Well! this is not amiss. You see how I answer your orders: your tailor could not be more punctual. I am just now in a high fit of poetizing, provided that the strait-jacket of criticism don't cure me. If you can in a post or two administer a little of the intoxicating potion of your applause, it will raise your humble servant's phrenzy to any height you want. I am at this moment "holding high converse" with the Muses, and have not a word to throw away on such a prosaic dog as you are. No. LXXV. MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. May, 1795. TEN thousand thanks, for your elegant present; though I am ashamed of the value of it, being bestowed on a man who has not by any means merited such an instance of kindness. I have shewn it to two or three judges of the first abilities here, and they all agree with me in classing it as a first rate rate production. My phiz is sae kenspeckle, that the very joiner's apprentice whom Mrs. Burns employed to break up the parcel (I was out of town that day) knew it at once. My most grateful compliments to Allan, who has honored my rustic muse so much with his masterly pencil. One strange coincidence is, that the little one who is making the felonious attempt on the cat's tail, is the most striking likeness of an illdeedie, d-n'd, wee, rumble-gairie, urchin of mine, whom, from that propensity to witty wickedness and manfu' mischief, which even at twa days auld I foresaw would form the striking features of his dispositiI named Willie Nicol; after a certain friend of mine, who is one of the masters of a grammarschool in a city which shall be nameless. on, Give the inclosed epigram to my much-valued friend Cunningham, and tell him that on Wednesday I go to visit a friend of his, to whom his friendly partiality in speaking of me, in a manner introduced me-I mean a well-known military and literary character, Colonel Dirom. You do not tell me how you liked my two last songs. Are they condemned? No. No. LXXVI. MR. THOMSON TO MR. BURNS. 13th May, 1795. IT gives me great pleasure to find that you are all so well satisfied with Mr. Allan's production. The chance resemblance of your little fellow, whose promising disposition appeared so very early, and suggested whom he should be named after, is curious enough. I am acquainted with that person, who is a prodigy of learning and genius, and a pleasant fellow, though no saint. You really make me blush when you tell me you have not merited the drawing from me. I do not think I can ever repay you, or sufficiently esteem and respect you for the liberal and kind manner in which you have entered into the spirit of my undertaking, which could not have been perfected without you. So I beg you would not make a fool ef me again, by speaking of obligation. I like your two last songs very much, and am happy happy to find you are in such a high fit of poetizing. Long may it last. Clarke has made a fine pathetic air to Mallet's superlative ballad of William and Margaret, and is to give it to me, to be inrolled among the elect. No. LXXVII. MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. IN, Whistle and I'll come to ye, my lad, the iteration of that line is tiresome to my ear. goes what I think is an improvement, O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad; Here gae mad, ye, my lad. In fact, a fair dame at whose shrine I, the Priest of the Nine, offer up the incense of Parnassus; a dame whom the Graces have attired in witchcraft, and whom the Loves have armed with lightening, a Fair One, herself the heroine of the song, insists on the amendment; and dispute her commands if you dare! SONG. Tune-" THIS IS NO MY AIN HOUSE." CHORUS. O this is no my ain lassie, I see a form, I see a face, Ye weel may wi' the fairest place: She's bonie, blooming, straight and tall, The kind love that's in her e'e. ; A |