162 The Blacklock Manuscripts at Annan. 



unpublished epistle to a clerical friend shew that Blacklock had a 

 hearty contempt for Anglified Scots : — 



Frae eard should our bald Gutchers rise, 

 How would their sauls ilk Oe despise 

 Wha southern phrase, a winsome prize, 



For theirs could barter ? 

 Yet when the ape his English tries 



He takes a Tartar ! 

 The Daw in peacock's feathers dress'd, 

 When first he mingles wi' the rest. 

 Wow ! but he shaws an ally crest, 



And pensy stride ! 

 But soon the birds the fool divest — 



Sae comes o' pride! 



When the volume came into my hands a religious poem con- 

 tained in it greatly interested me, for I saw at once that it was the 

 unpublished original of the beautiful Sixteenth Paraphrase: — 



" In life's gay morn, when sprightly youth 



With vital ardour glows. 

 And shines in all the fairest charms 



Which beauty can disclose, 

 Deep on thy soul, before its pow'rs 



Are yet by vice enslav'd, 

 Be thy Creator's glorious name 



And character engrav'd. 



For soon the shades of grief shall cloud 



The sunshine of thy days ; 

 And cares, and toils, in endless round. 



Encompass all thy ways. 

 Soon shall thy heart the woes of age 



In mournful groan deplore. 

 And sadly muse on former joys, 



That now return no more." 



Hitherto the paraphrase had not been assigned to Blacklock 

 with full confidence, as you will see if you turn to Maclagan's 

 " Scottish Paraphrases " or Julian's " Dictionary of Hymnology;" 

 and I was glad to be able to prove that it was his work. The 



