My most respectful compliments to the honourable gentleman who favoured me with a postscript in your last. He shall hear from me and receive his MSS. soon.

No. 164.

MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON.

MY DEAR SIR,

20th March, 1793.

THE song prefixed* is one of my juvenile works. I leave it in your hands. I do not think it very remarkable, either for its merits or demerits. It is impossible (at least I feel it so in my stinted powers) to be always original, entertaining, and witty.

What is become of the list, &c. of your songs? I shall be out of all temper with you by-and-by. I have always looked upon myself as the prince of indolent correspondents, and valued myself accordingly; and I will not, cannot bear rivalship from you, nor any body else.

'Mary Morrison.'-See Poems, p. 393.

No. 165.

MR. THOMSON TO MR. BURNS.

Edinburgh, 2d April, 1793.

I WILL not recognize the title you give yourself, the prince of indolent correspondents;' but if the adjective were taken away, I think the title would then fit you exactly. It gives me pleasure to find you can furnish anecdotes with respect to most of the songs: these will be a literary curiosity.

I now send you my list of the songs, which I believe will be found nearly complete. I have put down the first lines of all the English songs which I propose giving in addition to the Scotch verses. If any others occur to you, better adapted to the character of the airs, pray mention them, when you favour me with your strictures upon every thing else relating to the work.

Pleyel has lately sent me a number of the songs, with his symphonies and accompaniments added to them. I wish you were here, that I might serve up some of them to you with your own verses, by way of desert after dinner. There is so much delightful fancy in the symphonies, and such a delicate simplicity in the accompaniments: they are indeed beyond all praise.

I am very much pleased with the several last productions of your muse: your Lord Gregory, in my estimation, is more interesting than Peter's,

beautiful as his is!

Your Here awa Willie must

undergo some alterations to suit the air. Mr. Erskine and I have been conning it over; he will suggest what is necessary to make them a fit match.

The gentleman I have mentioned, whose fine taste you are no stranger to, is so well pleased both with the musical and poetical part of our work, that he has volunteered his assistance, and has already written four songs for it, which, by his own desire, I send for your perusal.

No. 166.

MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON.

7th April, 1793.

THANK you, my dear Sir, for your packet. You cannot imagine how much this business of composing for your publication has added to my, enjoyments. What with my early attachment to ballads, your books, &c., balladmaking is now as completely my hobby-horse, as ever fortification was Uncle Toby's; so I'll e'en canter it way till I come to the limit of my race (God grant that I may take the right side of the winning post!) and then cheerfully looking back on the honest folks with whom I have been happy, I shall say or sing, 'Sae merry as we a' hae been!" and raising my last looks to the whole human

race, the last words of the voice of Coilia* shall be, 'Good night and joy be wi' you a'! So much last words: now for a few present remarks, as they have occurred at random on looking over your list.

for

my

The first lines of The last time I came o'er the moor, and several other lines in it, are beautiful; but in my opinion-pardon me, revered shade of Ramsay! the song is unworthy of the divine air. I shall try to make or mend. For ever, Fortune, wilt thou prove, is a charming song! but Logan burn and Logan braes, are sweetly susceptible of rural imagery: I'll try that likewise, and if I succeed, the other song may class among the English ones. I remember the two last lines of a verse, in some of the old songs of Logan Water (for I know a good many different ones) which I think pretty:

'Now my dear lad maun face his faes,

Far, far frae me and Logan braes.'

My Patie is a lover gay, is unequal. His mind is never muddy,' is a muddy expression indeed,

'Then I'll resign and marry Pate,

And syne my cokernony.'

This is surely far unworthy of Ramsay, or your book. My song, Rigs of Barley, to the same tune, does not altogether please me; but if I can mend it, and thresh a few loose sentiments out of

Burns here calls himself the Voice of Coila, in imitation of Ossian, who denominates himself the Voice of Cona. Sae merry as we a' hae been: and Good night and joy be wi' you a', are the names of two Scottish tunes.

it, I will submit it to your consideration. The Lass o' Patie's Mill is one of Ramsay's best songs; but there is one loose sentiment in it, which my much-valued friend Mr. Erskine will take into his critical consideration-In Sir J. Sinclair's Statistical volumes, are two claims, one, I think, from Aberdeenshire, and the other from Ayrshire, for the honour of this song. The following anecdote, which I had from the present Sir William Cunningham, of Robertland, who had it of the late John, Earl of Loudon, I can, on such authorities believe.

Allan Ramsay was residing at Loudon-castle with the then earl, father to earl John; and one forenoon, riding or walking out together, his lordship and Allan passed a sweet romantic spot on Irvine water, still called Patie's Mill,' where a bonnie lass was tedding hay, bareheaded on the green.'. My lord observed to Allan, that it would be a fine theme for a song. Ramsay took the hint, and lingering behind, he composed the first sketch of it, which he produced at dinner.

6

One day I heard Mary say, is a fine song; but for consistency's sake alter the name Adonis.' Were there ever such banns published, as a purpose of marriage between Adonis and Mary? I agree with you that my song, There's nought but care on every hand, is much superior to Poortith cauld. The original song, The Mill mill 0, though excellent, is, on account of delicacy, inadmissible; still I like the title, and think a Scottish song would suit the notes best; and let your chosen, song, which is very pretty, follow, as an English set. The Banks of the Dee, is you know.