On Visiting the Grave of Hardie and Baird, On being Overtaken by a Storm, On Visiting one of the Round Towers of Ireland, Written at the Grave of the author of " The Course of 247 On some Ill-bred Agricultural Apprentices, On Mr J. Inch complaining of the Small Size of my Volume, 247 Satan's Rejected, 248 On hearing that Mr Lamb had deceived Mr Shepherd, 248 249 Stanzas addressed to the author on his visit to Edinburgh, 262 Sonnet to the author, 263 Opinions of the Press, 265 BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. JOHN RAMSAY was born in Kilmarnock in the year 1802. His education, like that of most individuals in his sphere of life, was limited. After leaving the jurisdiction of the "dominie," he resided several years with an uncle, near the village of Dundonald. The ancient castle, and the romantic scenery in the neighbourhood, linked as they are with the stirring events of Scottish history, had no doubt an inspiring effect on the ardent mind of Ramsay. Hence it is that we often find him reverting, in his poems, to the enchanting spot, with all the buoyancy of youthful enthusiasm. B He was afterwards apprenticed, in his native place, as a carpet weaver; and, amidst the din and dissonance of the loom-shop, he occasionally essayed, in fancy's dream, to visit the poet's bower. A subscription paper for a ball was at one time handed through the carpet work, bearing these lines "Every good fellow who wishes to prance, Come pray take the pencil and sign for a dance ;" and which, as a matter of course, was submitted to Ramsay, who wrote the following impromptu on the back of it : "Old Plato once met Father Jove, And asked the Self-Existent, "Jove heard the question, gave a nod, To Heaven's high towers advancing, Unveiled this world,- Now,' says the god, 'D'ye see yon weavers dancing ?"" The satire, though it galled the more earnest promoters of the ball, was much appreciated; and Ramsay was induced to send the lines for insertion to the Edinburgh Literary Journal, a clever periodical, edited by Henry Glassford Bell, Esq. The lines, trifling as they may appear, were inserted in an early number. Emboldened by encouragement, Mr. Ramsay contributed |