peculiar manners of its inhabitants, and the mar tial achievements of their ancestors, are embodied in national songs, and united to national music. By this combination the ties that attach men to the land of their birth, are multiplied and strengthened; and the images of infancy, strongly associating with the generous affec tions, resist the influence of time, and of new impressions; they often survive in countries far distant, and amidst far different scenes, to the latest periods of life, to sooth the heart with the pleasures of memory, when those of hope die away. If this reasoning be just, it will explain to us why, among the natives of Scotland, even of cultivated minds, we so generally find a partial attachment to the land of their birth, and why this is so strongly discoverable in the writings of Burns, who joined to the higher powers of the understanding, the most ardent affections. Let not men of reflection think it a superfluous labour to trace the rise and progress of a character like his. Born in the condition of a peasant, he rose by the force of his mind into distinction and influence, and in his works has exhibited what are so rarely found, the charms of original genius. With a deep insight into the human heart, his poetry exhibits high powers of imagination-it displays, and as it were embalms, balms, the peculiar manners of his country; and it may be considered as a monument not to his own name only, but to the expiring genius of an ancient and once independent nation. In relating the incidents of his life, candour will prevent us from dwelling invidiously on those failings which justice forbids us to conceal; we will tread lightly over his yet warm ashes, and respect the laurels that shelter his untimely grave.* * Some additional remarks, by Gilbert Burns, on the causes which contributed to the formation of the peculiar character of the peasantry of Scotland, will be found in Appendix, No. IV, at the end of this volume. THE LIFE OF ROBERT BURNS. ROBERT BURNS was, as is well known, the son of a farmer in Ayrshire, and afterwards himself a farmer there; but having been unsuccessful, he was about to emigrate to Jamaica. He had previously however attracted some notice by his poetical talents in the vicinity where he lived, and having published a small volume of his poems at Kilmarnock, this drew upon him more general attention. In consequence of the encouragement he received, he repaired to Edinburgh, and there published by subscription an improved and enlarged edition of his poems, which met with extraordinary success. By the profits arising from the sale of VOL. I. D this |