jogging of the chaise, would allow. It eases my heart a good deal, as rhyme is the coin with which a poet pays his debts of honour or gratitude. What I owe to the noble family of Athole, of the first kind, I shall ever proudly boast; what I owe of the last, so help me God in my hour of need! I shall never forget. The "little angel-band!" I declare I prayed for them very sincerely to-day at the fall of Fyars. I shall never forget the fine family-piece I saw at Blair: the amiable, the truly noble duchess, with her smiling little seraph in her lap, at the head of the table: the lovely "olive-plants," as the Hebrew bard finely says, round the happy mother: the beautiful Mrs. G-; the lovely, sweet Miss C. &c. I wish I had the powers of Guido to do them justice! My lord duke's kind hospitality-markedly kind indeed. Mr. G- of F-'s charms of conver sation-sir W. M-'s friendship. In short, the recollection of all that polite, agreeable company raises an honest glow in my bosom, No. XXIX. To Mr. GILBERT BURNS. My dear brother, Edinburgh, 17th September, 1787, I arrived here safe yesterday evening, after a tour of twenty-two days, and travelling near six hundred miles, windings included. My farthest stretch was about ten miles beyond Inverness. I went through the heart of the Highlands by Crieff, Taymouth, the famous seat of lord Breadalbane, down the Tay, among cascades and druidical cireles of stones, to Dunkeld, a seat of the duke of Athole; thence eross Tay and up one of his tributary streams to Blair of Athole, another of the duke's seats, where I had the honour of spending nearly two days with his grace and family; thence many miles through a wild country, among cliffs grey with eternal snows and gloomy, savage glens, until I crossed Spey, and went down the stream through Strathspey, so famous in Scottish music; Badenoch, &c. until I reached Grant castle, where I spent half a day with sir James Grant and family; and then crossed the country for Fort George, but called by the way at Cawdor, the ancient seat, of Macbeth; there I saw the identical bed, in which tradition says king Duncan was murdered: lastly from Fort George to Inverness. I returned by the coast, through Nairn, Forres, and so on, to Aberdeen; thence to Stonehive, where James Burness, from Montrose, met me by appoint ment. I spent two days among our relations, and found our aunts Jean and Isabel still alive, and hale old women. John Caird, though born the same year with our father, walks as vigorously as I can: they have had several letters from his son in New. York. William Brand is likewise a stout old fel low; but further particulars I delay until I see you, which will be in two or three weeks. The rest of my stages are not worth rehearsing: warm as I was from Ossian's country, where I had seen his very grave, what cared I for fishing towns or fertile carses? I slept at the famous Brodie of Brodie's one night, and dined at Gordon, castle next day with the duke, duchess, and family. I am thinking to cause my old mare to meet me, by means of John Ronald, at Glasgow; but you shall hear farther from me before I leave Edinburgh. My duty and many compliments from the north to my mother; and my brotherly compliments to the rest. I have been trying for a birth for William, but am not likely to be successful. Farewell. C 2 Sir, No. XXX. From Mr. R***** Ochtertyre, 22d October, 1787. 'Twas only yesterday I got colonel Edmonstoune's answer, that neither the words of Down the burn Davie, nor Daintie Davie (I forgot which you mentioned) were written by colonel G. Crawford. Next time I meet him I will inquire about his cousin's poetical talents. Inclosed are the inscriptions you requested, and a letter to Mr. Young, whose company and musi cal talents will, I am persuaded, be a feast to you' These incriptions, so much admired by Burns, are below. WRITTEN IN 1768, For the Salictum at Ochtertyre. Salubritatis voluptatisque causâ, Paludem olim infidam, Mihi meisque desicco et exorno. Silvulas inter nascentes reptandi, Fruor. Hic, si faxit Deus opt. max. Salictum-Grove of willows, willow ground. Nobody can give you better hints as to your present plan than he. Receive also Omeron Cameron, Evique paululum supersit, ENGLISHED. To improve both air and soil, Now fondly marking the progress of my trees, If vain these humble wishes, Above the door of the house, writtten in 1775. Mihi meisque utinam contingat, Bene vivere fausteque mori! ENGLISHED. On the banks of the Teith, In the small but sweet inheritance which seemed to make such a deep impression on your imagination, that I am not without hopes it will beget something to delight the public in due time. And no doubt the circumstances of this little tale, might be varied or extended, so as to make part of a pastoral comedy. Age or wounds might have kept Omeron at home, whilst his countrymen were in the field. His station may be somewhat varied, without losing his simplicity and kindness .... A group of characters male and female, connected with the plot, might be formed from his family, or some neighbouring one of rank. It is not indispensable that the guest should be a man of high station; nor is the political quarrel in which he is engaged, of much importance, unless to call forth the exercise of generosity and faithfulness grafted on patriarchal hospitality. To introduce state affairs, would raise the style above comedy, though a small spice of them would season the converse of swains. Upon this head I cannot say more than to recommend the study of the character of Eumæus in the Odyssey, which, in Mr. Pope's translation, is an exquisite and invaluable drawing from nature, that would suit some of our country elders of the present day. There must be love in the plot, and a happy discovery; and peace and pardon may be the reward of hospitality, and honest attachment to misguided principles. When you have once thought of a plot, and brought the story into form, Dr. Blacklock or Mr. H. M'Kenzie may be useful in dividing it into acts and scenes; for in these matters one must pay some attention to certain rules of These inscriptions, and the translations, are in the hand-writing of Mr. Ramsay. E. |