MR ROBERT AINSLIE. 77 you see, of an old man, to give advice and make reflections, which your own good sense will, I daresay, render unnecessary. As you mention your being just about to leave town, you are going, I should suppose, to Dumfriesshire, to look at some of Mr Miller's farms. I heartily wish the offers to be made you there may answer, as I am persuaded you will not easily find a more generous and better-hearted proprietor to live under than Mr Miller. When you return, if you come this way, I will be happy to see you, and to know concerning your future plans of life. You will find me by the 22d of this month, not in my house in Argyle Square, but at a country house at Restalrig, about a mile east from Edinburgh, near the Musselburgh road. Wishing you all success and prosperity, I am, with real regard and esteem, dear sir, yours sincerely, HUGH BLAIR. Burns had become acquainted during this spring with a young man of amiable character and literary tendencies, who was destined to figure largely in his correspondence. This was Mr Robert Ainslie, afterwards well known as a respectable writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and as an amateur in the literary walk. Ainslie was serving his apprenticeship in the office of Mr Samuel Mitchelson in Carrubber's Close-a person, by the way, who is connected otherwise with Scottish literature; for the haggis scene in 'Humphry Clinker' is understood to be depicted from an actual occurrence in his house, when Smollett was one of his guests. Ainslie was as thoughtless and light-hearted as a writer's apprentice could well be, and as yet scarcely twenty; though clever and intelligent, it is most likely that his perfect bonhomie and insouciance were what chiefly recommended him to Burns. I have often conversed with him about the bard when age, business cares, and the gravity befitting his duty as an elder in the kirk, had given something of a different cast to his character; and never did he once admit, or seem capable of admitting, that the Ayrshire poet was anything but the finest fellow' that ever breathed. His love for Burns as a friend and companion remained ardent to the last. Doubtless he knew of many follies amongst the acts of the bard—no matter, his warm feelings and eloquent genius sanctified and excused all. 6 Burns was now preparing for a tour of the south of Scotland, to be performed partly in the company of Mr Ainslie, who had obtained a fortnight's leave of absence to visit his friends in Berwickshire. Before starting, the poet sent a letter to Mr James Johnson, an engraver, who had commenced the preparation of a large collection of the Scottish songs, with their tunes harmonised for the pianoforte. On being made acquainted with Johnson's design, the bard had entered into it with the greatest cordiality, became a contributor of songs of his own composition, and endeavoured to obtain for the work old songs and airs hitherto inedited. When the first volume appeared, at the end of May, it was found to contain two acknowledged songs by ' Mr Burns'— Green Grow the Rashes, and Young Peggy Blooms our Bonniest Lass-besides two of inferior temper which have been since placed to his account, and which are preserved in a subordinate part of the present work. TO JAMES JOHNSON, EDITOR OF THE SCOTS MUSICAL MUSEUM. LAWNMARKET, Friday noon, 4th May 1787. DEAR SIR-I have sent you a song never before known, for your collection; the air by M'Gibbon, but I know not the author of the words, as I got it from Dr Blacklock. Farewell, my dear sir! I wished to have seen you, but I have been dreadfully throng [busy], as I march to-morrow. Had my acquaintance with you been a little older, I would have asked the favour of your correspondence, as I have met with few people whose company and conversation gave me so much pleasure, because I have met with few whose sentiments are so congenial to my own. When Dunbar and you meet, tell him that I left Edinburgh with the idea of him hanging somewhere about my heart. Keep the original of this song till we meet again, whenever that may be. R. B. Burns and his young friend Ainslie set out on their tour on Saturday the 5th of May. They travelled on horseback, and arrived on the first evening at Berry well, near Dunse, the residence of Mr Ainslie's father, who acted as land-steward on the Berwickshire estates of Lord Douglas. We may imagine with what elation of spirit Burns would advance, for the first time, into the valley of the Tweed, associated as it was with so many of those old native strains so dear to his heart. He kept a journal of this tour, entering not merely the events of the road, but observations on the persons with whom he met. This we shall present, interspersed with explanatory memoranda and such additional particulars as have been preserved : 'Left Edinburgh (May 5, 1787)—Lammermuir-hills miserably dreary, but at times very picturesque. Langtonedge, a glorious view of the Merse-Reach Berrywell. Old Mr Ainslie an uncommon character—his hobbies, agriculture, natural philosophy, and politics. In the first he is unexceptionably the clearest-headed, best-informed man I ever met with; in the other two very intelligent: as a man of business, he has uncommon merit, and by fairly deserving it, has made a very decent independence. Mrs Ainslie, SOUTHERN TOUR. 79 an excellent, sensible, cheerful, amiable old woman. Miss Ainslie -her person a little embonpoint, but handsome; her face, particularly her eyes, full of sweetness and good-humour; she unites three qualities rarely to be found together-keen, solid penetration; sly witty observation and remark; and the gentlest, most unaffected female modesty. Douglas, a clever, fine, promising young fellow. 1 The family-meeting with their brother, my compagnon de voyage, very charming; particularly the sister. The whole family remarkably attached to their menials-Mrs A. full of stories of the sagacity and sense of the little girl in the kitchen. Mr A. high in the praises of an African, his house-servant—all his people old in his service -Douglas's old nurse came to Berrywell yesterday to remind them of its being his birthday. 'A Mr Dudgeon, a poet at times, a worthy, remarkable character-natural penetration, a great deal of information, some genius, and extreme modesty.' [Mr Dudgeon was the author of a Scottish song of merit, entitled, The Maid that tends the Goats.] 'Sunday [May 6.]-Went to church at Dunse-Dr Bowmaker a man of strong lungs and pretty judicious remark; but ill-skilled in propriety, and altogether unconscious of his want of it.' ['During the discourse Burns produced a neat impromptu, conveying an elegant compliment to Miss Ainslie. Dr Bowmaker had selected a text of Scripture that contained a heavy denunciation against obstinate sinners. In the course of the sermon Burns observed the young lady turning over the leaves of her Bible with much earnestness in search of the text. He took out a slip of paper, and with a pencil wrote the following lines on it, which he immediately presented to her:— Fair maid, you need not take the hint, Nor idle texts pursue: 'Twas guilty sinners that he meant- Monday (May 7.)-Coldstream-went over to England-Cornhill-glorious river Tweed-clear and majestic-fine bridge.' [An anecdote apropos to this point was communicated by Mr Ainslie to a popular publication many years afterwards. The weather was charming, the travellers youthful and in good spirits, and the poet delighted with the fine scenery and the poetical associations connected with it. When they arrived at Coldstream, 1At Eden, near Banff, Aberdeenshire, 19th September 1850, Douglas Ainslie, Esq. of Cairnbank, Berwickshire, in the eightieth year of his age.'-Newspaper Obituary. 2 Cromek. where the dividing-line between England and Scotland is the Tweed, Mr Ainslie suggested going across to the other side of the river by the Coldstream bridge, that Burns might be enabled to say he had been in England. They did so, and were pacing slowly along on English ground, enjoying their walk, when Mr Ainslie was surprised to see the poet throw away his hat, and thus uncovered, kneel down with uplifted hands, and apparently rapt in a fit of enthusiasm. Mr Ainslie kept silence, uncertain what was next to be done, when Burns, with extreme emotion, and an expression of countenance which his companion could never forget, prayed for and blessed Scotland most solemnly, by pronouncing aloud, in tones of the deepest devotion, the two concluding stanzas of the Cotter's Saturday Night: "Oh, Scotia! my dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent! Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content! Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent, A virtuous populace may rise the while, And stand a wall of fire around their much-loved isle. Oh Thou! who poured the patriotic tide That streamed through Wallace's undaunted heart, Or nobly die, the second glorious part In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!"]} 'Dine at Coldstream with Mr Ainslie and Mr Foreman-beat Mr F. in a dispute about Voltaire. Tea at Lennel House with Mr Brydone [author of A Tour in Sicily and Maita.]—Mr Brydone a most excellent heart, kind, joyous, and benevolent, but a good deal of the French indiscriminate complaisance-from his situation past and present, an admirer of everything that bears a splendid title, or that possesses a large estate [Mr B. had travelled as preceptor to several men of rank.]—Mrs Brydone [a daughter of Dr Robertson the historian] a most elegant woman in her person and manners; the tones of her voice remarkably sweet-my reception extremely flattering-sleep at Coldstream. 1 Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, April 28, 1832. BURNS AT JEDBURGH. 81 [Many years after, Scott came in like manner as a visitor to Mr Brydone, and his record of the venerable traveller is worth quoting in connection with Burns's :— Stung with these thoughts, he urged to speed Yet mourn thou not its cells; Our time a fair exchange has made; A reverend pilgrim dwells, Well worth the whole Bernardine brood, That e'er wore sandal, frock, or hood.')-Marmion.] Tuesday [May 8.]—Breakfast at Kelso charming situation of Kelso-fine bridge over the Tweed-enchanting views and prospects on both sides of the river, particularly the Scotch side; introduced to Mr Scott of the Royal Bank, an excellent, modest fellow -fine situation of it-ruins of Roxburgh Castle-a holly-bush growing where James II. of Scotland was accidentally killed by the bursting of a cannon. A small old religious ruin and a fine old garden planted by the religious, rooted out and destroyed by an English Hottentot-a maître d'hotel of the duke's, a Mr Cole. Climate and soil of Berwickshire, and even Roxburghshire, superior to Ayrshire-bad roads. Turnip and sheep husbandry, their great improvements. Mr M'Dowal at Caverton Mill, a friend of Mr Ainslie's, with whom I dined to-day, sold his sheep, ewe and lamb together, at two guineas a piece. Wash their sheep before shearing-7 or 8 lbs. of washing wool in a fleece-low markets, consequently low rents—fine lands not above sixteen shillings a Scotch acre- —magnificence of farmers and farm-houses.' [Farms in Roxburgh and Berwickshire were then, as now, on a large scale, in comparison with the bard's native county.] 'Come up Teviot and up Jed to Jedburgh to lie [that is, to sleep, or lodge], and so wish myself a good-night. 'Wednesday [May 9.]-Breakfast with Mr in Jedburgha squabble between Mrs a crazed, talkative slattern, and a sister of hers, an old maid, respecting a Relief minister. Miss gives Madam the lie; and Madam, by way of revenge, upbraids her that she laid snares to entangle the said minister, then a widower, in the net of matrimony. Go about two miles out of Jedburgh to a roup of parks-meet a polite soldier-like gentleman, Captain Rutherford, who had been many years through the wilds of America, a prisoner among the Indians. Charming, romantic situation of Jedburgh, with gardens, orchards, &c. intermingled D |