No. CXXXI. TO DR. MOORE. SIR, Ellisland, 4th Jan. 1789. As often as I think of writing to you, which has been three or four times every week these six months, it gives me something so like the idea of an ordinary-sized statue offering at a conversation with the Rhodian colossus, that my mind misgives me, and the affair always miscarries somewhere between purpose and resolve. I have at last got some business with you, and business letters are written by the style-book. I say my business is with you, Sir, for you never had any with me, except the business that benevolence has in the mansion of poverty. The character and employment of a poet were formerly my pleasure, but are now my pride. know that a very great deal of my late eclat was owing to the singularity of my situation, and the honest prejudice of Scotsmen; but still, as I said in the preface to my first edition, I do look upon myself as having some pretensions from Nature to the poetic character. I have not a doubt but mother; another still younger brother, and three sisters, in a farm. On my last return from Edin burgh, it cost me about 180l. to save them from ruin. Not that I have lost so much-I only interposed between my brother and his impending fate by the loan of so much. I give myself no airs on this, for it was mere selfishness on my part: I was conscious that the wrong scale of the balance was pretty heavily charged, and I thought that throwing a little filial piety and fraternal affection into the scale in my favor, might help to smooth matters at the grand reckoning. There is still one thing would make my circumstances quite easy: I have an excise officer's commission, and I live in the midst of a country division. My request to Mr. Graham, who is one of the commissioners of excise, was, if in his power, to procure me that division. If I were very sanguine, I might hope that some of my great patrons might procure me a treasury warrant for supervisor, surveyor-general, &c. Thus, secure of a livelihood, "to thee, sweet poetry, delightful maid," I would consecrate my future days. R. B. [The poet was not slow in perceiving that Ellisland was not the bargain he had reckoned on. He had intimated this before to Margaret Chalmers; and time only confirmed his surmises. Well might he apply to himself the words of Scripture, "And behold nothing which this man sets his heart upon shall prosper."-ED.] No. CXXXII. TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE. Ellisland, Jan. 6, 1789. MANY happy returns of the season to you, my dear Sir! May you be comparatively happy up to your comparative worth among the sons of men; which wish would, I am sure, make you one of the most blest of the human race. I do not know if passing a "Writer to the sig net" be a trial of scientific merit, or a mere business of friends and interest. However it be, let me quote you my two favourite passages, which, though I have repeated them ten thousand times, still they rouse my manhood and steel my resolution like inspiration. "On Reason build resolve, That column of true majesty in man." "Hear, Alfred, hero of the state, YOUNG. Thy genius heaven's high will declare; The triumph of the truly great, Is never, never to despair! Is never to despair!" MASQUE OF Alfred. I grant you enter the lists of life, to struggle for bread, business, notice, and distinction, in common The fragment beginning "A little upright, pert, tart, &c." I have not shewn to man living, till I now send it you. It forms the postulata, the axioms, the definition of a character, which, if it appear at all, shall be placed in a variety of lights. This particular part I send you merely as a sample of my hand at portrait-sketching; but, lest idle conjecture should pretend to point out the original, please to let it be for your single, sole inspection. Need I make any apology for this trouble, to a gentleman who has treated me with such marked benevolence and peculiar kindness-who has entered into my interests with so much zeal, and on whose critical decisions I can so fully depend? A poet as I am by trade, these decisions are to me of the last consequence. My late transient acquaintance among some of the mere rank and file of greatness, I resign with ease; but to the distinguished champions of genius and learning, I shall be ever ambitious of being known. The native genius and accurate discernment in Mr. Stewart's critical strictures; the justness, (iron justice, for he has no bowels of compassion for a poor poetic sinner) of Dr. Gregory's remarks, and the delicacy of Professor Dalzel's taste, I shall ever revere. I shall be in Edinburgh some time next month. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your highly obliged, and very humble servant, [The poet alludes to the merciless, though not wholly unmerited, strictures of Dr. Gregory on the poem of the "Wounded Hare,” when he says he has no bowels of compassion for a poor poetic sinner. Stewart was more gentle in his criticisms: of him and his lady—a poetess of no mean powers-Burns ever spoke in terms almost rapturous; they were kind to him when friends were few and praise scanty—he was not a man to forget such obligations.-ED.] No. CXXXIV. TO BISHOP GEDDES. VENERABLE FATHER, Ellisland, 3d Feb. 1789. As I am conscious that wherever I am, you do me the honor to interest yourself in my welfare, it gives me pleasure to inform you, that I am here at last, stationary in the serious business of life, and have now not only the retired leisure, but the hearty inclination, to attend to those great and important questions-what I am? where I am? and for what I am destined? |