the drama. These you could afterwards fill up at your leisure; but whilst I presume to give a few well-meant hints, let me advise you to study the spirit of my name-sake's dialogue*, which is natural without being low, and, under the trammels of verse, is such as country people in these situations speak every day. You have only to bring down your own strain a very little. A great plan, such as this, would concenter all your ideas, which facilitates the execution and makes it a part of one's pleasure. I approve of your plan of retiring from din and dissipation to a farm of very moderate size, sufficient to find exercise for mind and body, but not so great as to absorb better things. And, if some intellectual pursuit be well chosen and steadily pursued, it will be more lucrative than most farms, in this age of rapid improvement. Upon this subject, as your well-wisher and admirer, permit me to go a step further. Let those bright talents, which the Almighty has bestowed on you, be henceforth employed to the noble purpose of supporting the cause of truth and virtue. An ima gination so varied and forcible as yours, may do this in many different modes; nor is it necessary to be always serious, which you have been to good purpose; good morals may be recommended in a comedy, or even in a song. Great allowances are due to the heat and inexperience of youth, and few poets can boast, like Thomson, of never having written a line, which dying they would wish to blot. In particular I wish you to keep clear of the thorny walks of satire, which makes a man a hundred enemies for one friend, and is doubly dange rous when one is supposed to extend the slips and weaknesses of individuals to their sect or party. About modes of faith, serious and excellent men have always differed, and there are certain curious questions, which may afford scope to men of metaphysical heads, but seldom mend the heart or tem per. Whilst these points are beyond human ken, Allan Ramsay in the Gentle Shepherd. E it is sufficient that all our sects concur in their views of morals. You will forgive me these hints. Well! what think you of good lady Clackmannan? It is a pity she is so deaf and speaks so indistinctly. Her house is a specimen of the mansions of our gentry of the last age, when hospitȧlity and elevation of mind were conspicuous amidst plain fare and plain furniture. I shall be glad to hear from you at times, if it were no more than to shew that you take the effusions of an obscure man like me in good part. I beg my best respects to Dr. and Mrs. Blacklockt, And am, sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J. RAMSAY. * Mrs. Bruce of Clackmannan. + TALE OF OMERON CAMERON. In one of the wars betwixt the crown of Scotland and the lords of the isles, Alexander Stewart, earl of Mar (a distinguished character in the fif teenth century), and Donald Stewart, earl of Caithness, had the command of the royal army. They marched into Lochaber, with a view of attacking a body of M'Donalds, cominanded by Donald Balloch, and posted upon an arm of the sea which intersects that country. Having timely intelligence of their approach, the insurgents got off precipitately to the opposite shore in their curraghs, or boats covered with skins. The king's troops encamped in full security, but the M'Donalds returning about midnight, surprised them, and killed the earl of Caithness, and destroyed or disper sed the whole army. The earl of Mar escaped in the dark without any attendants, and made for the more hilly part of the country. In the course of his flight he came to the house of a poor man, whose name was Omeron Cameron. The landlord welcomed his guest with the utmost kindness; but as there was No. XXXI. From Mr. J. RAMSAY, To the REVEREND W. YOUNG, Dear sir, At Erskine. Ochtertyre, 22d October, 1787. Allow me to introduce Mr. Burns, whose poems I dare say have given you much pleasure. Upon a personal acquaintance I doubt not you will relish no meat in the house, he told his wife he would directly kill maol odhar*, to feed the stranger. "Kill our only cow," said she, "our own and our little children's principal support!" More attentive however to the present call for hospitality, than to the remonstrances of his wife, or the future exigencies of his family, he killed the cow. The best and tenderest parts were immediately roasted before the fire, and plenty of innirich, or Highland soup, prepared to conclude their meal. The whole family and their guest ate heartily, and the evening was spent, as usual, in telling tales and singing songs beside a cheerful fire. Bed-time came; Omeron brushed the hearth, spread the cow-hide upon it, and desired the stranger to lie down. The earl wrapped his plaid about him, and slept soundly on the hide, whilst the family betook themselves to rest in a corner of the same room. Next morning they had a plentiful breakfast, and at his departure his guest asked Cameron, if he knew whom he had entertained? "You may probably," answered he, " be one of the king's officers; but whoever you are, you came here in distress, and here it was my duty to protect you. *Maol odhar, i. e. the brown humble cow.. the man as much as his works, in which there is a rich vein of intellectual ore. He has heard some of our Highland luenigs or songs played, which delighted him so much that he has made words to one or two of them, which will render these more popular. As he has thought of being in your quarter, I am persuaded you will not think it labour lost to indulge the poet of nature with a sample of those sweet artless melodies, which only want to be married (in Milton's phrase) to con genial words. I wish we could conjure up the To what my cottage afforded you was most wel. come." "Your guest then," replied the other, "is the earl of Mar; and if hereafter you fall into any misfortune, fail not to come to the castle of Kildrummie." "My blessing be with you, noble stranger," said Omeron; "if I am ever in distress, you shall soon see me." The royal army was soon after reassembled, and the insurgents, finding themselves unable to make head against it, dispersed. The M'Donalds how. ever got notice that Omeron had been the earl's host, and forced him to fly the country. He came with his wife and children to the gate of Kildrummie castle, and required admittance with a confidence, which hardly corresponded with his habit and appearance. The porter told him rudely, his lordship was at dinner and must not be disturbed. He became noisy and importunate at last his name was announced. Upon hearing that it was Omeron Cameron, the earl started from his seat, and is said to have exclaimed in a sort of poetical stanza, "I was a night in his house, and fared most plentifully, but naked of clothes was my bed. Omeron from Breugach is an excellent fellow !" He was introduced into the great hall, and receiv ed with the welcome he deserved. Upon hearing how he had been treated, the earl gave him a four merk land near the castle. And it is said, there are still in the country a number of Camerons descended of this Highland Eumaus. ghost of Joseph M'D. to infuse into our bard a portion of his enthusiasm for those neglected airs, which do not suit the fastidious musicians of the present hour. But if it be true that Corelli (whom I looked on as the Homer of music) is out of date, it is no proof of their taste; this, however, is going out of my province. You can shew Mr. Burns the manner of singing these same luenigs, and if he can humour it in words, I do not des pair of seeing one of them sung upon the stage, in the original style, round a napkin. I am very sorry we are likely to meet so seldom in this neighbourhood. It is one of the greatest drawbacks that attends obscurity, that one has so few opportunities of cultivating acquaintances at a distance. I hope, however, some time or other to have the pleasure of beating up your quarters at Erskine, and of hauling you away to Paisley, &c. meanwhile I beg to be remembered to Messrs. Boog and Mylne. If Mr. B. goes by , give him a billet on our friend Mr. Stuart, who I presume does not dread the frowns of his diocesan. I am, dear sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J. RAMSAY, Dear sir, No. XXXII. From Mr. RAMSAY, To Dr. BLACKLOCK. Ochtertyre, 27th October, 1787. I received yours by Mr. Burns, and give you many thanks for giving me an opportunity of conversing with a man of his calibre. He will, I doubt not, let you know what past between us on the subject of my hints, to which I have made additions in a letter I sent him t'other day to your care, |