PREFATORY MEMOIR. ROBERT BURNS, the greatest and most essen tially Scottish of Scotland's poets, was bom the 25th of January, 1759, in a small cotte, reared by his father's own hands, about two miles from the town of Ayr, and not far from "Bonnie Doon" and Auld Alloway Kirk. His father, William Burness (the name was altered to Burns by the poet), was a native of Kincardineshire, from which county he migrated at an early age, in search of employment. Afte staying sometime in Edinburgh, he finally settled in Ayrshire, and, at the time of the poet's birth carried on the business of a nurseryman. appears to have been an upright and sternl religious man. H His illustrious son has left a admirable portraiture of him in The Cottar Saturday Night "The priest-like father." The poet's mother, Agnes Brown, was th daughter of a Carrick farmer. She was rathe comely, of a bright nature, and had an extensiv knowledge of Scottish song and ballad, which he son imbibed eagerly. When Robert was seve years of age the family removed to a small far about two miles distant, called Mount Oliphan Here they spent a hard and toilsome eleve years, at the end of that time removing t Lochlea, a larger and better farin, in the paris on. There disputes arose between Ad tenant, and broken and wearied in e with adverse circumstances, William died, at the age of 63, on 13th February, Burns was sent to school when he was ars old, and afterwards was under the of a private tutor, one John Murdoch, is left interesting records of this period in pet's life. He also attended classes at s neighbouring towns. om the wreck of the house at Lochlea Robert his brother Gilbert saved sufficient to stock e farm at Mossgiel, in the parish of Mauchline, hich they had rented. Previous to this, Burns d spent some time in Irvine, where he became acainted with several persons of a free and jovial character, who did him no good. His earliest poetical effort, written in his fifteenth year, was a song in praise of a beauty whom he had met in the harvest field. Becoming interested in the religious disputes then agitating Ayrshire, he took the side of the New-Light or Liberal party, and assailed the stern Calvinists, who formed the Auld-Lights, with fierce and trenchant satire. Failure of crops and other misfortunes crowding on him, he resolved to go to Jamaica, where he hoped to obtain employment. To enable him to pay his passage he entered into arrangements for the publication of his poems. The "immortal volume, which was purposed to be the means of robbing Scotland of her greatest poet, made its appearance in July, 1786, from the press of John Wilson, a printer in Kilmarnock. It attracted immediate attention, and the widespread admiration which it evoked fired the ambition of Burns, and induced him to pay a visit to Edinburgh, instead of carrying out his West Indian project. Edinburgh was then the centre of a brilliant circle of talent and beauty, and into it Burns was warmly welcomed. second edition of his poems was published, and brought him about five hundred pounds. With A this money he purchased a farm çalı At Ellisland he continued from 1788 t during which time he wrote Tam o' Shante other notable poems, also innumerable s To augment his income he received an appc ment in the excise at £50 a year. The duti of this office, and Burns's convivial character we prejudicial to the success of the farm, and i 1791 the latter was given up, and Burns retire with his family to Dumfries, still retaining his connection with the Excise. There he spent the remainder of his life, writing prolifically, chiefly songs; with 1796 came the beginning of the end, and on the 21st July he died, in his thirtyeighth year. In these latter years at Dumfries his society was shunned, rather than sought, by the wealthier classes. For this neglect the poet was himself considerably to blame, but it is nevertheless a melancholy reflection that so great a genius should have been left to hide his ability in a small country town, and to die strug gling with bitter poverty. He was buried with much pomp in Dumfries. His songs and poems, struck off at white heat, are instinct with human feeling, and go at once to the heart. His large humanity found room for all, the "Wee, sleekit, cow'rin tim'rous beastie," rudely expelled from its nest, evoked his sympathy, the merry bacchanalian found in him a genial companion, and for the sorrowing he had an open heart. Although the spirit of the country breathes through his poetry, he was not the poet of nature so much as the poet of humanity. In this and in his marvellous facility and felicity of expression lies his chief excellence. Year by year his popularity increases, Burns' clubs and Burns' monuments arise on every side, his most trifling possessions are valued at more than money's .d men emulate each other in glorifying ǝry. editions of his works have been puband they have been translated into nearly foreign language. His genius has reenthusiastic appreciation, and his name Dond of union among his countrymen over .ength and breadth of the world. POEMS. The Twa Bogs. 'TWAS in that place o' Scotland's isle, When wearing thro' the afternoon, The first I'll name, they ca'd him Cæsar His locked, letter'd, braw brass collar, Was made lang syne-Lord knows how lang. As ever lap a sheugh or dyke. |