DEDICATION. TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CALEDONIAN HUNT. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, A SCOTTISH Bard, proud of the nane, and whofe higheft ambition is to fing in his Country's fervice, where fhall he fo properly look for patronage as to the illuftrioas Names of his Native Land, thofe who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their Ancestors? A 2 Ancestors?The Poetic Genius of my Country found me as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elifha-at the plough; and threw her infpiring mantle over me. She bade me fing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleafures of my natal Soil, in my native tongue: I tuned my wild, artless notes, as fhe infpired She whispered me, to come to this ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my Songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates. Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the ufual file, of dedication, to thank you for paft favours; that path is fo hackneyed by proflituted Learning, that honeft Rufticity is afhamed of it.-Nor do I prefent this Addrefs with the venal foul of a fervile Author, looking for a continuation of thofe favours: I was bred to the Plough, and am independent. I come to claim the common common Scottish name with you, my illuftriouts countrymen; and to tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my Country, that the blood of her ancient heroes fill runs uncontaminated, and that from your courage, knowledge, and public Spirit, The may expect protection, wealth, and liberty.In the last place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the Great Fountain of Honour, the Monarch of the Universe, for your welfare and happiness. Social-joy away of your When you go forth to waken the Echoes, in the ancient and favourite amusement of your for fathers, may Pleafure ever be your party; and may return! When harraffed in courts or camps with the juftlings of bad men and bad meaLures, may the honeft consciousness of injured Worth attend your return to your native Seats, and may Domeftic Happiness, with a Smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May Corruption A 3 |