[It seems all but certain that Mrs. Dunlop regarded the poet with some little displeasure during the evening of his days. His political sins and convivial delinquencies were likely the cause of this: it is however doubtful whether or not she knew of his sinking condition. That the bright career of Burns was so soon to conclude in the darkness of death, seems never to have crossed the mind of friend or foe till he returned from the Brow a dying man. ED.]

No. CCLVI.

TO MRS. RIDDEL,

Who had desired him to go to the Birth-Day Assembly on that day to shew his loyalty.

Dumfries, 4th June, 1796.

"Come So

I AM in such miserable health as to be utterly incapable of shewing my loyalty in any way. Rackt as I am with rheumatisms, I meet every face with a greeting, like that of Balak to Balaamcurse me Jacob; and come defy me Israel!" say I-Come curse me that east wind; and come, defy me the north! Would you have me in such circumstances copy you out a love-song?

I may perhaps see you on Saturday, but I will not be at the ball.-Why should I? "man delights not me, nor woman either!" Can you supply me with the song, "Let us all be unhappy together" -do if you can, and oblige le pauvre miserable.

R. B.

[This is the last letter which Burns addressed to the beautiful and accomplished Mrs. Riddel. In addition to the composition of a very admirable memoir of the poet, that lady bestirred herself much in rousing his friends both in Scotland and England to raise a monument at Dumfries to his memory. She subscribed largely herself: she induced others to do the same, and she corresponded with both Banks and Flaxman on the subject of designs. Her letters are

now before me: one of them will suffice to show the reader that Mrs. Riddel had forgiven the bard for all his lampoons, and was earnest in doing his memory

honour :

"SIR,

"IN answer to yours of the 10th last month, I will trouble you with a few lines on the subject of the bard's monument, having corresponded with several persons upon the subject (Dr. Currie, &c.) whose judgment is very far preferable to mine, and we all agree that the first thing to be done is to collect what money can be got for that purpose, in which we will all do what service we can as soon as the posthumous works are published; but those who are at all saddled with that business must get it off their hands before they commence

another undertaking. Perhaps an application, or at any rate the consulting with Mr. Flaxman on the subject of the design, &c. might answer better from and with persons he is already acquainted with, and more heads than one should be called in counsel on the occasion. If, therefore, you or the other gentlemen concerned in this project think it proper, I will talk it over with Mr. Flaxman and some other artists, friends of his, whom I know, and Mr. F. can then let you know his ideas on the subject. The monument should be characteristic of him to whom it is raised, and the artist must somehow be made acquainted with him and his works, which it is possible he may not be at present. The inscription should be first rate. I think either Roscoe or Dr. Darwin would contribute their talents for the purpose, and it could not be given into better hands. I have no names to add to your list; but whenever that for the posthumous works is closed, I will set to work in earnest. Pray remember me to Mr. Syme when you see him, from whom, I know not why, I never hear now.

"I am,

Sir,

"Your humble servant,

"Richmond, 20th May, 1799."

"MARIA RIDDEL."

Of the merits of the designs it is difficult to judge without the drawings: Mrs. Riddel admired two, of which she gives the following description. "The first, which I think the handsomest, is a shrine enclosing a very beautiful female figure bending over a sort of sarcophagus, which is partly covered by drapery. This is really very elegant and classical, but it is expensive. The second design is a female figure, likewise very

elegant, on a pedestal with the addition of an attribute, either of these might be taken for Coila, whom Burns delighted to personify as his guardian genius." These designs were by Flaxman: they seem not to have pleased the friends of the poet in the vale of Nith the intention of a monument was abandoned till a later day, when it was successfully revived by William Grierson in Dumfries, and the late Alexander Key, Esq. in London. It would have been as well had the sculpture equalled the elegance of the architectural shrine which encloses it that this is the opinion of others well qualified to judge, the following passage of a letter to the Editor from one of our greatest living poets will abundantly show:

"Last summer I visited Staffa, Iona, and part of the Western Highlands, and returned through your town of Dumfries, having for the first time passed through Burns's country. It gave me much pleasure to see Kilmarnock, Mauchline, Mossgiel Farm, the Ayr, which we crossed where he winds his way most romantically through rocks and woods: and to have a sight of Irwin and Lugar, which naebody sung till he named them in immortal verse. The banks of the Nith I had seen before, and was glad to renew my acquaintance with them. By the bye, what a sorry piece of sculpture is Burns's monument in Dumfries churchyard-monstrous in conception and clumsy in execution. It is a disgrace to the memory of the poet." ED.]

No. CCLVII.

TO MR. JAMES JOHNSON,

EDINBURGH.

Dumfries, 4th July, 1796.

How are you, my dear friend, and how comes on your fifth volume ? You may probably think that for some time past I have neglected you and your work; but, alas! the hand of pain, and sorrow, and care, has these many months lain heavy on me! Personal and domestic affliction have almost entirely banished that alacrity and life with which I used to woo the rural muse of Scotia.

You are a good, worthy, honest fellow, and have a good right to live in this world—because you deserve it. Many a merry meeting this publication has given us, and possibly it may give us more, though, alas! I fear it. This protracting, slow, consuming illness which hangs over me, will, I doubt much, my ever dear friend, arrest my sun