Robert Burns had but to appear in any society and speak, and the thought-king stood revealed, the hero was acknowledged; and men's prejudices, however stiff-necked, must bend with a bow of reverence to intellectual greatness. Yet, though every where a welcome guest, a certain suspicious apprehension, the result of pride, that he was less respected in proportion to his real merit, than the puppet dignitaries of artificial society, made him prefer the com pany of those who could claim no tinsel superiority to himself. And among these friends of his own condition he was prone to conviviality, relishing with infinite gust the sweets of social intercourse, including, alas! the mountain-dew of bacchanalian celebrity. Poets, from Anacreon to Tom Moore, have sung the praise of alcoholic drinks. They seem as a race to have an innate affection for that source of a temporary ecstasy somewhat resembling their more peculiar and more ethereal intoxication. It is a lamentable predisposition, but not perhaps indicative of a very black depravity. Burns was particularly exposed to temptation in this respect, by reason of the eagerness with which his company was sought on all hands, and his own preeminently companionable disposition. He spent, at this period, a far greater portion of his time in social assemblies than he had ever before been in the habit of doing. He also participated very freely in the nectarian refreshments so common among his roistering coun trymen. No inconvenience was the immediate result, while his brilliant volubility was doubtless increased by the brain-quickening draught. But the end was not yet. The second edition of his poems put our bard in possession of a greater sum than he had ever before called his own; and with a poet's prudence he resolved to expend it in visiting the classical scenery of his beloved land. With this

Not for his poetry alone was Burns an extraordinary man. He equally excelled in colloquial talent. It is not always, indeed not generally, the case, that such as have the greatest power in deliberate composition are also highly gifted with the ability to express themselves readily and forcibly in extemporaneous conversation: a quite different talent is called into exercise, and men seldom possess a great number of distinguished powers. Burns was one of the few who, mighty in their slower and solitary movements, were also quick and strong in their unpremeditated activity. His conversation is described by his biographers as singularly energetic and beautiful. All social circles which he honored with his presence, whether of the high or low in rank, were delighted even to amazement, with the facility and grace with which the most eloquent and profound remarks, on all conceivable subjects, were emitted, as from an exhaustless reservoir of brilliant, flowing thoughtcrystal scholars and boors, judges and draymen, lords and boot-blacks, equally paused to listen as to an inspired oracle, and when he had spoken were ready to enquire, "Whence hath this man wisdom ?"

Oh! genius is an inspiration truly divine. He whose lips have been touched with a live coal from off an heavenly altar, will speak and men can but listen, and their hearts will burn within them as his lava words come rushing in a glowing stream from their volcanic fountain. When a great soul looks out from under its high, calm brow, and breathes forth its vivifying breath, sweetening the grateful air, men may hate but they must respect. Mind is the true sovereign, and though maltreated by rebellious subjects, it is still glorious in its regal dignity. Little men may spit at great ones, but they feel very little when they

Robert Burns had but to appear in any society and speak, and the thought-king stood revealed, the hero was acknowledged; and men's prejudices, however stiff-necked, must bend with a bow of reverence to intellectual greatness. Yet, though every where a welcome guest, a certain suspicious apprehension, the result of pride, that he was less respected in proportion to his real merit, than the puppet dignitaries of artificial society, made him prefer the company of those who could claim no tinsel superiority to him. self.

And among these friends of his own condition he was prone to conviviality, relishing with infinite gust the sweets of social intercourse, including, alas! the mountain-dew of bacchanalian celebrity. Poets, from Anacreon to Tom Moore, have sung the praise of alcoholic drinks. They seem as a race to have an innate affection for that source of a temporary ecstasy somewhat resembling their more peculiar and more ethereal intoxication. It is a lamentable predisposition, but not perhaps indicative of a very black depravity. Burns was particularly exposed to temptation in this respect, by reason of the ea gerness with which his company was sought on all hands, and his own preeminently companionable disposition. He spent, at this period, a far greater portion of his time in social assemblies than he had ever before been in the habit of doing. He also participated very freely in the nectarian refreshments so common among his roistering coun trymen. No inconvenience, was the immediate result, while his brilliant volubility was doubtless increased by the brain-quickening draught. But the end was not yet. The second edition of his poems put our bard in possession of a greater sum than he had ever before called his own; and with a poet's prudence he resolved to expend it in visiting the classical scenery of his beloved land. With this

Not for his poetry alone was Burns an extraordinary He equally excelled in colloquial talent. It is not always, indeed not generally, the case, that such as have the greatest power in deliberate composition are also highly gifted with the ability to express themselves readily and forcibly in extemporaneous conversation: a quite different talent is called into exercise, and men seldom possess a great number of distinguished powers. Burns was one of the few who, mighty in their slower and solitary movements, were also quick and strong in their unpremeditated activity. His conversation is described by his biographers as singularly energetic and beautiful. All social circles which he honored with his presence, whether of the high or low in rank, were delighted even to amazement, with the facility and grace with which the most eloquent and profound remarks, on all conceivable subjects, were emitted, as from an exhaustless reservoir of brilliant, flowing thoughtcrystal scholars and boors, judges and draymen, lords and boot-blacks, equally paused to listen as to an inspired oracle, and when he had spoken were ready to enquire, "Whence hath this man wisdom ?"

Oh! genius is an inspiration truly divine. He whose lips have been touched with a live coal from off an heavenly altar, will speak and men can but listen, and their hearts will burn within them as his lava words come rushing in a glowing stream from their volcanic fountain. When a great soul looks out from under its high, calm brow, and breathes forth its vivifying breath, sweetening the grateful air, men may hate but they must respect. Mind is the true sovereign, and though maltreated by rebellious subjects, it is still glorious in its regal dignity. Little men may spit at great ones, but they feel very little when they

Robert Burns had but to t and the thought-king stood 1 ledged; and men's prejudic bend with a bow of reverenc Yet, though every where a we picious apprehension, the result respected in proportion to his 1 dignitaries of artificial society, pany of those who could claim n self. And among these friends was prone to conviviality, relish sweets of social intercourse, inc tain-dew of bacchanalian celebri on to Tom Moore, have sung drinks. They seem as a race to for that source of a temporary e bling their more peculiar and mo It is a lamentable predisposition, tive of a very black depravity. exposed to temptation in this respec gerness with which his company was and his own preeminently companionab spent, at this period, a far greater portio social assemblies than he had ever before be of doing. He also participated very freely rian refreshments so common among his roiste trymen. No inconvenience, was the immedia while his brilliant volubility was doubtless increa the brain-quickening draught. But the end was no The second edition of his poems put our bard in posses of a greater sum than he had ever before called his ow and with a poet's prudence he resolved to expend it in visi ing the classical scenery of his beloved land. With this