those of Burns would have been often unintelligible. He has therefore yielded to the earnest request of the trustees of the family of the poet, to suffer them to appear in their natural order; and independently of the illustration they give to the letters of our bard, it is not to be doubted that their intrinsic merit will ensure them a reception from the public, far beyond what Mr. Thomson's modesty would permit him to suppose. The whole of this correspondence was arranged for the press by Mr. Thomson, and has been printed with little addition or variation. To this are added, the greater number of the songs furnished by our bard for Mr. Johnson's publication, entitled, "The Scots Musical Museum," (See p. 269) and such other of his poems, not before published, as seemed not unworthy of seeing the light. a 2 INDEX. INDEX TO THE Correspondence between Mr. Thomson and Mr. Burns: No. Page 1. MR. THOMSON TO MR. BURNS. 1792. Desiring the Bard to furnish verses for some of the Scottish airs, and to revise former songs, 1 II. MR. B. to MR. T. Promising assistance, III. Mr. T. to Mr. B. sending some tunes, IV. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "The Lea Rig," and "Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary," V. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "My wife's a win some wee thing," and "Q saw ye bonnie 3 5 13 VI. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "Highland Mary," 17 VII. Mr. T. to Mr. B. Thanks, and critical ob VIII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with an additional stanza 19 to "The Lea Rig." 23 No. No. IX. Page. 25 Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "Auld Rob Morris” and "Duncan Gray," X. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "O Poortith cauld XI. Mr. T. to Mr. B. Jan. 1793. Desiring XII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. Has Mr. Tytler's anec- 29 32 36 XIII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with " Mary Morison," 41 XIV. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with Willie," "Wandering XV. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "Open the door to me, Ob !" XVI. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "Jessie," XVII. Mr. T. to Mr. B. with a list of songs, and 44 46 47 XVIII. Mr. B. to Mr T. "When wild war's dead- XIX. Mr. B. to Mr. T. Voice of Coila-Criticism 50 -Origin of "The Lass o' Patie's Mill," 55 XX. Mr. T. to Mr. B. 61 No. No. Page. XXI. Mr. B. to Mr. T. Simplicity requisite in a works of another, XXII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. "Farewell thou stream national music may preserve its native 62 66 XXIII. Mr. T. to Mr. B. Thanks and observations, 68 XXIV. Mr. B to Mr. T. with "Blythe bae I XXV. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "O Logan, XXVI. 70 73 Mr. T. to Mr. B. Enclosing a note- Thanks, XXVII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "There was a lass and she was fair," XXVIII. Mr. B to Mr. T. Hurt at the idea of pe- cuniary recompense-Remarks on songs, XXIX. Mr. T. to Mr. B. Musical expression, XXX. Mr. B. to Mr. T. For Mr. Clarke, XXXI. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with "Phillis the fair," 87 XXXII. Mr. T. to Mr. B. Mr. Allan-Drawing XXXIII. Mr. B. to Mr. T. with " Had I a cave" 90 92 No. |