CONTENTS.

LETTERS.

No.

Page.

I. To Mr. John Richmond, Edinburgh.

Mossgiel, Feb. 17, 1786. Giving an

account of some of his compositions

II. To Mr. MW-ie, Writer, Ayr,

Mossgiell, 17th April, 1786, with four

copies of his poems-Anxiety of a

poet militant

III.

IV.

-

To Mons. James Smith, Mauchline.

Monday morning, Mossgiel, 1786.-

Voyage to the West Indies delayed.-

Woman!

To Mr. David Brice. Mossgiel, June

12, 1786. Approaching departure for

Jamaica-About to commence poet

in print, and then to turn a wise man

as fast as possible

-

V. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Mauchline.

Edinburgh, Dec. 7, 1786. Rising fame

-his birth-day to be inserted in the

almanacks-Patronage-Lord Glen-

cairn The Caledonian Hunt

VI.

VII.

-

To Dr. M Kenzie, Mauchline. Wed-
nesday morning. Inclosing him the ex-
tempore verses on dining with Lord

Daer-Character of Professor Dugald

To John Ballantine, Esq. Banker,

Ayr. Edinburgh, 13th Dec. 1786. A

host of Patrons and Patronesses

b*

1

3

4

5

6

7

8
No.

VIII.

Page.

To Mr. William Chalmers, Writer,

Ayr. Edinburgh, Dec. 27, 1786. A hu-

morous sally

9

IX.

To John Ballantine, Esq. Edinburgh,

Jan. 14, 1787. Mr. Miller's offer of a

farm at Dalswinton-Honors done

him at a mason-lodge

Χ.

To the same. With a copy of "The

banks o' bonie Doon."

12

ΧΙ.

To the same. Edinburgh, Feb. 24,
1787. Poems on the eve of publica-

tion-his phiz to be prefixed to them

XII. To Mr. James Candlish, Student in

Physic, College, Glasgow. Edinburgh,

March 21, 1787. Return from Scep-

ticism to Religion-still "the old man

with his deeds."

14

15

XIII.

To the same. Engages to assist

Johnson in the Scots Musical Mu-

seum

-

16

XIV.

To William Creech, Esq. (of Edin-

burgh) London, Selkirk, 13th May,

1787. His our in Scotland. -" Wil-

lie's awa."

17

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

To Mr. W. Nicol, Master of the

High school, Edinburgh. Carlisle, June

1, 1787. A journey on his mare Jenny

Geddes Humorous and in the Scot-

tish dialect

To the same. Mauchline, June 18,
1787. Milton's Satan his favourite-

Misfortune of the poetic character-

Estimate of his friends and acquain-

tance

To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Stirling,

28th Aug. 1787. Account of his ram-

bles-A visit to Mr. H's rela-

tions.

XVIII. FRAGMENTS.

20

22

24

No

XIX.

To Miss Margaret Chalmers, (now

Mrs. Hay of Edinburgh) Sept. 26,

1787. Fireside of Wisdom and Pru-

dence-Admiration of the fair sex

about a farm at Dumfries-compli-

ment to Charlotte-" The banks of

the Devon."

Edinburgh, Nov. 21, 1787. Hints

to her and Charlotte about letter-

writing-Affection "The Wabster's

grace.

Edinburgh, Dec. 12, 1787. A bruis-

ed limb-and blue devils. Taken up

with the bible

Page.

28

29

30

Edinburgh, Dec. 19, 1787. On the

stilts, not poetic but oaken.-His mot-
motto, I DARE. His enemy moimeme ibid.
Edinburgh, March 15, 1787. Bar-
gain for the Ellisland farm completed
-Settling to business-Dr. John-

son's observation-Firmness

31

Mauchline, 7th April, 1788. Thanks

for their introduction to Miss Kennedy 32

Hairbreadth love-escapes-Fore-

bodings

Edinburgh, Sunday. Entered into

the Excise-satisfied with himself.

To Miss Mn, Saturday noon,

St. James's Square, Newtown, Edin-

burgh. Compliments a Greenland ex-

pression

XX. To Mr. Robert Ainslie, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, Sunday morning, Nov. 23,

1787. Declines a supper-engagement,

-Warm friendship

XXI. To Miss Chalmers. Edinburgh, Dec.

1787. Reproaches her timidity re-

specting his poetic compliments——

Remarks on Mr.

33

ibid.

34

35

36

Ne.

ΧΧΙΙ.

Page.

To Mr. Morison, Wright, Mauch-

line. Ellisland, Jan. 22, 1788. A ludi-

crous specimen of the Bathos

-

38

XXIII.

To Mr. James Smith, Avon Print-

field, Linlithgow. Mauchline, April

28, 1788. Opens a twenty-four gun

battery-Estimate of some men's

ideas-His recent marriage-" The

beginning of sorrows."

39

XXIV. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Mauchline,

May 26, 1788. Finishing his excise

instructions-Fortunate in his bar-

gains-Conjugal happiness-Charac-

ter of Mrs. B

-

40

XXV.

To the same. Ellisland, June 14,

1788. Cares and anxieties-Fancy and

judgment-Hints about marriage

42

XXVI.

To the same. Ellisland, June 30,

1788. About a profile of a Mr. H-.

Folly of talking about one's private

affairs-Close of a letter of Boling-

broke to Dean Swift

-

43

XXVII. To Mr. George Lockhart, Merchant,

Glasgow. Mauchline, July 18, 1788.

The lovely Miss Bailies-Idea of an

accomplished woman

-

46

XXVIII.

-

To Mr. Beugo, Engraver, Edin

burgh. Ellisland, Sept. 9, 1788. At a

loss for social communication-Ellis-

land the elbow of existence-Ayr-

shire and his darling Jean

ΧΧΙΧ. Το Miss Chalmers, Edinburgh. Ellis-

land, near Dumfries, Sept. 16, 1788.

Bad harvest-Tender regrets-His

marriage-Description of Mrs. B.-

Her "woodnote wild" - Excise-Po-

etical speculations-Friars Carse

ΧΧΧ. Το Mrs. Dunlop of Dunlop. Mauch-

line, 27th Sept. 1788. Grateful for her

-

47

48

No.

XXXI.

XXXII.

criticisms Verses on a mother's loss

of her son

Page.

52

To Mr. James Johnson, Edinburgh.
Two more songs-Asks a fair subject
for his muse

To Dr. Blacklock. Mauchline, Nov.
15, 1788. Poetical labours-Gratitude

-the Doctor's benevolence

54

55

XXXIII.

To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland,

Jan. 6, 1789. Compliments of the sea-

son" Reason and resolve" " Ne--

ver to despair."

57

XXXIV. ToMr. James Hamilton, Grocer, Glas-

gow. Ellisland, May 26, 1789. Sympa-

thy in his misfortunes

58

XXXV. To Wm. Creech, Esq. Ellisland, May

30, 1789. Tooth ache personified-

Another specimen of the Bathos

-

59

XXXVI.

To Mr. Robert Ainslie, Ellisland,

June 8, 1789. Overwhelmed with bu-

siness-Serious counsel

60

XXXVII.

To Capt. Riddel, Carse. Elusland,

Oct. 16, 1789. Poetic apprehensions

"The Whistle"

"Here are we

met." &c. -

62

XXXVIII.

ΧΧΧΙΧ.

63

XL.

To the same. "An old Song." -

To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland,

Νου. 1, 1789. Appointed to an excise

division-droll harangue of a recruit-

ing sergeant

To Mr. Peter Hill, Bookseller, Edin-

burgh. Ellisland, Feb. 2, 1790. His ras-
cally occupation as Gauger must serve
as an apology for his silence-Asks af-
ter a celebrated lady of his own name
-Commissions some cheap books-
Smollett's works on account of their
incomparable humour-Is nice only
in the appearance of his Poets-must

64