity. R. B.* No. IX. TO MR JAMES BURNESS, MONTROSE. DEAR COUSIN, LOCHLEA, 17th Feb. 1784. I WOULD have returned you my thanks for your kind favour of the 13th of December sooner, had it not been that I waited to give you an account of that melancholy event, which, for some time past, we have from day to day expected. On the 13th current I lost the best of fathers. Though, * Dr Currie, in his edition of the Poet's works, published only portions of this interesting commonplace, or scrap-book, which Burns had begun in April, 1783, and abruptly finished in October, 1785; but Mr Cromek, in his Reliques, very judiciously we think, though the critic in the Edinburgh Review thinks differently, presented the public with the whole of its contents. Speaking of the Reliques, the editor says, "It has been the chief object in making this collection, not to omit any thing which might illustrate the character and feelings of the Bard at different periods of his life. Hence these 'Observations' are given entire from his manuscript. A small portion appears in Dr Currie's edition; but the reader will pardon the repetition of it here, when he considers how much so valuable a paper would lose by being given in fragments."—M. to be sure, we have had long warning of the impending stroke; still the feelings of nature claim their part, and I cannot recollect the tender endearments and parental lessons of the best of friends and ablest of instructors, without feeling what perhaps the calmer dictates of reason would partly condemn. I hope my father's friends in your country will not let their connexion in this place die with him. For my part I shall ever with pleasure-with pride, acknowledge my connexion with those who were allied by the ties of blood and friendship to a man whose memory I shall ever honour and revere. I expect, therefore, my dear Sir, you will not neglect any opportunity of letting me hear from you, which will very much oblige, My dear Cousin, yours sincerely, R. B. No. X. TO MR JAMES BURNESS, MONTROSE. MOSSGIEL, August, 1784. We have been surprised with one of the most extraordinary phenomena in the moral world which, I dare say, has happened in the course of this half century. We have had a party of Presbytery relief, as they call themselves, for some time in this country. A pretty thriving society of them has been in the burgh of Irvine for some years past, till about two years ago a Mrs Buchan from Glasgow came among them, and began to spread some fanatical notions of religion among them, and, in a short time, made many converts; and, among others, their preacher, Mr Whyte, who, upon that account, has been suspended and formally deposed by his brethren. He continued, however, to preach in private to his party, and was supported, both he, and their spiritual mother, as they affect to call old Buchan, by the contributions of the rest, several of whom were in good circumstances; till, in spring last, the populace rose and mobbed Mrs Buchan, and put her out of the town; on which, all her followers voluntarily quitted the place likewise, and with such precipitation, that many of them never shut their doors behind them; one left a washing on the green, another a cow bellowing at the crib without food, or any body to mind her, and after several stages, they are fixed at present in the neighbourhood of Dumfries. Their tenets are a strange jumble of enthusiastic jargon; among others, she pretends to give them the Holy Ghost by breathing on them, which she does with postures and practices that are scandalously indecent; they have likewise disposed of all their effects, and hold a community of goods, and live nearly an idle life, carrying on a great farce of pretended devotion in barns and woods, where they lodge and lie all together, and hold likewise a community of women, as it is another of their tenets that they can commit no moral sin. I am personally acquainted with most of them, and I can assure you the above mentioned are facts.* * We abridge from the Christian Journal the account given in that periodical of the rise and extinction of this sect of fanatics: "This party of religious enthusiasts arose in Irvine in 1783. The leaders were Mr White, minister of the Relief congregation there, and Mrs Buchan, from whom they derived their name. Though but half a century has elapsed since this delusion commenced, it has become very difficult to procure authentic information respecting it. Mr White was a native of St Ninians, and a licentiate of the Church of Scotland. He has often preached both in the High and Low Churches of Paisley; and it is said dwelt much on the terrors of the law. His preaching was ac ceptable; but he is described as having been a man of very slender parts, and extremely vain. What induced him to leave the Establishment, and join the Relief body, has not been ascertained. His acquaintance with Mrs Buchan commenced on his coming to Glasgow, in April, 1783, to assist at dispensing the Lord's Supper. The maiden name of this artful enthusiast was Elspet Simson : she was born about 1740; and her father kept an inn about half way betwixt Banff and Portsoy. When little more than twenty years of age, she came to Glasgow, where she was engaged as a |