M'Murdo1 and his lovely spouse (The enamoured laurels kiss her brows) 2 Craigdarroch led a light-armed corps; In either wing two champions fought; 5 And Welsh, who ne'er yet flinched his ground, Miller brought up the artillery ranks, 1 The Duke's chamberlain, a friend of Burns. 2 Mr. Fergusson of Craigdarroch; the victor of the Whistle contest. 3 Captain Riddel of Glenriddel. 4 Provost of Dumfries. 5 The sheriff of the county. 6 Mr. Miller of Dalswinton, father of the candidate. He had been a banker. Resistless desolation; While Maxwelton, that baron bold, Mid Lawson's port intrenched his hold, To these, what Tory hosts opposed, What verse can sing, what prose narrate, Amid this mighty tulzie? Grim Horror grinned; pale Terror roared, conflict As Murther at his thrapple shored; throat-threatened And hell mixt in the brulzie ! As Highland crags, by thunder cleft, Hurl down wi' crashing rattle; The stubborn Tories dare to die; 1 Sir Robert Lawrie, M. P. for the county. broil firmament The Whigs come on like Ocean's roar, Against the Buchan Bullers.1 Lo, from the shades of Death's deep night, Departed Whigs enjoy the fight, And think on former daring! The muffled murtherer of Charles 2 Nor wanting ghosts of Tory fame; 8 Bold Scrimgeour follows gallant Grahame,* Auld Covenanters shiver ; Forgive, forgive, much-wronged Montrose ! While death and hell engulf thy foes, Thou liv'st on high for ever! Still o'er the field the combat burns; 1 The "Bullers of Buchan" is an appellation given to a tremendous rocky recess on the Aberdeenshire coast, near Peterhead having an opening to the sea, while the top is open. The sea, constantly raging in it, gives it the appearance of a pot or boiler, and hence the name. 2 The masked executioner of Charles I. 3 John, Earl of Dundee, noted for his zeal and sufferings in the cause of the Stuarts during the time of the Commonwealth. 4 The great Marquis of Montrose. For woman's wit, or strength of man, Alas! can do but what they can The Tory ranks are broken. O that my e'en were flowing burns! Her darling cub's undoing! That I might greet, that I might cry, From furious Whigs pursuing! brooks weep What Whig but wails the good Sir James- Not Pulteney's wealth can Pulteney save, Thou, Pitt, shall rue this overthrow, Now Fox and Sheridan, rejoice! For your poor friend, the Bard afar, 1 Stuart of Hillside. Closeburn MS. So when the storm the forest rends, Additional verse in Closeburn MS. Now for my friends' and brothers' sakes, Lord, send a rough-shod troop of hell ON CAPTAIN MATTHEW HENDERSON, A GENTLEMAN WHO HELD THE PATENT FOR HIS HONOURS IMMEDIATELY FROM ALMIGHTY GOD. "Should the poor be flattered?". SHAKESPEARE. But now his radiant course is run, For Matthew's course was bright: His soul was like the glorious sun, 66 Matthew Henderson appears to have been a man about town," a kind-hearted, life-enjoying person, |