ference to such as were disposed to favour his cause, and even displaced some for not favouring it; going further, in this respect, than good policy would allow; by which means, he got many enemies : but an immoral or unfair character, was, with him, a bar to office, and he gave his negative to the election of a counsellor, in one instance, upon that principle only. Of his literary talents, and free and easy manners, we have already spoken. He was also a firm believer of the truth of revealed religion, but a bigot to no particular profession amongst Christians.

" BURNS, (ROBERT) the latest and one of the most eminent Scottish poets, was born near Alloway church, in Ayrshire, 29th January 1759. His father was a gardener and overseer on the estate of Dunhoolm and he himself was literally a ploughman; but neither in that state of servile dependance, nor degrading ignorance, which the situation might seem to bespeak. At a very early age, he was sent to an English school to learn to read, where, as he soon discovered a more than ordinary ardour for knowledge, his master was at the pains to instruct him in the grammatical principles of the language, "a circumstance which," as his brother Gilbert says, "was of considerable weight, in the unfolding of his genius and character; as he soon became remarkable for the fluency and correctness of his expression, and read the few books that came in his way, with much pleasure and improvement; for even then, he was a reader, when he could get a book." From the time he was nine, till he reached the thirteenth year of his age, he and his 'brother were kept at home, to assist their father, in the business of his farm. But while his early days were thus occupied in earning bread by the labour of his hands, in the honourable task of cultivating the earth, his nights were devoted to the study of such books, as his poor, though worthy and intelli

gent father, could procure for him. In the mean time, old Mr. Burns, whose earnest wish and prayer it was, to have his children properly brought up, instructed them himself, during the winter evenings, in the use of figures, in the knowledge of which our poet made great progress.

In the year 1773, their father regretting that his de two sons wrote so ill, sent them to school week about, a during a summer quarter, that they might have an opportunity of remedying this defect. The summer after, Robert was sent to Ayr, to revise his English grammar, but here he had only staid a few weeks, when he was obliged to return to assist at the harvest. During the two last weeks he was at school, the teacher Mr. Murdoch, was learning French, and communicated the instructions he received to Mr. Burns, who, when he returned, brought home with him a French dictionary and grammar, and the "Adventures of Telemachus," in the original. In a little while, by the assistance of these books, he had acquired such a knowledge of the language, as to read and understand any French author in prose. Having acquired the French language, with so great facility, he was advised to attempt the Latin; but finding it, as he thought, a dry and uninteresting study, he quickly laid it aside.

The above completes the account of our author's school education, excepting one summer quarter, sometime afterwards, when he learnt surveying, about which time, he likewise went to a country dancing school, as he says, "to give his manners a brush." All his other attainments were entirely his own.

When Mr. Burns reached his twenty-third year, he became anxious to be in a situation to marry. This was not likely soon to be the case, while he remained a farmer, as the stocking of a farm, required a sum of money, he had no probability of being master of, for a great while. He began, therefore, to think of trying some other line of life, and accordingly joined

a flax-dresser, in a neighbouring town, (Irwin) of whom he learnt his trade. This was an unlucky af fair, for the business neither agreed with his health, nor his inclination, and to finish the whole, as he with some others were giving a welcoming carousal to the new year, the shop took fire and burnt to ashes, by which accident, he was left, like a true poet not worth sixpence. But this was not the worst, for he here contracted some acquaintance, of a freer manner of thinking and living, than he had been used to, whose society prepared him for over-leaping the bounds of rigid virtue, by which he had hitherto been restrained. Having failed in the flax-dressing scheme, he again returned to the business of farming.

It is to be regreted, that we have not been able to discover the date of his first poetical sallies. It is certain, however, that by far the greatest part of his poems were written, whilst he followed the plough, and whilst he had no opportunity of knowing the world but from books,-a defect, which was wonderfully supplied by his uncommon sagacity and penetration.

To such a genius, the scanty employment of a peasant on a small farm, seemed poor and contemptible. Not being enabled to extend his views, in his own country, he had, therefore, conceived a plan of emigrating to Jamaica, and in order to raise a little money towards the expence of his passage, he was advised to publish his poems. This idea was eagerly embraced, and a cheap edition was, accordingly, printed at Kilmarnoch, about the year 1785.

Fortunately a copy of these poemes fell into the hands of Mr. McKenzie, who, with some others, was then engaged in a periodical work called The Loun ger. Mr. M'Kenzie struck with the native energy of our bard, called upon his countrymen to do justice to his merits, and for that end, gave some account of the author, with a specimen of his poems, in the 97th number of that work.

The curiosity of the public being thus excited, a subscription for a more respectable and enlarged edition of his poems was set on foot, in which a great number of the first names of the country appeared. As this success convinced the poet, that his merit would not be overlooked, when known by his countrymen, he relinquished his scheme of going to the West-Indies, and went to Edinburgh to superintend his publication.

Here he blazed like a comet, his company being universally courted by those who valued themselves upon a refined taste. Indeed, to be acquainted with Burns, was deemed a sort of title to poetical reputation. His stay here, however, was only for a few months; for soon after the publication of his poems, he returned to his rural employments, and to enjoy the pleasures of retirement. But alas! with a mind spoiled for the sweets of it. Having been introduced into circles, where flattery, pleasure and excess were to be met with, he lost his relish for the simplicity of a peasant's life, and with this he lost his case and peace of mind.

Soon after this period, Mr. Miller of Dalswinton, wishing to preserve him in his rustic employment and to keep his muse uncorrupted, generously gave him a farm on his estate in Dumfrieshire, at a very moderate rent. Here our poet might have lived in ease and independence, but his habits of industry and frugality were gone. His love for company made him neglect the management of his affairs: the consequence was, that he ran in debt, and his farm was entirely neglected. The friends of his inerit, however, did not leave him in indigence; for they soon procured him the place of an exciseman, with an income of 222 dollars per annum, with which, in that cheap country, he might have lived with decen

In this situation, he resided in the town of Dumfries, where he met with much attention and kindness; but it unfortunately happened, that his admirers

either for his sake, or their own, withdrew him too often from his family, to the tavern, the usual place of their meetings. Discontent and a just sense of his own misconduct, soured his temper and chagrined his mind.

Upwards of a year before his death, there was an evident decline in his personal appearance, and, though his appetite continued unimpaired, he was himself sensible that his constitution was sinking. In his moments of thought, he reflected, with the deepest regret, on his fatal progress, clearly foreseeing the goal towards which he was hastening, without the strength of mind necessary to stop, or even to slacken his course.

In the midst of all his wanderings, however, Burns met nothing in his domestic circle but gentleness and forgiveness, except in the gnawings of his own remorse. He acknowledged his transgressions to the wife of his bosom, promised amendment, and again and again received pardon for his offences. But as the strength of his body decayed, his resolution became feebler and feebler, and habit acquired predominating strength. In short, he proceeded from bad to worse, and the reflection of one debauch was only to be effaced by another, till a premature death, at last, put an end to the sufferings of this great but ill-fated genius, and closed a life, in which virtue and passion had been at perpetual variance, 21st July 1796.

Thus died Robert Burns, a man, who was the pupil of nature, the poet of inspiration, and who pos sessed, in an extraordinary degree, the powers and failings of genius. Of the former, his works will remain a lasting monument; of the latter, his conduct and fate afford too melancholy a proof. Let others profit by his example.

From what we have already observed, it will not appear surprising, that the last portion of his life was spent in indigence and distress. The widow with five children, the youngest of whom was born the day afer