157 



lumes of Burns are lying in my parlour, and I open 

 one or other of them every spare moment. I certainly 

 admire him as much as she can do. The letters 

 surprise me more than the poetry : the refined cri- 

 ticism and good sense in them are astonishing, when 

 his humble birth and education are considered. I 

 feel great concern that he did not preserve Mrs. 

 Dunlop's correspondence ; perhaps out of delicacy 

 to her it may have been suppressed. Dr. Currie I 

 am acquainted with ; he is a most amiable man, as 

 well as of more than common abilities. Nothing 

 more perfect or complete could be desired ; and as 

 he is in very full practice, it is extraordinary he 

 could have performed this task so admirably within 

 one year. 



There is another Scotch poet to whom I am ex- 

 tremely partial, — I mean Allan Ramsay. His works 

 are lately published, — the most full and complete 

 edition that has yet appeared. Though not equal in 

 genius to Burns, Ramsay has great merit. His songs 

 and Gentle Shepherd were the first poetry I knew 

 and was delighted with in my earliest years. They 

 bring to me many recollections, many associations 

 that are pleasing, but often melancholy. The edi- 

 tor is not so satisfactory as Dr. Currie ; there is a 

 want of illustration and anecdote, that often disap- 

 points our curiosity. Ramsay's day is not so distant 

 but that every thing might be explained. 



I dare say you have founded a good sect of bo- 

 tanists at Liverpool. It is a captivating pursuit, and 

 the more known the better liked. Our huge garden 

 here is a most pleasing one for a walk. I saw, the 



