derogation of theirs; for I promise that I will not be concerned in writing or composing either song, ode, tragedy, comedy, or farce, on any subject whatever concerning the Cape, without the express desire, consent, and licience of the said poets, orators, and witts; and agreeable to this resolution, although I could have expressed my sentiments tolerably in verse, I rather chuse to lay this, my petition, before the society, in plain honest prose, by which the afforsaid orators, poets, and witts may see that they have nothing to fear from my small ability in their way, but that they will continue undisturbedly to enjoy the happiness of exciting the admiration and applause of all the silent knights. I therefore hope that this petition, written on this and the two preceeding pages, will be taken into your serious consideration, and admitt your humble petitioner into all the honours and privileges of your worthy Society, and your petitioner shall ever pray. [Signed] GA. WILSON." Need we say that this whimsical reclaiming petition was successful. His title was Sir Macaroni: but he appears to have forfeited the "honours and privileges" in 1780. The date of his admission was 30th January 1773. Fergusson had been admitted only three months before. We here close our 'Memoranda' on the Cape-Club: but the reader is referred to the poems, p. 132, in 'Auld Reikie,' and relative notes. M.-Page xcviii. The following documents relative to Fergusson and Burns in respect of the head-stone over the grave of the former, will no doubt prove interesting: Extract from the Records of the managers of the Kirk and Kirk Yard funds of Canongate, relative to the erection, by Robert Burns, of a Headstone in memory of Robert Fergus son. Session House within the Kirk of Canongate, the 22nd of February, 1787. "Sederunt of the Managers of the Kirk and Kirk Yard Funds of Canongate. "Which day, the treasurer to the said funds produced a let ter from Mr. Robert Burns, of date the sixth current, which was read and appointed to be engrossed in their sederunt book, and of which letter the tenor follows: To the honorable Baillies of Canongate, Edinburgh. 66 Gentlemen, "I AM sorry to be told, that the remains of Robert Fergusson, the so justly celebrated poet, a man whose talents for ages to come will do honour to our Caledonian name, lie in your churchyard among the ignoble dead, unnoticed and unknown. "Some memorial to direct the steps of the lovers of Scottish song, when they shed a tear over the "narrow house" of the bard who is no more, is surely a tribute due to Fergusson's memory; a tribute I wish to have the honour of paying. "I petition you then, gentlemen, to permit me to lay a simple stone over his revered ashes, to remain an unalienable property to his deathless fame. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your very humble servant, ROBERT BURNS." "Thereafter the said managers, in consideration of the laudable and disinterested motion of Mr. Burns, and the propriety of his request, did and hereby do unanimously grant power and liberty to the said Robert Burns, to erect a headstone at the grave of the said Robert Fergusson, and to keep up and preserve the same to his memory in all time coming. "Extracted forth of the records of the managers, by William Sprott, Clerk." Extract from the Elogia Sepulchralia Edinburgena. "From inattention in the mason employed to erect this monument, the foundation soon gave way, and it was in danger of falling. When this was observed, Burns, as well as Fergusson, was then also numbered with the dead. Some members of the Esculapian club, animated by that pious zeal for departed merit, which had before led them to prevent some other sepulchral monuments from going to ruin, applied for liberty to repair this tribute from one poet to the memory of another; and permission being granted, they took that opportunity of affixing to it an additional inscription, commemorating the genius of Burns. The poetical part of it is taken, almost verbatim, from the Elegy written by Burns himself on Captain Matthew Henderson. 66 Dignum laude verum musa vetat mori. "Lo! Genius, proudly, while to Fame she turns, Twines CURRIE'S laurels with the wreath of BURNS. "TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT BURNS, THE AYRSHIre Bard; ON THE 25TH of January, 1759; ON THE 22ND OF JULY, 1796. "O ROBERT BURNS! the man! the brother! Like thee where shall we find another The world around! "Go to your sculptured tombs, ye great, But by the honest turf I'll wait, Thou man of worth! And weep the sweetest poet's fate E'er liv'd on earth."1 Roscoe. The "pious zeal" of the Esculapian Club was certainly commendable; but we cannot say so much for their taste in affixing an "additional inscription." Luckily the unseemly sign-board on which it was inscribed, decayed, and on the occasion of the recent repairs and improvements, it was removed. The grave now appears as in our Vignette. The Gentleman's Magazine (November 1823) publishes a 1 Lives of Scottish Poets, vol. iii. pp. 84-87. document of a curious nature, namely, the account of Messrs. J. and R. Burn, builders, against Robert Burns, for the expense of the monument. It was as follows: 1789, "Mr. Robert Burns To J. and R. Burn. June 23. 54 feet polished Craigleith stone, for a headstone, for Robert Fergusson, at 1s., £2 14 0 10 ft. 8 inches dble. base mouldings, at 1s. 6d., 0 16 0 2 stones to set the base on, at ls., Lead and setting up do., 0 210 2 0 1 5 8 05 0 046 £5 10 0 The original receipt is now in the possession of Major James Glencairn Burns, son of the poet. The generous action of Burns did not go unnoticed even at the time. The editor has in his possession a contemporary broadside which contains (1) a few stanzas from Hamilton of Gilbertfield's letter to Ramsay; (2) the motto which Burns prefixed to the first or Kilmarnock edition of his poems 1786; and (3) the epitaph for Fergusson, with the following note. "Mr. Robert Burns, the celebrated Ayrshire Bard, with a generosity which does honour to his feelings, has, at his own expense, caused a stone to be placed in the Canongate Church-yard, Edinburgh, over the remains of the late unfortunate Scottish Bard, Mr. Robert Fergusson, with the following inscription: No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, Nor storied urn, nor animated bust, This simple stone directs pale Scotia's way, N.-Page c. As might have been anticipated, the Magazines and Newspapers of the day teemed with Odes and Elegies and Epitaphs to the memory of Fergusson. I have read a great many of them, but cannot ask my readers to do so. They are, as poetry, utterly worthless. The 'Vanity of Human Wishes, an Elegy on the untimely death of a Scots Poet,' by John Tait, W. S., has been usually appended to editions of Fergusson. I cannot think of doing so. It was the heart-utterance of one who greatly esteemed and loved Fergusson,-but who must have been a very weak and puling (however worthy) man, and entirely innocent of all poetic inspiration. The following is the notice of Fergusson from the Obituary of the "Weekly Magazine." It was composed by Mr. Ruddiman, jun., and, slightly extended, forms the Life usually prefixed to editions of the poems: 66 [Died] at Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Fergusson, well known in the literary world for his poetical abilities. To attempt a character of this youthful bard must be a vain essay, as it would be equally difficult to do justice to his merit. No colours but his own could paint him to the life, and we know none in his line of composition capable to sketch him out. His talent of versification in the Scots dialect has been exceeded by none, equalled by few. The subjects he chose were generally uncommon, often temporary. His images and sentiments were lively and striking, which he had a knack in clothing with the most agreeable and natural expression. Had he enjoyed life and health to a maturer age, it is probable he would have revived our ancient Caledonian poetry, of late so much neglected or despised. His Hallow-Fair, Edinburgh Election, Leith Races, are master-pieces in this style, and will be lasting monuments of his genius and vivacity.-For social life, he possessed an amazing variety of qualifications. With the best good-nature, and a great degree of modesty, he was always sprightly, always entertaining. His powers of song were very great in a double capacity. When seated, with some select companions, over a friendly bowl, his wit flashed like lightning, struck the hearers irresistibly, and set the table in a roar. -But, alas! these engaging, nay bewitching qualities, proved |