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BURNETT.

ROBERT BURNS, THE POET. (Continued from page 164.)

he taught it to flow in a proper channel. His knowledge of the

"No part of History is more in-world was vastly superior to mine, structive and delightful than the Lives and I was all attention to learn.— of great and worthy Men." He was the only man I ever saw who was a greater fool than myself, where woman was the presiding star; but he spoke of illicit love with the levity of a sailor, "From this adventure I learn-which, hitherto, I had regarded ed something of a town life; but with horror. Here his friendship the principal thing which gave did me mischief, and the consemy mind a turn, was a friendship quence was, that soon after I reI formed with a young fellow, a sumed the plough, I wrote the very noble character, but a hap-Poet's Welcome. My reading only less son of misfortune. He was increased, while in this town, by the son of a simple mechanic; but two stray volumes of Pamela, and a great man in the neighbourhood one of Ferdinand Count Fathom, taking him under his patronage, which gave me some idea of novels. gave him a genteel education, with Rhyme, except some religious a view of bettering his situation in pieces that are in print, I had life. The patron dying just as he given up; but meeting with Ferwas ready to launch out into the guson's Scottish Poems, I strung world, the poor fellow in despair anew my wildly-sounding lyre went to sea; where, after a varie- with emulating vigour. When my ty of good and ill fortune, a little father died, his all went among before I was acquainted with him, the hell-hounds that growl in the he had been set ashore by an kennel of justice; but we mado a American privateer, on the wild shift to collect a little money in coast of Connaught, stripped of the family amongst us; with every thing. I cannot quit the which, to keep us together, my poor fellow's story without add- brother and I took a neighbouring, that he is at this time, mastering farm. My brother wanted my of a large West Indiaman belong-hair brained imagination, as well ing to the Thames. as my social and amorous madHis mind was fraught withness; but in good sense, and eveindependence, magnanimity, and ry sober qualification, he was far every manly virtue. I loved and my superior. admired him to a degree of enthusiasm, and of course strove to imitate him. In some measure I suc- be wise! I read farming books, I ceeded: I had pride before, but calculated crops; I attended mar

"I entered on this farm with a full resolution, come, go to, I will

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kets, and in short, in spite of the
devil, the world, and the flesh, I
believe I should have been a wise
man; but the first year, from un-
fortunately buying bad seed, the
second, from a late harvest, we
lost half our crops.
This overset
all my wisdom, and I returned to
my old habits.

ears-a poor negro-driver-or, perhaps, a victim to that inhospitable clime, and gone to the world of spirits! I can truly say, pauvre inconnu as I then was, I had pretty nearly as high an idea of myself and my works as I have at this moment, when the public

of the principal qualifications for a place among those who have lost the chart and mistaken the reckoning of rationality. I gave up my part of the farm to my brother; in truth, it was only nominally mine; and made what little preparations were in my power for Jamaica. But, before leaving "I now began to be known in my native country for ever, I rethe neighbourhood as a maker of solved to publish my poems. I rhymes. The first of my poetical weighed my productions as imparoffspring that saw the light was a tially as was in my power; I burlesque lamentation on a quarrel thought they had merit; and it between two reverend Calvinists, was a delicious idea that I should both of them dramatis persona be called a clever fellow, even in my Holy Fair. I had a notion though it should never reach my myself that the piece had some merit; but, to prevent the worst, I gave a copy of it to a friend who was fond of such things, and told him that I could not guess who was the author of it, but that I thought it pretty clever. With a certain description of the clergy, as well as laity, it met with a roar have decided in their favour. It of applause. Holy Willie's Pray-ever was my opinion, that the er next made its appearance, a- mistakes and blunders, both in a larmed the kirk-session so much, that they held several meetings, to look over their spiritual artillery, if haply any of it might be pointed against profane rhymers. Unluckily for me, my wanderings led me on another side, within point-blank shot of their heaviest metal. This is the unfortunate story that gave rise to my printed poem The Lament. This was a melancholy affair, which I cannot yet bear to reflect on, and had very nearly given me one or two

rational and religious point of view, of which we see thousands daily guilty, are owing to their ignorance of themselves.

"To know myself had been all along my favourite study. I weighed myself alone, I balanced myself with others; I watched every means of information, to see how much ground I occupied as a man, and as a poet; I studied assiduously nature's design in my formation; where the lights and shades in my character were in

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meet with encouragement at Edinburgh for a second edition, fired me so much, that away I posted

tended. I was pretty confident my poems would meet with some applause; but at the worst, the roar of the Atlantic would deafen for that city, without a single ac-: the voice of censure, and the no-quaintance, or a single letter of velty of West India scenes make introduction. The baneful star me forget neglect. I threw off 600 that had so long shed its blasting copies, of which I had got sub- influence in my zenith, for oncescriptions for about 350. My va- made a revolution to the nadir; nity was highly gratified by the and a kind providence placed me reception I met with from the under the patronage of one of the public; and besides, I pocket- noblest of men, the Earl of Glened, all expences deducted, nearly cairn, Oublie moi, grand Dieu, 201. This sum came very sea-si jamais je l'oublie !

sonably, as I was thinking of "I need relate no farther. At indenting myself, for want of Edinburgh I was in a new world,

money, to procure my passage.-
As soon as I was master of nine
guineas, the price of wafting me
to the torid zone, I took a steer-
age passage in the first ship that
was to sail from the Clyde, for
"Hungry ruin had me in the wind."

I mingled among various classes of men, but all of them new to me, and I was all attention to catch the characters and manners living as they rise. Whether I have profited, time will shew."

ERWALD AND LOUISE,

A TALE,
By Crowquill the Younger.

"I had now been for some days skulking from covert to covert, under the terrors of a jail; as soom ill-advised people had uncoupled the merciless pack of thelaw at my heels; I had taken the "Nay tarry, Erwald, do not last farewell of my few friends; quit your moorings this evening, my chest was on the road to Gree- or you may fare roughly," said an nock. I had compassed the last old fisherman to his young comsong I should ever measure in Ca- rade, who was silently preparing ledonia, "The gloomy night is his boat; "for," continued he, "I gathering fast," when a letter see the black spot in the horizon from Dr. Blacklock to a friend of that foretells a storm, so ye had mine, overthrew all my schemes, much better return, and be merby opening new prospect to my ry over a flaggon with me; for ye poetic ambition.-The doctor be- looked as if an evil spirit had belonged to a set of critics, for witched ye, as ye crossed the whose applause I had not dared to moor.-Egad though," said he hope, His opinion that I would tapping his fore-finger on his

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wrinkled forehead, "I think I his hand, and Erwald pushed his have guessed it; ye have been boat from the shore. quarrelling with that laughing The good-natured Hendric teasing jade Louise; an ye have watched him until he was lost in ye are a fool; for though she is a the twilight; then, muttering to romping little slut, she is the best-himself something about." headhearted girl in the village, and strong boy and foolish girl," he moreover one of the handsom- drew his cloak around him, and est.”—“You have guessed right, turned his steps towards his peaceHendric," said the young man ful home. sullenly, "and by St. Bridget I am sorely vexed; for I saw her just now on the moor, laughing with that scapegrace young squire, though I have so often told her it displeases me. And though we were to have been wed come next Lammas, I care not if I see her more.". Well, well, Erwald; now, by my faith, ye take it too much to heart," said Hendric; "the girls will tease us all in our time. I remember my old wife did torment me sorely when I was courting her; but she makes none the worse wife, nor did she love less; and if thou art crossed, a ducking will not cure thee; so moor thy boat, and come with me, and shew her ye care not for her freaks. I warrant ye she will soon come to, for I know she loves you dearly." "I will not be persuaded," said Erwald, sighing, “for I am not in humour for any company except the roaring of the waves; they at present best suit the turbulance of my mind; so adieu, Hendric."" Well then good even, if it must be so," replied he, "and may ye be pleased

The evening mists floated heavily over the waters, and the clouds rolled darkly in the heavens; the wind moaned mournfully along the beach, as if bewailing the devastation it was about to commit ; the withered leaves twirled high in the air; the sea-fowl dipped its purple beak into the waters, and flapped its wings, as if to lull them into calmness; and the dark pine creaked upon the mountain's side as the roaring blast grew stronger:-the waves foamed higher and higher, until they almost kissed the rocky summits, and raged in chorus with the rolling thunder that burst through the heavens in awful peals.-the fishermen pressed their wives and children to their bosoms, as they listened to the horrid din, and thanked the Divine Being that they were safe from its fury.

*

As the morning dawned, the storm sunk into silence, and the waters floated still and calmly to the beach; the sun rose amidst a golden mist of fleecy clouds, and threw his rays upon the scene

with your company." He waved that yesterday had flourished fair

dared not pain her by acquainting her with his fears; but said, with

and beautiful; but now the tree that late had held its head so proudly to the skies, lay blasted as much unconcern as possible, on the earth, and the tender flow-that he supposed he had gone rets drooped upon the weeping early to see if any wreck had come herbage. Soon as the light had upon the rocks, and to lend his broke, the anxious Hendric, whose assistance. "Well then," said fears for his young friend had Louise, gaily, "I will go and kept him from sleeping through surprise him, if you will accomthe dreadful night, arose, and pany me Hendric, for I know you opened his casement, fearing, yet will take me safe over the rocks, hoping, that he might have re- for the love you bear Erwald.”turned ere the last night's storm Hendric sighed, she took his arm, commenced. He looked towards and they proceeded towards the the cottage of Erwald, but his beach. heart sank as he perceived that the shutters had never been closed, and one of them was rived from its hinge, and swung in the wind; he hurried on his clothes, and hastened towards the cottage. He

To be continued,

Travels.

looked through the casement—An Abridgment of the Travels of a

Gentleman through France, Italy,
Turkey in Europe, the Holy Land,
Arabia, Egypt, &c.

(Continued from page 167.)

There are in Genoa about thirty parish churches, besides a great number of colleges, convents, and religious houses. The cathedral, dedicated to St. Laurence, may be mentioned rather as a large than beautiful edifice: but the marble pillars on the inside, which support the roof, and a marble statue of St. John the Evangelist, are worthy observation. In this church

but all within was silent-he lifted the latch and entered-he sighed, as he looked around the silent dwelling, where he had spent so many happy hours, and felt a secret foreboding that it would never be again. He was startled from his mournful reverie by a slight tap on the casement, and the soft voice of Louise calling upon Erwald; he immediately opened the door.-Louise started at seeing him, but recovering herself, asked for Erwald, "for," said she, "he promised to meet me last night, and he did not come; so I must they pretend to have the ashes of scold him for his neglect for I St. John the Baptist, in a silver am sure he could not be fishing shrine, supported by four columns in such a night as last." Hendric of porphyry. They shew also a looked upon her smiling face, and large dish made of one single

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