Early in September 1792 commenced that correspondence betwixt Mr. George Thomson, principal Clerk in the office of the Trustees for the encouragement of Arts and Manufactures, and our Bard, which continued uninterruptedly from that date till the death of the latter. Mr. Thomson was an amateur performer on the violin, who conceived the idea of publishing the select vocal melodies of Scotland, set to new words where the old ones were defective, and embellished with pianoforte accompaniments by the first masters of the art. To Burns that gentleman applied for his aid in improving the old words of popular airs, or in furnishing original words to suit the ancient melodies when necessary. That being an employment very congenial to our poet, he at once sympathised in the scheme, and lent his genius to forward it. We purpose to deal with that lyrical correspondence, as we did with the Clarinda episode, in order to obviate a tediously digressive interruption to the current of our author's general correspondence. We shall therefore defer that branch of our subject till we can take up the Thomson correspondence in its entirety and without impediment. (34) TO MRS. DUNLOP OF DUNLOP. (CURRIE, 1800.) DUMFRIES, 24th Sep. 1792. I HAVE this moment, my dear Madam, yours of the twenty-third. All your other kind reproaches, your news, &c., are out of my head when I read and think on Mrs. Henri's situation.* Good God! a heartwounded helpless young woman-in a strange, foreign land, and that land convulsed with every horror that can harrow the human feelings-sick-looking, longing for a comforter, but finding none-a mother's feelings, too-but it is too much: He who wounded (He only can) may He heal! * * * * This lady who, as the reader knows, was a daughter of Mrs. Dunlop, had gone to the south of France with her infant son, where she died a few days prior to the date of this letter. ÆT. 34.] A CURSED LIFE, AND A HEAVENLY ONE. * 313 I wish the farmer great joy of his new acquisition to his family. * * I cannot say that I give him joy of his life as a farmer. 'Tis, as a farmer paying a dear, unconscionable rent, a cursed life! As to a laird farming his own property; sowing his own corn in hope; and reaping it, in spite of brittle weather, in gladness; knowing that none can say unto him, 'what dost thou?'-fattening his herds; shearing his flocks; rejoicing at Christmas; and begetting sons and daughters, until he be the venerated, grey-haired leader of a little tribe-'tis a heavenly life! but Devil take the life of reaping the fruits that another must. eat! Well, your kind wishes will be gratified, as to seeing me when I make my Ayrshire visit. I cannot leave Mrs. Burns, until her nine months' race is run, which may perhaps be in three or four weeks. She too seems determined to make me the patriarchal leader of a band. However, if Heaven will be so obliging as let me have them in the proportion of three boys to one girl, I shall be so much the more pleased. I hope, if I am spared with them, to shew a set of boys that will do honor to my cares and name! but I am not equal to the task of rearing girls. Besides, I am too poor-a girl should always have a fortune. Apropos: your little godson is thriving charmingly, but is a very devil. He, though two years younger, has completely mastered his brother. Robert is indeed the mildest, gentlest creature I ever saw. He has a most surprising memory, and is quite the pride of his schoolmaster. You know how readily we get into prattle upon a subject dear to our heart-you can excuse it. God bless you and yours! R. B. Notwithstanding the poet's timidity about being a parent of daughters, it so happened that on 21st November of this year Mrs. Burns brought him a girl, whom he named "Elizabeth Riddell," after the amiable wife of his friend Robert Riddell of Friar's Carse (not, as Chambers has thoughtlessly recorded, after Mrs. Walter Riddell of Woodley Park, whose name was Maria). The child however, was not destined to a long life, for she predeceased her father by ten months, and was buried at Mauchline, whither she had been sent in the hope that change of air might prove beneficial. (35) TO MRS. DUNLOP OF DUNLOP. (CURRIE, 1800.) [DUMFRIES, October 1792.] I HAD been from home, and did not receive your letter until my return the other day.* What shall I say to comfort you, my much valued, much afflicted Friend? I can but grieve with you; consolation I have none to offer, except that which Religion holds out to the children of Affliction-(children of Affliction! how just the expression !) and like every other family, they have matters among them which they hear, see, and feel in a serious, all-important manner, of which the world has not, nor cares to have, any idea. The world looks indifferently on, makes the passing remark, and proceeds to the next novel oc currence. Alas, Madam! who would wish for many years! what is it but to drag existence until our joys gradually expire, and leave us in a night of misery; like the gloom which blots out the stars one by one, from the face of night, and leaves us without a ray of comfort in the howling waste! I am interrupted, and must leave off. You shall soon hear from me again. R. B. A letter informing him of the death of her daughter, Mrs. Henri, Sep. 15, 1792. Died "at Muges, Asguillon, Mrs. Henri, widow of the late James Henri, Esq."-Scots Mag. り On 14th November 1792, our bard sent to Mr. George Thomson the most pathetic of all his songs "Ye banks and braes and streams around (See page 125, supra.) and on the day immediately preceding he penned and forwarded the following letter, which indicates the dangerous political ground on which Burns was now venturing. On June 20th an armed mob forced into the Tuileries, and insulted the King of France, a riotous procedure which was renewed, with cruel aggravation, on the 10th of August, when the King and Queen took refuge in the House of the National Assembly, from which they were sent to prison in the Temple. The Royal Swiss Guards were massacred, and the King's authority was formally declared at an end. In the beginning of September, Paris flowed with blood for two days, when stateprisoners and all suspected royalists were butchered in the open streets by the infuriated mob; and on 21st September, France was decreed to be a Republic. The combined armies of Austria and Prussia had taken the field with a view to oppose the progress of the French revolution; but, as yet, Britain offered no interference, and the liberal portion of the community, with their political leaders, hitherto seemed to sympathise in the changes that were being effected in France. Paine's "Essay on the Rights of Man" was widely circulated, and numerous societies sprung up, adopting the title of "Friends of the People," to promote "a redress of grievances, and a full, free and equal representation of the people in parliament." Burns, as a matter of course, sided openly with the reforming party, although it does not appear that he joined any of the political societies, which Government soon took means to suppress. In Edinburgh, a certain "Captain Wm. Johnstone" issued the prospectus of a new periodical which he proposed to edit, named The Edinburgh Gazetteer," and Burns addressed a letter to him, intimating his wish to be a subscriber. (') TO CAPT. WM. JOHNSTONE, EDINBURGH. (BLACKIE'S ED., 1846.) DUMFRIES, 13th November 1792. SIR,-I have just read your Prospectus of the "Edinburgh Gazetteer." If you go on in your paper with the same spirit, it will, beyond all comparison, be the first composition of the kind in Europe. I beg leave to insert my name as a subscriber, and if you have already published any papers, please send me them from the beginning. Point out your own way of settling payments in this place, or I shall settle with you through the medium of my friend, Peter Hill, bookseller in Edinburgh. Go on, Sir! Lay bare with undaunted heart and steady hand that horrid mass of corruption called politics and state-craft. Dare to draw in their native colors those "calm-thinking villains whom no faith can fire," whatever be the shibboleth of their pretended party. The address to me at Dumfries will find, Sir, your very humble servant, ROBT. BURNS. () TO MRS. WALTER RIDDELL, WOODLEY PARK. (DR. WADDELL'S ED., 1869.) [DUMFRIES, Nov. 1792.] MADAM,-I return you my most sincere thanks for the honor you have done me in presenting me with Be assured I shall ever keep R. B. a copy of your Book.* it sacred. * * * See page 289 supra. |
