[A curious account of the Poet's visit, on his second tour, to Mrs. Bruce, is given by Dr. Adair, who married Charlotte Hamilton, the far-famed "Maid of Devon :"

A visit to Mrs. Bruce, of Clackmannan, a lady above ninety, the lineal descendant of that race which gave the Scottish throne its brightest ornament, interested his feelings more powerfully. This venerable dame, with characteristical dignity, informed me, on my observing that I believed she was descended from the family of Robert Bruce, that Robert Bruce was sprung from her family. Though almost deprived of speech by a paralytic affection, she preserved her hospitality and urbanity. She was in possession of the hero's helmet and twohanded sword, with which she conferred on Burns and myself the honour of knighthood, remarking, that she had a better right to confer that title than some people. You will of course conclude that the old lady's political tenets were as jacobitical as the Poet's, a conformity which contributed not a little to the cordiality of our reception and entertainment. She gave as her first toast after dinner, Awa' Uncos,' or 'Away with the Strangers' who these strangers were, you will readily understand."-Ed.]

No. LXIV.

TO MR. WALKER,

BLAIR OF ATHOLE.

MY DEAR SIR:

Inverness, 5th September, 1787.

I HAVE just time to write the foregoing,* and to tell you that it was (at least most part of it) the effusion of an half-hour I spent at Bruar. I do not mean it was extempore, for I have endeavoured to brush it up as well as Mr. Nicol's chat and the jogging of the chaise would allow. It eases my heart a good deal, as rhyme is the coin with which a poet pays his debts of honour or gratitude. What I owe to the noble family of Athole, of the shall ever proudly boast; what I owe of the last, so help me God in my hour of need! I shall never forget.

first kind, I

The "little angel-band!" I declare I prayed for them very sincerely to-day at the Fall of Fyers. I shall never forget the fine family-piece I saw at Blair; the amiable, the truly noble duchess, with her smiling little seraph in her lap, at the head of

The Humble Petition of Bruar-water, Vol. III., p. 56.

:

the table the lovely "olive plants," as the Hebrew bard finely says, round the happy mother: the beautiful Mrs. G-; the lovely, sweet Miss C. &c. I wish I had the powers of Guido to do them justice! My Lord Duke's kind hospitality-markedly kind indeed. Mr. Graham of Fintray's charms of conversation-Sir W. Murray's friendship. In short, the recollection of all that polite, agreeable company raises an honest glow in my bosom.

[Professor Walker, to whom this letter is addrsssed, was a native of Ayrshire, and an accomplished scholar and gentleman. Happening to be in Edinburgh when Burns made his first appearance there, he sought his acquaintance and was his frequent companion at the tables of Blair and Stewart. On his third and last excursion into the Highlands, the Poet found Walker an useful and prudent friend. With considerable tact he separated Burns and Nicol; and, having provided the latter with a fishing-rod and some choice wine to drink by the secluded pools of the Bruar, carried the Bard into the company of the ladies of the house of Athole, and made him acquainted with Graham of Fintray. He visited him, too, at Dumfries, and, after the Poet's death, when the copyright of Currie's edition had expired, he wrote, with considerable taste and feeling, his life anew, and edited his poems. All that passed under his own eye,

the Professor related with a dramatic truth and ease: his account of Burns at the table of Dr. Blair, and of his two days' conversation with him in 1795, are fine specimens of his talents. He died lately.-ED.]

No LXV.

TO MR. GILBERT BURNS.

Edinburgh, 17th September, 1787.

MY DEAR BROTHER:

My farthest

I ARRIVED here safe yesterday evening, after a tour of twenty-two days, and travelling near six hundred miles, windings included. stretch was about ten miles beyond Inverness. I went through the heart of the Highlands by Crieff, Taymouth, the famous seat of Lord Breadalbane, down the Tay, among cascades and druidical circles of stones, to Dunkeld, a seat of the Duke of Athole; thence across Tay, and up one of his tributary streams to Blair of Athole, another of the duke's seats, where I had the honour of spending nearly two days with his grace and family; thence many miles through a wild country among cliffs gray with eternal snows and gloomy savage glens, till I crossed Spey and went down the stream through Strathspey, so famous in Scottish music; Badenoch, &c. till I reached Grant Castle, where I spent half a day with Sir James Grant and family; and then

crossed the country for Fort George, but called by the way at Cawdor, the ancient seat of Macbeth; there I saw the identical bed, in which tradition says king Duncan was murdered: lastly, from Fort George to Inverness.

I returned by the coast, through Nairn, Forres, and so on, to Aberdeen, thence to Stonehive, where James Burness, from Montrose, met me by appointment. I spent two days among our relations, and found our aunts, Jean and Isabel, still alive, and hale old women. John Cairn, though born the same year with our father, walks as vigorously as I can they have had several letters from his son in New York. William Brand is likewise a stout old fellow; but further particulars I delay till I see you, which will be in two or three weeks. The rest of my stages are not worth rehearsing: warm as I was from Ossian's country, where I had seen his very grave, what cared I for fishing-towns or fertile carses? I slept at the famous Brodie of Brodie's one night, and dined at Gordon Castle next day, with the duke, duchess, and family. I am thinking to cause my old mare to meet me, by means of John Ronald, at Glasgow; but you shall hear farther from me before I leave Edinburgh. My duty and many compliments from the north to my mother; and my brotherly compliments to the rest. I have been trying for a berth for William, but am not likely to be successful. Farewell.

R. B.