OF ROBERT BURNS; a a WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE, AND A CRITICISM ON HIS WRITING S. TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE SCOTTISH PEASANTRY. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. III. THE SEVENTH EDITION. LONDON: AND W. CREECH, AT EDINBUFGE: 1813. DEDICATION the Second Edition of the Poems formerly printed. TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CALEDONIAN HUNT. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his Country's service—where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land; those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their ancestors? The Poetic Genius of my Country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha—at the PLOUGH; and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue : I tuned my wild, artless notes, as she inspired.-She whispered me to come to this ancient Metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my Songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates. Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours: that path b ; VOL. III. |
