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fluence 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 Cieghorn 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.

No. LXXXIX.

MR BURNS to MR THOMSON.

Brow, on the Solway Frith, 12th July, 1796. AFTER al my boasted independence, curst necessity compels me to implore you for five pounds. A cruel * * * * * 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 Rethiemurche 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!

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Fairest maid on Devon banks,

Crystal Devon, winding Devon,
Wilt thou lay that frown aside,

And smile as thou were wont to do?

Full well thou know'st I love thee dear,
Couldst thou to malice lend an ear!
O, did not love exclaim "Forbear,
Nor use a faithful lover so."
Fairest maid, &c.

Then come, thou fairest of the fair,
Those wonted smiles, O let me share ;
And, by thy beauteous self I swear,

No love but thine my heart shall know.
Fairest maid, &c.*

* These verses, and the letter enclosing them, are written in a character that marks the very feeble state of Burns's 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.

No. XC.

MR THOMSON to MR 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 enclose a draft for the very sum I proposed sending. Would I were Chancellor of the Exchequer but for one day, for your sake!

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 Rothiemurche will answer finely. I am happy to see you can still tune your lyre.

In the beginning of the year 1787, another work had commenced at Edinburgh, entitled, The Scots Musical Museum, conducted by Mr James Johnson; the object of which was to unite the songs and the music of Scotland in one general collection. The first volume of this work appeared in May 1787, when our poet was in Edinburgh; and in it appeared one of his printed songs, to the tune of Green grow the Rashes, beginning, "There's nought but care on every hand." He appears also to have furnished from his MSS. the last song in that volume, which was an early production, and not thought by himself worthy of a place in his works. The second volume appeared in the spring of 1788, and contained several original songs of Burns; who also contributed liberally to the third, fourth, and fifth volumes, the last of which did not appear till after his death. In his communications to Mr Johnson, to which his name was not in general affixed, our Bard was less careful than in his compositions for the greater work of Mr Thomson. Several of them he never intended to acknowledge; and others, printed in the Museum, were found somewhat altered afterwards among his manuscripts. In the selection which follows, attention has been paid to the wishes of the author, as far as they are known. The printed songs have been compared with the MSS., and the last corrections have been uniformly inserted. The reader will probably think many of the songs which follow among the finest productions of his muse.

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