:

cussion of the knotty point at which I had just made a full stop. All my fears and care are of this world if there is another, an honest man has nothing to fear from it. I hate a man that wishes to be a Deist; but I fear, every fair, unprejudiced inquirer must in some degree be a Sceptic. It is not that there are any very staggering arguments against the immortality of man; but like electricity, phlogiston, &c. the subject is so involved in darkness, that we want data to go upon. One thing frightens me much that we are to live for ever, seems too good news to be true. That we are to enter into a new scene of existence, where, exempt from want and pain, we shall enjoy ourselves and our friends without satiety or separation - how much should I be indebted to any one who could fully assure me that this was certain !

My time is once more expired. I will write to Mr. Cleghorn soon. God bless him and all his concerns! And may all the powers that preside over conviviality and friendship, be present with all their kindest influence, when the bearer of this, Mr. Syme, and you meet! I wish I could also make one.

Finally, brethren, farewell! Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are gentle, whatsoever things are charitable, whatsoever things are kind, think on these things, and think on

R. B.

[Of the gentleman to whom this letter is addressed my friend, James Hogg, in his notes on Burns, says, "The Lament, as well as the song beginning O had I a cave,' were written on the occasion of Mr. Alexander Cunningham's darling sweetheart slighting him and marrying another. If I may judge from what I saw of that very amusing and social gentleman, she acted a wise part." If I may judge of the condition of the young lady from what the poet says in the Lament -of the circling and clasping arms, and more pointed still

"The promised father's tender name,"

she acted with little respect to her reputation in forsaking her first love-the only marvel is that she found a second. But the truth is, the Shepherd has made a strange mistake: if his censure of the man is not more accurate than his account of the origin of the Lament, the character of Alexander Cunningham stands where it did. That very affecting poem was composed by the poet on his own sorrows, in the spring of 1786, and published in the Kilmarnock edition of his works, before he ever saw or heard of Alexander the silversmith. He gives this account of it to Dr. Moore. Gilbert Burns confirms him were confirmation required · and indeed no one perhaps is ignorant of it, save him who made the assertion.

The following letter from the pen of Cunningham will be read with interest:

Edinburgh, 28th January, 1790. "In some instances it is reckoned unpardonable to quote any one's own words, but the value I have for your friendship, nothing can more truly or more elegantly express than

'Time but the impression stronger makes,
As streams their channels deeper wear.'

'Having written to you twice without having heard from you, I am apt to think my letters have miscarried. My conjecture is only framed upon the chapter of accidents turning up against me, as it too often does, in the trivial, and I may with truth add, the more important affairs of life; but I shall continue occasionally to inform you what is going on among the circle of your friends in these parts. In these days of merriment, I have frequently heard your name proclaimed at the jovial board-under the roof of our hospitable friend at Stenhouse-mills, there were no

'Lingering moments number'd with care.'

"I saw your Address to the New-year, in the Dumfries Journal. Of your productions I shall say nothing, but my acquaintances allege that when your name is mentioned, which every man of celebrity must know often happens, I am the champion, the Mendoza, against all snarling critics, and narrow-minded reptiles, of whom a few on this planet do crawl."]

AT a late meeting of the Monkland Friendly Society, it was resolved to augment their library by the following books, which you are to send us as soon as possible :-The Mirror, The Lounger, Man of Feeling, Man of the World, (these, for my own sake, I wish to have by the first carrier), Knox's History of the Reformation; Rae's History of the Rebellion in 1715; any good History of the Rebellion in 1745; A Display of the Secession Act and Testimony, by Mr. Gibb; Hervey's Meditations; Beveridge's Thoughts; and another copy of Watson's Body of Divinity..

I wrote to Mr. A. Masterton three or four months ago, to pay some money he owed me into your hands, and lately I wrote to you to the same purpose, but I have heard from neither one or other of you.

In addition to the books I commissioned in my last, I want very much, An Index to the Excise Laws, or an Abridgement of all the Statutes now in

force, relative to the Excise, by Jellinger Symons; I want three copies of this book: if it is now to be had, cheap or dear, get it for me. An honest country neighbour of mine wants too a Family Bible, the larger the better, but secondhanded, for he does not chuse to give above ten shillings for the book. I want likewise for myself, as you can pick them up, second-handed or cheap, copies of Otway's Dramatic Works, Ben Jonson's, Dryden's, Congreve's, Wycherley's, Vanbrugh's, Cibber's, or any Dramatic Works of 'the more modern, Macklin, Garrick, Foote, Colman, or Sheridan. A good copy too of Moliere, in French, I much want. Any other good dramatic authors in that language I want also; but comic authors chiefly, though I should wish to have Racine, Corneille, and Voltaire too. I am in no hurry for all, or any of these, but if you accidentally meet, with them very cheap, get them for me.

And now, to quit the dry walk of business, how do you do, my dear friend? and how is Mrs. Hill? I trust, if now and then not so elegantly handsome, at least as amiable, and sings as divinely as ever. My good wife too has a charming wood-note wild ;" now could we four-▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

66

I am out of all patience with this vile world, for one thing. Mankind are by nature benevolent creatures, except in a few scoundrelly instances. I do not think that avarice of the good things we chance to have, is born with us; but we are placed here