CONTENTS.

LETTERS.

Page.

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3

No.

1. To Mr. John Richmond, Edinburgh.

Mossgiel, Feb. 17, 1786. Giving an

account of some of his compositions

II. To Mr. MWie, Writer, Ayr.

Mossgiell, 17th April, 1786, with four

copies of his poems-Anxiety of a

poet militant

III. To Mons. James Smith, Mauchline.

Monday morning, Mossgiel, 1786.-

Voyage to the West Indies delayed.-

Woman!

IV. 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. T. Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Mauchline.

Edinburgh, Dec. 7, 1786. Rising fame

-his birth-day to be inserted in the

almanacks-Patronage-Lord Gien-

cairn- The Caledonian Hunt

VI. To Dr. M Kenzie, Mauchline. Wed-

nesday morning. Inclosing him the ex-

tempore verses on dining with Lord

Daer-Character of Professor Dugald

Stewart

VII. To John Ballantine, Esq. Banker,

Ayr. Edinburgh, 13th Dec. 1786. A

host of Patrons and Patronesses

b *

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No.

VIII. To Mr. William Chalmers, Writer,

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

morous sally

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

X. To the same. With a copy of “ The

banks o' bonie Doon."

XI.

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.”

XIII. To the same. Engages to assist

Johnson in the Scots Musical Mu-

seum

XIV. To William Creech, Esq. (of Edin-

burgh) London, Selkirk, 13th May,

1787. His tour in Scotland.-66 Wil-

lie 's awa.

XV. 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

XVI. To the same. Mauchline, June 18,

1787. Milton's Satan his favourite-

Misfortune of the poetic character-

Estimate of his friends and acquain-

tance

XVII. To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Stirling,

28th Aug. 1787. Account of his ram-

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

tions.

XVIII. FRAGMENTS.

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17

20.

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No.

Page.

To Miss Margaret Chalmers, (nomo

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.”

28

Edinburgh, Nov. 21, 1787. Hints

to her and Charlotte about letter-

writing- Affection—"The Wabster's

grace.

29

Edinburgh, Dec. 12, 1787. A bruis-

ed limb--and blue devils. Taken up

with the bible

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

3)
Edinburgh, Sunday. Entered into

the Excise-satisfied with himself. ibid.

XIX.

To Miss M-, Saturday noon,

St. James's Square, Newtown, Edin-

burgh. Compliments a Greenland ex-

pression

34

XX.

To Mr. Robert Ainslie, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, Sunday morning, Nov. 23,

1787. Declines a supper-engagement

- Warm friendship

35

XXI. To Miss Chalmers. Edinburgh, Dec.

1787. Reproaches her timidity re-

specting his poetic compliments-

Remarks on Mr.

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No.

XXII. To Mr. Morison, Wright, Mauch-

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

crous specimen of the Bathos

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."

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-

XXV. To the same. Ellisland, June 14,

1788. Cares and anxieties-Fancy and

judgment-Hints about marriage

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

XXVII. To Mr. George Lockhart, Merchant,

Glasgow. Mauchline, July 18, 1788.

The lovely Miss Bailies Idea of an

accomplished woman

XXVIII. To Mr. Beugo, Engraver, Edin-

burgh. Elli sland, Sept. 9, 1788. At a

loss for social communication-Ellis-

land the elbow of existence-Ayr-

shire and his darling Jean

XXIX. To 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

XXX. To Mrs. Dunlop of Dunlop. Mauch-

line, 27th Sept, 1788. Grateful for her

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54

No.

Page.

criticisms-Verses on a mother's loss

of her son

52

XXXI. To Mr. James Johnson, Edinburgh.

Two more songs-Asks a fair subject

for his muse

XXXII. To Dr, Blacklock. Mauchline, Nov.

15, 1788. Poetical labours-Gratitude

the Doctor's benevolence

55

XXXIII. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland,

Jan. 6, 1789. Compliments of the sea-

son–6 Reason and resolve". - Ne-

ver to despair.”

572

XXXIV. TOMr. James Hamilton, Grocer, Glas-

gow. Elli sland, May 26, 1789. Sympa-

thy in his misfortunes

58

XXXV. To Wm. Creech, E84. Ellisland, Miry

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. Ellsland,

Oct. 16, 1789. Poetic apprehensions

_" The Whistle"-" Here are we

met." &c.

62

XXXVIII. To the same. “ An old Song." 6.3

XXXIX. To Mr. Robert Ainslie. Ellisland,

Nov. 1, 1789. Appointed to an excise

division-droll harangue of a recruit-

ing sergeant

64

XL. To Mr. Peter Hill, Bookseller, Edin-

burgh. Ellisland, Feb. 2,1790. His res-
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---musi.