have felt it quite unnecessary to come before the public as an editor of Burns, had not the "chapter of accidents" dragged him forward, by making him acquainted with Mr. M'Kie, publisher of the finely executed fac-simile of the Poet's preciously scarce Kilmarnock Edition, 1786, (here reproduced verbatim et literatim, although our fac-simile extends only to the title-page.) It was the desire of Mr. M'Kie, that the present editor should assist him in bringing out, for popular circulation, a more complete and accurate Edition of the Poems and Songs of Burns than has hitherto been presented to the public. For the plan of these twinvolumes, the one, shewing, in successive groups, all the Poems and Songs which the Author lived to see in print ; and the other, containing his posthumous publications similarly arranged; thus telling of life in the one, death in the other, and immortality in both, the editor is alone responsible. For the annotations throughout the work and the Memoir of Burns prefixed to this volume, both together comprising more letterpress than is contained in the Author's text, the editor is also responsible. It is upwards of twelve months since the printing of volume first was commenced, and the "printer's copy" was literally produced piecemeal, to keep pace with the press, which was impeded by the technical obstacles consequent on distance and on the stereotyping process, which had to be adopted to suit the publisher's plan. This also accounts for the unwonted extent of "Errata and Remarks on last page of each volume. That refined portion of the Poet's admirers who can relish his inspiration only after it has been distilled and filtered into a "well undefiled," in the form of a "Family Edition," need not expect to find here much sympathy with their peculiar tastes; for no castration, suppression, or vitiation of the Author's text has been resorted to, nor has a single known production of his muse been excluded, that can really bear the light of print. The editor cannot close his Preface without making reference to the elaborate Edition of the Life and Works of Burns which was produced by Dr. Hately Waddell some four years ago. Owing to some fatality, or perhaps old-fashioned prejudice, the editor did not make himself acquainted with that learned work until these volumes were nearly closed. He has now perused the magnificent quarto, and gladly bears testimony to the value of that editor's eloquent labours, frankly acknowledging that had he consulted that work sooner, the present edition might have snatched a grace or two therefrom. The editor's grateful acknowledgments are due to several warm appreciators of his efforts, who kindly aided him with their contributions during the progress of the work; but to no source of assistance is he more indebted, than to the ample stores of Burns-literature which were readily supplied to him from the private library of the publisher. EDINBURGH, August, 1871. CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. Page Original verses by Burns, and information received too late to be inserted in the body of the Work, lxxxix A Winter Night, Stanzas composed in the prospect of Death, A Prayer, under the pressure of violent anguish, with Beattie's Poems, To Miss L Address to a Haggis, Address to Edinburgh, SONGS PRODUCED BY BURNS, IN THE FIRST FOUR Introductory Note, . Songs from Johnson's First Vol., May 22, 1787. 197 Songs from Johnson's Second Vol., Feb. 14, 1788. To the Weaver's gin ye go, 203 Whistle, an' I'll come to you, my lad, 204 I'm o'er young to marry yet, 205 The birks of Aberfeldy, 206 207 208 |