Is he slain by Highlan' bodies? And eaten like a wether haggis? Where'er he be, the Lord be near him, As for the deil, he daurna steer him, disturb But please transmit the enclosed letter, Which will oblige your humble debtor, So may ye hae auld stanes in store, The very stanes that Adam bore, Iram, coram, dago. So may ye get in glad possession, The coins o' Satan's coronation! Iram, coram, dago. THE LADDIES BY THE BANKS O' NITH. TUNE-Up and waur them a'. A contest for the representation of the Dumfries group of burghs commenced in September between Sir James Johnston of Westerhall, the previous member, and Captain Miller, younger of Dalswinton, son of Burns's landlord. In this affair the bard stood variously affected. Professing only a whimsical Jacobitism, he had hitherto taken no decided part with either of the two great factions of his time; but he had a certain leaning towards Mr. Pitt and his supporters. On the other hand, some of his best friends as Henry Erskine, the Earl of Glencairn, Mr. Miller, Captain Riddel were Whigs, and these persons he was fearful to offend. On this canvass becoming keen, Burns threw in his pen, but rather from the contagion of local excitement than from partisanship. One feeling, indeed, he had in earnest, and this was detestation of the Duke of Queensberry. The duke, who was the greatest landlord in Nithsdale, was considered as having proved something like a traitor to the king on the late occasion of the Regency Bill, when he was in the minority which voted for the surrender of the power of the crown into the hands of the Prince of Wales without restriction. For this, and for his mean personal character and heartless debaucheries, Burns held his Grace in extreme contempt. In the first place, then, he penned an election ballad, chiefly against the duke. THE laddies by the banks o' Nith Wad trust his Grace wi' a', Jamie, But he'll sair them as he sair'd the king serve Turn tail and rin awa', Jamie. Up and waur them a', Jamie, Up and waur them a'; The Johnstons hae the guidin' o't,1 The day he stude his country's friend, But wha is he, his country's boast? baffle boy watches 1 A Border proverb, significant of the great local power of this family in former times. The Gordons were the subject of a similar proverb, which forms the title of a beautiful melody. To end the wark, here's Whistlebirck,1 And we'll be Johnstons a', Jamie. THE FIVE CARLINES. In this second election ballad the five burghs are presented under figurative characters most felicitously drawn: Dumfries, as Maggy on the banks of Nith; Annan, as Blinking Bess of Annandale; Kirkcudbright, as Whisky Jean of Galloway; Sanquhar, as Black Joan frae Crichton Peel; and Lochmaben, as Marjory of the many Lochs- appellations all of which have some appropriateness from local circum stances. THERE were five carlines in the south, old women They fell upon a scheme, To send a lad to Lon'on town, To bring them tidings hame. Nor only bring them tidings hame, 1 Alexander Birtwhistle, Esq., merchant at Kirkcudbright, and provost of the burgh. And aiblins gowd and honour baith possibly There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith, A dame wi' pride eneugh, And Marjory o' the Monie Lochs, And Blinking Bess o' Annandale, And Black Joan, frae Crichton Peel, O' gipsy kith and kin Five wighter carlines warna foun' brisker, stouter The south countra within. To send a lad to Lon'on town, They met upon a day, And monie a knight and monie a laird Their errand fain would gae. O monie a knight and monie a laird But nae ane could their fancy please, The first he was a belted knight,1 Bred o' a Border clan, 1 Sir James Johnston. |