Front matter
WBM.KE OF ROBERT BURNS,
C©KOIP0,ETE ON ©ME /'.)!," iVJE „
OOiith life I ii > : . LA R C LJ N ! X|
Preface To The Second Edition
When this Memoir and chronological Edition of the works of Burns were first announced, a friend observed that the learned part of the world, he was afraid, might think they had enough of the Peasant Poet already, and look coldly on any attempt to associate him in beauty of embellishment and elegance of exterior with bards
" Far seen in Greek, deep men of letters."
" My chief dread is," I replied, "that my labours in the cause of the Poet may not be acceptable : I have no fear for Burns — he will take care of himself." It has not happened otherwise with the Poet than I anticipated : nor have my own exertions been, it appears, unwelcome : six thousand copies of the Life have been disposed of, and a new edition is called for: I now give it to the world, with some of the errors in tha first edition corrected, and all such new intelligence added as seemed useful and characteristic.
A. C.
Belgrave-Place, September, 1835.
Contents
V THE PASSAGES OF THE LIFE WITHIN BRACKETS ARE INCORPORATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS EDITION.
%ih Qi Burn*.
Part I.— Ayr-shire. Page
His parentage ...... 1
Picture of his early days, by himself . . 3 His secret school of study .... 4
His first love 5
[Narrative of his residence at Kirkoswald in
1777] 6
His melancholy — Letter to his father . .10 Mrs. Stewart of Afton, his first patroness . 13 Bachelors' Club, Tarbolton . . .17
Old and New Light Factions . . .19 Person and manners of the young Poet- Sketches by Henry M c Kenzie — David Sillar, and Professor Walker .
The maidens of Kyle ....
[His attachment to Jean Armour] First appearance of his Poems His friendship for Mrs. Dunlop .
Adventure at Ballochmyle — Miss Alexander Dr. Blacklock — his encouraging letter
Part Ii.— Edinburgh
Burns's first appearance there . . .40 [Description of his manners and conduct, by
Dugald Stewart] . . . . .41 Testimony of Professor Walker . [Recollections of the Poet by John Richmond
by Sir Walter Scott]
Kindness of Henry M c Kenzie .
The beautiful Duchess of Gordon Anecdotes of the Poet, in Edinburgh . [Lockhart's description of Burns among the
Literati and Lawyers] .... [Burns's Border Tour, in company with
Robert Ainslie] 53
A love adventure ..... 54
A jaunt to England 57
His return to Mossgiel in 1787 . . .58 His first Highland Tour . . . .59
An adventure 60
Return to Mauchline . . . . ib.
Renews his intercourse with Miss Armour . ib. His second Highland excursion with Dr.
Adair 6)
LIFE OF BURNS.
PAGE
His residence at Harvieston . . .62
Visit to a descendant of Robert Bruce . ib.
The fairest Maid of Devon Banks— Charlotte Hamilton 63
Burns's third Highland Tour, in company
with Nicol 64
His visit to Bannockburn . . . . ib.
to the Duke of Athole, at Blair . 65
to Mrs. Rose, at Kilravock . . 67
to the Duke and Duchess of Gordon 68
[His return to Edinburgh] . . . .69
Dangerous accident . . . . . ib.
His friendship with Clarinda . . .70
He contributes to Johnson's Musical Museum . . . . . . .71
Jacobitism of Burns — His Ode to Prince
Charles . 73
Burns erects a monument to Fergusson . ib. His connexion with Creech . . .74
His appointment to the Excise . . .75 His Common -place Book — Sketches of
Character 76
His return to Mauchline, and Marriage . 78
PART III.— ELLISLAND. His appearance as a farmer in Nithsdale, in
1788 79
[State of his mind, described by himself . 81 His increasing cares . . . . .83
[Domestic Sketch of the Poet, by Sir Egerton Brydges] ...... 84
Friars-Carse Hermitage . . . . 85 j
Picture of his mind and feelings, by himself 87 [His favourite walk on the banks of the
Nith] 88
He establishes a Subscription Library . . 89 Anecdotes while in the Excise . . .90
His Highland Mary 92
[His perambulations over the moors of Dumfries-shire] 93
The story of the Whistle ... 96
His adventure with Ramsay of Ochtertyre . ib. The Earl of Buchan's invitation to Burns to
visit Dryburgh 99
[His final visit to Edinburgh — Anecdotes] . 100 He relinquishes his farm . . . .101
CONTENTS.
LIFE OF BURNS.
Part Iv.— Dumfries
His residence at the Bank- Vermel His engagement with George Thomson Conduct of the Board of Excise towards
His Nithside beauties
[His excursion with Syme of Galloway]
His dislike of epauletted puppies
Story of the sword-cane
The beautiful Maria Woodleigh
His removal to Mill-hole-Brae, in 1794
Death of Glendinning
Testimonials of Gray and Findlater r(
specting the Poet ....
Visit of Professor Walker .
Illness of the Poet .
His residence at Brow Affecting Interview with Mrs., Riddel His letter to Erskine of Mar His return from Brow in a dying state Melancholy spectacle of his household Death of Burns — his Funeral [His personal character, by a Lady] . His personal strength and conversation Anecdotes of Burns ....
His character as a Poet [The excellence of Burns, by Thos. Carlyle] [The widow, children, and brother of the
Poet]
Sale of his household effects (note)
The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.
Loading the full text…
The end
You’ve reached the end of The works of Robert Burns.