The Tay, meandering sweet in infant pride, Lone wandering by the hermit's mossy cell: Th' incessant roar of headlong tumbling floods Here Poesy might wake her heaven-taught lyre, 'Thursday.-Come down Tay to Dunkeld-Glenlyon House Lyon River-Druid's Temple-three circles of stones-the outermost sunk-the second has thirteen stones remaining-the innermost has eight-two large detached ones like a gate, to the south-east-say prayers in it-pass Taybridge-Aberfeldy— described in rhyme-Castle-Menzies-Inver-Dr Stewart-Sup.' [The beautiful falls of Moness at Aberfeldy excited the poet to verse; but on this occasion it came in a lyric form, for he remembered a simple old ditty, called the Birks of Abergeldy, referring to a place in Aberdeenshire, and, struck by the nearly-identical name of this spot, his thoughts fell into harmony with the tune possessing his mind :— THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY. TUNE-The Birks of Abergeldy. CHORUS. Bonnie lassie, will ye go, Will ye go, will ye go; To the birks of Aberfeldy? Now simmer blinks on flowery braes, glances Let Fortune's gifts at random flee, cascades 'Friday. - Walk with Mrs Stewart and Beard to Birnam top-fine prospect down Tay-Craigiebarns Hills-hermitage on the Bran Water, with a picture of Ossian-breakfast with Dr Stewart-Neil Gow plays-a short, stout-built, honest Highland figure, with his grayish hair shed on his honest social brow-an interesting face, marking strong sense, kind open-heartedness, mixed with unmistrusting simplicity-visit his house-Marget Gow. 'Ride up Tummel River to Blair [the seat of the Duke of Athole]-Fascally, a beautiful romantic nest-wild grandeur of the Pass of Killiecrankie — visit the gallant Lord Dundee's stone. 'Blair-Sup with the duchess-easy and happy from the manners of the family-confirmed in my good opinion of my friend Walker. 'Saturday [Sept. 1].-Visit the scenes round Blair-fine, but spoiled with bad taste-Tilt and Garry rivers-Falls on the Tiltheather seat-ride in company with Sir William Murray and Mr Walker to Loch Tummel-meanderings of the Rannoch, which runs through quondam Struan Robertson's estate from Loch Rannoch to Loch Tummel-dine at Blair. Company-General Murray; Captain Murray, an honest tar; Sir William Murray, an honest, worthy man, but tormented with the hypochondria; Mrs Graham, belle et aimable; Miss Cathcart; Mrs Murray, a painter; Mrs King; duchess and fine family, the Marquis, Lords James, Edward, and Robert; Ladies Charlotte, Emilia, and children dance; sup; Mr Graham of Fintry.' [Burns had, at Edinburgh, formed the acquaintance of Mr Josiah (afterwards professor) Walker, a young man of his own county, and hence peculiarly apt to gain upon his affections. They had often met at Dr Blacklock's, Professor Stewart's, and other houses. On now coming with a letter of introduction to Blair, it was a fortunate circumstance for the poet and Nicol to find Mr Walker residing there in the capacity of preceptor. Of the visit, which Burns exceedingly enjoyed, Dr Currie received an account from Mr Walker: 'On reaching Blair, he sent me notice of his arrival (as I had been previously acquainted with him), and I hastened to meet him at the inn. The duke, to whom he brought a letter of introduction, was from home: but the duchess, being informed of his arrival, gave him an invitation to sup and sleep at Athole House [Blair.] He accepted the invitation; but as the hour of supper was at some distance, begged I would, in the interval, be his guide through the grounds. It was already growing dark; yet the softened though faint and uncertain view of their beauties, which the moonlight afforded us, seemed exactly suited to the state of his feelings at the time. I had often, like others, experienced the pleasures which arise from the sublime or elegant landscape, but I never saw those feelings so intense as in Burns. When we reached a rustic hut on the river Tilt, where it is overhung by a woody precipice, from which there is a noble waterfall, he threw himself on the heathy seat, and gave himself up to a tender, abstracted, and voluptuous enthusiasm of imagination. I cannot help thinking it might have been here that he conceived the idea of the following lines, which he afterwards introduced into his poem on Bruar Water, when only fancying such a combination of objects as were now present to his eye: "Or by the reaper's nightly beam, Mild, chequering through the trees, It was with much difficulty I prevailed on him to quit this spot, and to be introduced in proper time to supper. My curiosity was great to see how he would conduct himself in company so different from what he had been accustomed to. His manner was unembarrassed, plain, and firm. He appeared to have complete reliance on his own native good sense for directing his behaviour. He seemed at once to perceive and to appreciate what was due to the company and to himself, and never to forget a proper respect for the separate species of dignity belonging to each. He did not arrogate conversation, but, when led into it, he spoke with ease, propriety, and manliness. He tried to exert his abilities, because he knew it was ability alone gave him a title to be there. The duke's fine young family attracted much of his admiration; he drank their healths as honest men and bonnie lasses, an idea which was much applauded by the company, and with which he has very felicitously closed his poem. 'Next day I took a ride with him through some of the most romantic parts of that neighbourhood, and was highly gratified by his conversation. As a specimen of his happiness of conception and strength of expression, I will mention a remark which he made on his fellow-traveller, who was walking at the time a few paces before us. He was a man of a robust but clumsy person; and while Burns was expressing to me the value he entertained for him, on account of his vigorous talents, although they were clouded at times by coarseness of manners; " in short," he added, "his mind is like his body—he has a confounded strong in-kneed sort of a soul."1 'Much attention was paid to Burns both before and after the duke's return, of which he was perfectly sensible, without being vain; and at his departure I recommended to him, as the most appropriate return he could make, to write some descriptive verses on any of the scenes with which he had been so much delighted. After leaving Blair, he, by the duke's advice, visited the Falls of Bruar, and in a few days I received a letter from Inverness, with the verses enclosed.' The Saturday and Sunday which Burns spent at Blair (September 1 and 2) he afterwards declared to be among the happiest days of his life. The uneasy spirit which so often chafed at the thought of the pride of rank, seems to have been completely soothed by the genial manners of the family and their guests. The family were as much pleased with the poet as he with them; they entreated him to prolong his stay; and he would have complied, but for the eagerness of Nicol to hurry on. Mr Walker tells us that the ladies, in their anxiety to have a little more of the bard's company, sent a servant to the inn, to bribe his driver to loosen or pull a shoe off one of the horses. 'But the ambush failed. Proh mirum! The driver was incorruptible." 12 It was the more to be regretted that Burns did not linger a little longer, as Mr Dundas was daily expected as a guest; and to have met that great dispenser of patronage might have had a favourable influence on his 1 A correspondent makes a whimsical comment on this passage. He is at a loss to understand how Burns should have thought in-knees a mark of strength, for to him they have always conveyed a sense of weakness, and he would rather have associated the opposite curve with strength. Does not the truth lie between? 2 Letter of Walker to Dr Currie, Burns's works, second edition, ii. 100. future fortunes. As it was, he was fortunate in meeting Mr Graham of Fintry, for that gentleman afterwards proved a useful friend. The verses and letter to which Mr Walker alludes at the close of his communication to Currie, were as follow: THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER TO THE NOBLE DUKE The first object of interest that occurs upon the public road after leaving Blair, is a chasm in the hill on the right hand, through which the little River Bruar falls over a series of beautiful cascades. Formerly, the falls of the Bruar were unadorned by wood; but the poet Burns, being conducted to see them (September 1787), after visiting the Duke of Athole, recommended that they should be invested with that necessary decoration. Accordingly, trees have oeen thickly planted along the chasin, and are now far advanced to maturity. Throughout this young forest, a walk has been cut, and a number of fantastic little grottos erected for the conveniency of those who visit the spot. The river not only makes several distinct falls, but rushes on through a channel, whose roughness and haggard sublimity adds greatly to the merits of the scene, as an object of interest among tourists.'-Picture of Scotland. |