SCOTTISH POETRY. 193 



and in this way he removed his wife and children, with his humble 

 furniture, to a house in the Bank Vennel of Dumfries ; he now only 

 had the Excise to depend upon, the labours of which 



"led him along- a barren line of sea-coast, extending from Caerlaverock- 

 castle, where the Maxwells dwelt of old, to Annan water. This district 

 fronts the coast of England; and from its vicinity to the Isle of Man, was 

 in those days infested with daring smugglers, who poured in brandy, Hol- 

 land-gin, tea, tobacco, and salt, in vast quantities." 



Still his pen continued to write with its wonted ease ; he contri- 

 buted many, very many songs to Thompson's Museum, and would 

 receive no money for them ; " to talk of money," he magnanimously 

 said, " would be downright prostitution of the soul." 



" From musing on woman's love and man's freedom, Burns was rudely 

 awakened. An inquiry regarding the sentiments which he entertained and 

 the language in which he had indulged concerning ' Thrones and Domina- 

 tions' was directed to be made by the Commissioners of Excise, pursuant 

 to instructions it is said received from high quarters. It will probably 

 never be known who the pestilent informer against the Poet was ; some 

 contemptible wretch who had suffered from his wit or who envied his fame 

 gave the information on which the Board of Excise acted, and he was sub- 

 jected to a sort of inquisition." 



But it is pleasing to turn from this Excise examination, and we 

 will do so by quoting part of an epistle to Graham of Fintray which 

 is new to us, and we have to thank Mr. Cunningham for it. It is a 

 capital companion to " The Twa Carlines." 



" * Fintray, my stay in worldly strife. 

 Friend of my muse, friend of my life, 



Are ye as idle's I am ? 

 Come then wi' uncouth kintra fleg, 

 O'er Pegasus I'll fling my leg, 

 And ye shall see me try him. 



I'll sing the zeal Drumlanrig bears, 

 Who left the all-important cares 



Of princes and their darlin's, 

 And bent on winning borough-toons, 

 Came shaking hands wi' wabster loons, 



And kissin' barefoot carlins. 



Combustion through our boroughs rode, 

 Whistling his roaring pack abroad 



Of mad unmuzzled lions ; 

 As Queensberry's 'buff and blue' unfurled, 

 And Westerha' and Hopetoun hurled 



To every Whig defiance.' 



" The Poet then proceeds to relate how his grace of Queensberry 

 forsook the contending ranks 



" ' The unmannered dust might soil his star; 

 Besides, he hated bleeding.' 



but left friends, soft and persuasive, behind to maintain his cause and 

 and Millar's : 



" ' M'Murdo and his lovely spouse 



(The enamoured laurels kiss her brows) 

 M. M. No. 98. 2 C 



